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 directed by Juliana Day (recorders/whistles), Rob Bentall (nyckelharpa) and Zebedee C. Budworth (hammered dulcimer). 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

Directors

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

Juliana Day

As well as directing Emergence Collective, Juliana regularly performs with her experimental/ambient solo project and released her debut solo album earlier this year. Juliana studied recorders at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has played for the BBC, Manchester Collective, Royal Shakespeare Company and the Northern Silent Film Festival.

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.

Zebedee C. Budworth

Zebedee C. Budworth is a composer for film, adverts and TV. He recently scored a feature length documentary, Meet Me In The Bathroom, which premiered at Sundance and was chosen for selection at BFI Film Festival. He is currently researching Gamelan music for an upcoming feature film.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse