Songs of Absence feat. Witten Resonance (2024) builds on the 2023 dance performance Songs of Absence. For choreographer Anna Konjetzky and me, the focus was on offering a feminist perspective on the things that are "missing," "invisible," or disappear in the in-between spaces. Our collaboration questions whether these absences are merely a result of "not wanting to see" or "not being able to see."

The entire performance was structured like an album, with songs that could be played sequentially or as standalone "compilations." In our Witten "release," songs from the original dance performance are placed in a new context, expanded, and confronted with fresh conceptual spaces and resonances. In this performance, the electric guitar and drum set are the only visible instruments. The electric guitar symbolizes rebellion and freedom within the composition, while the drum set, as a central element of popular music, unites people through rhythm. The sound of the drum set is further enriched through the use of samples.

With the support of artificial intelligence, synthesizer patches were created based on samples of musical snippets. The selected musical pieces for these samples were all previously performed at the Witten Days for New Chamber Music. As a result, the drum set is not only the rhythmic foundation but also serves as a creative spark for the sonic archive, bridging the past and present.
In a world that is constantly changing, there is no room for rigidity. Our era calls for a societal form that allows everyone to freely realize themselves within it. This piece celebrates diversity in all its facets.