Watch a gig inspired by prehistoric birds, surrounded by giant fossils

We had a chat with Chris Perren (he/him), a composer and Artistic Director of Nonsemble. Chris is a composer, producer, and video artist working across chamber, electronic, and audiovisual music.

Tell us about the show in 100 words or less

If you’ve ever wondered what music about giant extinct birds might sound like, or whether violins and electronics can be friends, or how it feels to see a gig surrounded by fossils, then wonder no more! Archaeopteryx is an immersive musical performance by Nonsemble, an eclectic Brisbanebased indie-chamber ensemble. The music is inspired by prehistoric birds, with each movement named after a species. Hence our aptly prehistoric location, nestled amongst the Lost Creatures exhibit at Queensland Museum.

We combine string quartet with live electronics to arrive somewhere between modern electronica and contemporary classical.

Anywhere Festival takes place anywhere but a theatre. Tell us about your venue. What is it about your space that adds to your audience experience?

We are performing Archaeopteryx in the Lost Creatures exhibit at the Queensland Museum, which connects with this idea of giant extinct creatures, whose behaviour and movement and appearance we can only ever guess at. The sense of awe and mystery around these creatures is compelling – many of us have childhood memories of visiting the museum and being spellbound by these amazing and long-gone creatures.

In this time of tenacious documentation of everything, when even deleting random photos from your phone feels hard, the very idea of extinction – the permanence of it – is hard to comprehend. It is also a bit mindbending to consider the kinds of timescales these creatures existed in, relative to now. To contemplate all this forces you to step outside yourself. So I guess we are immersing our audience in this expansive unknown past, and hoping it will give them an experience that transcends our day-to-day a little bit.

Nonsemble. Image: Natasha Harth. Cover image: Reuben Fenemore

What is your creative process like?

Nonsemble is halfway between a classical chamber ensemble and a rock band. So our process kind of reflects that. While we do have a notation-based composition approach, it is very collaborative. We have known each other a long time, so I don’t so much write for the instruments as much as for the people – I like to write parts that match each player really well. And likewise, everyone in the group brings a lot to the table creatively, and what happens in the rehearsal room can dramatically change what ends up being in the compositions.

Archaeopteryx uses a 5-piece configuration that we’ve been exploring in recent years, with strings and electronics. The integration of electronics has changed our process a little. I am playing an Ableton Push instrument, hooked up to a laptop. Because the Push, like many electronic instruments, is infinitely versatile in how and what it plays, this has complicated the process a little at times. But the more we’ve worked in this configuration, the more we have been able to establish ways of meaningfully integrating the strings and electronics, so it is always getting better and smoother and more fun. The process has been really challenging and rewarding for everyone.

Tell us your origin story. How did your show start?

Nonsemble began in 2012 as a way for me to realise some compositions I’d been writing for my PhD at the time. I had been mainly playing in rock groups but had studied composition formally for many years, so wanted to start a group where I could bring these worlds together. We had a lot of fun and kept playing together, which led to all sorts of things like festival shows, releases, audiovisual concerts, interstate shows, live silent film scores, vocalist collaborations, and international recognition.

The 5-piece configuration of the group featured in Archaeopteryx began in response to a commission from GoMA to provide pop-up gallery performances in response to an exhibition. The possibilities of the configuration for creating atmospheric, textured, and unusual soundworlds drew us toward further exploration, and Archaeopteryx is part of that journey.

Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?

Paleontology enthusiasts, music lovers, adventurous listeners… I think anyone who likes their live music to take them on a bit of a journey. The music we make is completely instrumental, so it is often very emotive and cinematic, and open to the listeners’ interpretation. So you can kind of be surrounded by this imagery of huge ancient creatures and go on your own unique adventure in your imagination.

Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?

No climbing on the exhibits, unfortunately – but let your imaginations run wild!

Archaeopteryx takes place as part of Anywhere Festival on Friday 21 May 21, at Queensland Museum.