Composer Simon Dobson’s is hoping that his latest musical initiative can break something of a musical mould with a recording that takes a collective step into the unknown....
Ongoing
Simon told 4BR: "As a brass and wind composer I’ve always tried to push boundaries. I feel very strongly that the way the wider audience feels and listens to brass music is key to the ongoing development and growth of the genre.
Without excitement and innovation, any type of music will struggle to maintain a positive outlook and the record that I want to cut is a chance to collectively do something positive for a movement that needs change and cross pollination to push it forward."
Ingrained
He feels that the time has come to change what he feels are ingrained perceptions. As a result he has taken the initiative with his project entitled #euneirophrenia – which translates into the feeling of well being people have after waking up after a particularly good dream.
"I want to make my first solo record a work that challenges the possible perceptions that the brass band and wind band scene can be archaic and exclusive," he added.
"I'd love to be able to make a record that changes the way people think and feel about classical brass composition and perhaps show them a side of the playing and soundworld they might not have encountered before."
Punks and funksters
He continued: "This will not just be a record for people who are into contemporary classical composition or brass bands, but one that should appeal to fans of jazz, dubstep and breaks.
I want punks, rockers, funksters clubbers to see the same sense of vitality and colour that I have seen in brass playing."
The innovative recording will see Simon working with a number of leading musicians – including the first ever brass band vesus dubstep composition.
Diverse
The British Composer Award winner continued: "I want to show the diverse range of things brass instruments can do when the chance is given! This record will contain the first ever brass band v. dubstep piece in a collaboration with UK dubstep producer KOVEN, as well as many other interesting experiments!
I'm hoping to create a collection of music that sounds, and as a product, looks different to anything the wind and brass movement has seen before – but I'm going to need as much help as possible to make this happen."
Centrepiece
Simon’s BASCA award winning composition, 'A Symphony of Colours' will provide the centrepiece of the record, surrounded by the host of innovative works that he believes will open exciting new compositional avenues for young composers in particular.
"I want the project to live up to its title – and that feeling of people waking up to listen to something new and exciting as if from the best dream possible."
More information
For more information on Simon’s project and to see if you can help make it come to fruition, please go to his campaign pages at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Simon-Dobson/135766243209390?ref=hl
http://www.sponsume.com/project/euneirophrenia