SENPHONIC: Liquid Listening and founding sound artist Joel Cahen release a new album of music created by children with neurodivergent conditions and complex special needs

 

The groundbreaking album is compiled from music that has been made by pupils at SEN schools, recorded and mixed by Joel Cahen. To listen and download: www.audileum.bandcamp.com/album/senphonic  

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Liquid Listening has announced the release of a new music album, SENPHONIC, showcasing tracks mixed from recordings made by children with special needs. The album is a profound tribute to the creativity, resilience, and unique perspectives that these young people, many of whom experience profound barriers to communication, emotional regulation and physical mobility, can bring to the world of music. More than just a collection of songs, their work is a bold statement about the importance of embracing diverse voices that challenge traditional notions of music and redefining what it means to create.

 

The album features a range of experimental tracks that defy conventional musical forms, blending spontaneous sounds, unconventional rhythms and vibrant melodies. The music was created by children with a variety of physical, developmental and emotional challenges, who used their voices, instruments, and everyday objects to explore sound in an unfiltered, honest way.

 

"We believe their contributions are just as valuable as any mainstream artist's work. Their unique approach to sound forces us to rethink what music can be and how we define artistic value.”

Joel Cahen, Artistic Director, Liquid Listening.

 

SENPHONIC serves not only as an artistic breakthrough but also as a call for cultural inclusivity. The album challenges the idea that music must conform to specific rules and encourages listeners to broaden their understanding of creativity. The sounds captured in this album don’t fit neatly into the traditional genres, but they resonate with authenticity and raw emotion, offering a refreshing alternative to the polished, commercialised music that dominates the airwaves.

 

The recording and mixing process

At the recordings, the pupil selects their instrument and proceeds to play it to the best of their ability. Instruments include percussion, piano, violin, a variety of synths, voice etc. Some pupils cannot vocalise or play an instrument so their inclusion in the recording is through close microphone recording to capture their breath or the movement of hands over an object or instrument.

 

They are given freedom of expression and are not guided to play particular notes or rhythms. Effects are sometimes added during the recording, to the instrument or mic input, and help the pupils to pay closer attention to the sonic quality of the sounds produced by their gestures. In this case their playing decisions are informed by listening and not by gesture alone.

 

The recordings are arranged by Joel Cahen and mixed to produce a musical piece that preserves the original playing decisions of the pupils. No sampling, looping or manipulation of sounds are used in the mixing stage.

 

The digital album, available at www.audileum.bandcamp.com/album/senphonic, costs £15 with all proceeds going to Liquid Listening to help the charity reach to more children with its work.

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Download the press release here

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