Sónar Festival celebrates 25 years by sending music into space.
They are also looking for budding producers to send in extraterrestrial compositions.
To celebrate their 25th birthday, Sonar has launched a collaborative initiative with the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia. Sonar Calling GJ273b is a project that aims to communicate with extraterrestrial life by broadcasting music out beyond the borders of our solar system.
33 ten-second pieces of music as a radio message, has been sent out on the 16, 17, and 18th of October to the Luyten Star. With the exoplanet being 12.4 light-years away from Earth, it is expected that a response could take up to 25 years to be received.
Artists included on the projects are Fatima Al Qadiri, Nina Kraviz, The Black Madonna, Laurel Halo, Holly Herndon, Richie Hawtin, Modeselektor, Kode 9, Soichi Terada and more, Each of them producing their own unique response. Laurel Halo has created a ‘poetic lament’ that is also a plea for help, while Nina Kraviz ruminates on the Russian word ‘Mir’ which translates to ‘peace’ and ‘world’, and The Black Madonna has produced an ironic message on how to make a hit record.
The second batch of transmisions are due to be sent out in April 2018, this time including messages from the likes of Lorenzo Senni, Zora Jones and Squarepusher amongst others.
Sonar Festival are opening the project to the public, with an open call asking to submit musical compositions, with an extraretinal audience in mind. Three will be selected as part of the 2018 transmissions, and winners will also be invited to the festival in Barcelona next June.
Sónar are also opening the project out to the public. Their open call has asked for the public to submit musical compositions for an extraterrestrial audience in mind. Three will be selected as part of their transmissions for April 2018. Winners will also be invited to Sónar in Barcelona next year in June.
Check out the project and how to submit here: www.sonarcalling.com
