The Sydney Opera House has announced Liminal – a bold, new contemporary music film series featuring eight Australian artists creating unique live performances for the screen.
Free, cinematic weekly performances will be presented over three weeks in November, premiering on Stream – the Opera House’s online streaming platform for world-class performing and digital arts, and across the Opera House’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
The Joan Sutherland Theatre stage will be radically transformed into a 360 degree blank canvas designed to push each performer’s artistry. Each performance will be filmed on a striking set under dramatic lighting, directed and produced by Sydney-based studio Subversus.
Together with the world-class production team at the Sydney Opera House, they will convert the stage into a synesthetic light box, bringing audiences out of their seats and onto the stage.
“As we move into a post-lockdown world, we do so with a mix of trepidation and excitement, hovering in a state between before and after,” said Sydney Opera House Head of Digital Programming, Stuart Buchanan.
“Whilst this ‘liminal’ space can feel unsettling, it nonetheless highlights new approaches to old endeavours. Liminal talks directly to this state. With the incredible vision of Subversus, the Joan Sutherland Theatre has been reconceptualised to stage performances in a radical new way.”
“Together with Opera House Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall, we’ve co-curated a line-up of local artists who have responded with fresh and inimitable approaches; delivering a debut season of breathtaking works that are neither live performance nor music video; but exist somewhere in the space between,” said Buchanan.
The free, multi-genre music series will feature performances from exceptional Australian artists, including:
Budjerah:
19-year-old Bundjalung descendent and soulful singer-songwriter Budjerah, who will kick off the Liminal season with his unique sound that melds childhood-inspired elements of gospel and soul with contemporary pop and R&B. Following his five 2021 ARIA Awards nominations, the rising star will perform a special, one-off acoustic set with songs that have inspired him musically and songs from his debut self-titled EP such as the just released track Talk – a collaboration with Sydney’s MAY-A. Streaming Friday 12 November – 8.00pm.
Blessed:
Guitar-wielding rapper, singer and producer BLESSED who challenges the ideals of a traditional rock star with his multifaceted talents in songwriting, production and creative direction. His long-awaited, widely-praised 2020 debut mixtape along with his latest release, the LOCKDOWN TAPES VOL. 1, confirms this prolific, one-of-a-kind talent is only getting started. In celebration of patience during lockdown, for Liminal, Ghanaian-born, Western Sydney-raised Samuel Joe-Andah and his band will bring his distinct fusion of hip-hop and punk to the stage, performing new music created during this time and several fan favourite tracks. Streaming Saturday 13 November – 8.00pm.
Liz Martin:
Multi-talented singer, songwriter and musician Liz Martin, who will return to the Opera House for Liminal with her evocative five-piece band. More than a decade since her last appearance performing Walking On Air with Aerialize troupe, Martin and her band will deliver an intimate and alluring performance at Liminal. Streaming Thursday 18 November – 8.00pm.
Ninajirachi:
Australian triple-threat producer, songwriter, and DJ, Ninajirachi, in her Opera House debut. Ninajirachi will perform standout collaboration tracks by Kota Banks and Oh Boyas well as music from her critically acclaimed EP’s Blumierei and Watergun, fan favourites, and her latest solo release Dracodraco. Streaming Friday 19 November – 8.00pm.
EGOISM:
Childhood friends and rising Sydney indie duo EGOISM who will showcase their shimmering guitar lines, dream pop vocals and infectious shoegaze melodies on the Liminal stage. Their Opera House debut performance will be an exhilarating set including tracks from their acclaimed 2020 EP On Our Minds, and recent single Lonely But Not Alone. Streaming Saturday 20 November – 8.00pm.
Chris Abrahams:
ARIA-award winning jazz pianist and member of The Necks and newly formed group Springtime (Gareth Liddiard and Jim White), Chris Abrahams. Abrahams will make his solo Opera House debut at Liminal this November, taking audiences on an entrancing, unpredictable sonic adventure inspired by unreleased new works and pieces from his latest solo piano album, Appearance (2020). Streaming Thursday 25 November – 8.00pm.
Maina Doe:
Indonesian-Somalian, multi-dimensional artist and style icon, Maina Doe offers fresh perspectives in a new era of R&B, nu-soul & hip-hop. Maina will command the screen with her debut band, some of Sydney’s best musicians, as she performs a new interpretation of her set that exposes a more vulnerable, experimental side. Streaming Friday 26 November – 8.00pm.
Young Franco:
One of Australia’s most in-demand and charming producers, Young Franco, who will bring his euphoric, smooth beats, epic jam sessions and infectious productions to the Liminal stage. Having collaborated with the likes of Denzel Curry, Pell, and most recently Winston Surfshirt, Young Franco has clocked over 50 million streams on Spotify. His one-off Liminal performance will be a dreamy visual representation to match his eclectic and blissful set. Streaming Saturday 27 November – 8.00pm.
“Liminal is a simple but bold statement about what the Opera House represents to live music in this country,” said Subversus Creative Directors Jason Sukadana and Tanya Babic.
“The challenge for us was to create a cinematic space that could not only work with, but also elevate the performances of a broad spectrum of incredible artists. We’re so used to seeing artists on stage in a two dimensional theatrical set up with the band positioned in a traditional formation, facing the audience.”
“Instead, we wanted to utilise a 360 degree perspective of stage – it’s a nod to the living, breathing work of art that is the Opera House and a motivation to create “moments” as these acts transition back onto the stage and to live performance,” said Sukadana and Babic.
For more information about Liminal, visit: www.sydneyoperahouse.com for details.
Image: Sydney Opera House presents Liminal (supplied)