About

Biography

Emergence Collective builds beautiful, minimalist sound worlds that gradually evolve through improvised performance. Featuring a revolving lineup and a vibrant mix of ancient and modern instruments, the ensemble brings together exciting combinations of the North’s finest improvisors. Drawing on their collective musical backgrounds in experimental, folk, electronic, classical and early music, they generate a hypnotic, otherworldly kaleidoscope of sound, completely unique to every live performance and every space they perform in.

Their improvisations are informed by the environment they are created in, a space’s history and sonic properties. They often play in unusual and unconventional environments, which have included a disused cinema's fly tower, cathedrals, an abandoned warehouse, and a tudor house.

The ensemble is currently directed by Juliana Day, Rob Bentall, Zebedee C. Budworth and Jemma Freese. Founded in 2019, the project was developed through improvising sessions between the three directors and guitarist Tim Knowles, initially working as a quartet before growing into its current configuration.

The group has played at and sold out venues throughout the UK, released several albums, and run practical and accessible workshops exploring their creative process.

Press Quotes

"beautifully subtle yet hypnotic performance of stripped back improvised minimalism" - The Guardian

“enthralling, gorgeous, mysterious and mesmerising… immerse yourself in the realm of their magic” - Cast The Dice

“Dislodged from time, fragments of older and folkier traditions seep into contemporary ones in their compositions with seamless grace, ornate patterns ambling through the reverberant space they're enclosed in” - The Quietus

“Flutes intermingle with gently plucked strings, toots of baritone sax float above ripples of percussion, while dreamy vocals coalesce with the distinct and engulfing tones of the hammer dulcimer and the nyckelharpa. It’s remarkably measured and considered music given it is being birthed in real time” - Loud & Quiet

“..astonishingly beautiful. The moods develop organically, and the structures are so clearly defined.” - Twisted Soul Music

Project Directors

Juliana is playing a paetzold contrabass recorder in an atmospherically lit Tudor house. She has her eyes closed and a

Juliana Day

In addition to co-running Emergence Collective, Juliana regularly collaborates and performs solo, blending low recorders, vocals and live electronics. Her debut album aired on BBC Radio 3 and earned praise from Jazzwise Magazine. A Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumna, she’s performed for Disney, the BBC, RSC and Manchester Collective with commissions from Making Tracks, NFoJAIM, and the University of Sheffield.

Rob Bentall

Rob is a composer-performer, working primarily with Swedish nyckelharpa and electronics. His creative activities have been supported by Sound and Music. He has presented work internationally, including at EMS (Sweden), CMMAS (Mexico), and Jakarta Theatre Platform (Indonesia). He is Associate Professor in Music at Leeds Conservatoire.

Jemma Freese

Jemma is a musician, composer and improviser who uses vocals, keyboards, synths and piano. She's a graduate from Leeds Conservatoire, and has had plays on BBC Radio 3 and BBC 6 and has performed at EFG London Jazz Festival and The Royal Albert Hall. Jemma has collaborated with The Halle Orchestra and plays keyboard and backing vocals for Maximo Park.

Zebedee C. Budworth

Zebedee C. Budworth is an award-winning composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. His work spans film and advertising, notably scoring The Thing With Feathers (starring Benedict Cumberbatch) and Meet Me In The Bathroom (both Sundance premieres). Featured on BBC Radio and Sex Education, his music has earned praise from Pitchfork and NME. He’s performed across major UK festivals, Europe, and Japan.

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