RBMA Soundclash

In February the Red Bull Music Academy undertook it’s most ambitious event to date presenting the first ever music performance in The Royal Albert Hall’s Bunker on The Human League’s Michael Ware’s revolutionary 3D Soundsystem.

An impressive setting and set up, the bunker reverberated to King Cannibal’s beats on entry like a warehouse in Hackney Wick. The space had four giant projector screens with hi-res images and shapes being programmed live and there were four stage settings around the room a change to the traditional crowd dynamic of facing forward at one stage.

The artists and DJs are the best that Ninja and Warp Records have to offer with The Bug, Clark and DJ Food taking the stage and both labels acclaimed for leading the way in British electronic music for the last 20 years. The only issue with this event is the scale of work required for the performers to channel into the 3D soundsytem, to really get the most it would require a massive effort in sound design and preparation like sound artist Florian Hecker (showing now at The Chisendale Gallery) who works masterfully in directional sound experience, performing with Aphex Twin on the Warp 20 tour last year. And then it would have been amazing.

The feeling for this coming year is that AV events are the future, going beyond the traditional gig and club experience. Riz Ahmed has perhaps pushed this the furthest so far producing a multi platform gig at the end of last year and Ebola and Sorry of Wrong Music recently launched their own dynamic AV project. Red Bull are proving to be a key player in the game here.

The Academy has more up its’ sleeve for this year, term two is in full swing with live music events as well as educational events with lead figures in the music industry sharing their knowledge and ideas, promoting creativity among the next generation of talent. This weekend watch out for Red Bull Music Academy x A Taste Of Sonar, over two nights of events you’ll be able to catch the likes of Hudson Mohawke (live) and Kidkanevil over two nights at Camden’s Roundhouse. Plus on Sunday there are two free events to finish the weekend off: Secretsundaze - Red Bull Music Academy Special with Todd Terje, and FACT at The Lock's 'Red Bull Music Academy Chapter' with the finest dubstep producers of the moment Rustie and Joy Orbison performing for free.

3D Soundcrash Video