about
This piece is a collaboration project that originated within the "We are Here" Creative Laboratory's trip to Bereznik (Russia, Arkhangelsk district) in March 2019. A group of artists, performers and musicians united around a river theme and set up what was called a "Water laboratory". We started experimenting with sounds of water in all its variety. The audio recordings made during that short period formed the basis of this track. The work continued afterward in Moscow and Helsinki. We exchanged files and ideas, sending them back and forth. This is the first realization of our river-themed project. We are hoping to continue this work and expand it in various directions (including eco-activism, for example).
We see it as an audio poem, an invocation, a ritual of the River awakening.
It starts with sounds of early spring, the thaw. It’s getting warmer, the snow is melting. But the River is still locked under the ice as we saw it in Bereznik. A human voice is used here to communicate with Water and praise it for what it is - a natural medium, a mighty force that connects worlds. The communication with Water is private, intimate and fragile but powerful at the same. The River is waking up from sleep, it's coming to life and starts breathing openly. It flows and brings life. It’s a silent celebration, a muted hymn.
Katya Kalyuzhnaya
Dance artist, performer, student of Somatic Body Training (somatic movement education and therapy), participant of "On the edge" project (the study of the transformation of modern culture ), non-anthropic communication practitioner (Technogaia project).
Outi Inkeri Rossi
Helsinki-based playwright, scriptwriter and performance artist. Studies phytotherapy, does wall climbing, radio features, and beekeeping.
Max Sergeev
Musician, sound designer and record collector based in Moscow.
A long-time member of experimental sound project Membrana/Membranoids and Bigudi.
lyrics
words by Outi Rossi
Kaikki oli kuollutta
Kaikki oli kuollutta
liikkumatonta
kun kolme harakkaa lennähti joen varteen
niiden valkoiset siipisulat
välähtelivät auringossa
vedessä
ja vesi alkoi virrata
puiden latvukset liikahdella
hiiret alkoivat haistella tammenterhoja
vesiperhoset kiertää kehää virran yläpuolella
saukko solahti veteen
aurinko nousi ja laski
tähdet syttyivät ja sammuivat
ihmiset hengittivät, syntyivät ja kuolivat
pilvet liikkuivat maapallon ympärillä
sade valui niistä jokiin
ja joista meriin
jossa valaat huutelivat toisilleen
merivirtojen karttapoluista
Everything was dead
and stayed still
when three magpies flew to the river
the white feathers of their wings
were shining in the sun
on the surface of the water
and the water started to move
the crowns of the trees started to slightly move
mice started to sniff for acorns
caddisflies started to circle above the water
an utter dived into the water
the sun went up and down
the stars shone and went out
people were breathing, being born and dying
the clouds wandered around the Earth
the rain poured from them into rivers
and ran from there to the seas
where whales were shouting to each other
about the path maps of ocean currents
credits
released January 20, 2020
Katya Kalyuzhnaya - chanting, water manipulation, body sounds, spoken word, inspiration
Outi Inkeri Rossi - poetry, water manipulation, field recordings, kantele, inspiration
Max Sergeev - field recordings, water manipulation, sound design, editing, mixing
Photo credit: Olga Loginova
license
all rights reserved
