Soundings is a recent project we have developed to support traditional artists to experiment and exchange is Soundings. glór invites a traditional artist we really admire, to take part and to nominate another artist from another performance genre to collaborate for a week at glór and generate innovative work through a new partnership. The artists are paid for their time developing new material and are encouraged to explore new territory and new sounds. The objective of Soundings, as well as supporting artists to spend time developing new work, is to create new collaborations and new influences in traditional arts practise. Fiddler Tola Custy and sound artist Natalia Beylis were the first pairing to participate in Soundings in 2018/2019.
Blackbirds Slowed Down is a 30 minute film which captured and responded to the Soundings residency supported by glór, with artist and musician Natalia Beylis and musician Tola Custy. The premise of the residency was to take a pairing of musicians from different musical backgrounds and compare approaches and influences on music and creativity. The results and process were documented in this film, made by Filmmaker Will Stewart as part of the second stage of the residency between Natalia and Tola in 2019.
Traditional singer, flute player and composer Nuala Kennedy, who has recently moved to Ennis, is due to take part in Soundings with glór in 2020 alongside an artist of her choice.