emilypeasgood

Emily Peasgood is an Ivor Novello Award-winning composer and sound artist. She creates work that connects people with places that are forgotten, overlooked, or surrounded by unique histories.

“I often joke that the main themes in my work are death and farting. But there's an element of truth to that. My work can be serious and silly in equal measure. I want to create work that is magical and helps people to see the world in a different way.”

What does being one of Emily's patrons look like? Join the Peas-pod, Emily's creative sounding board! Patrons will be invited to contribute ideas, offer feedback from their perspective, and maybe even have the opportunity to be a part of her work. Emily is looking for 20 patrons to join her Peas-pod and become a core part of her creative process. Current projects the Peas-pod will feed into: EverSongEverSong is a musical artwork where it will be possible to hear the entire lifespan of a person in the song, At the start, they will be five years old and, by the end, 95 years old. EverSong takes place in tunnels and along pathways and you it is possible to hear the singer age in real time. The Peas-pod will get to experience EverSong and be part of the early testing process. ModuladyModulady - an interactive musical instrument in the female form. This project is an interactive synthesizer sculpture built from a female mannequin. It critiques “synth-bro” culture, particularly the obsessive primitive way men engage with musical hardware, by inviting people to play sounds through touch across the figure’s erogenous zones. By turning physical intimacy into a musical interface, this work questions attention, connection, and the fetishisation of machines over human bodies. The Peas-pod will be invited to provide feedback on where the buttons and sliders can go. Melo-wee and Sprinkle Tinkle (working title)Melo-wee and Sprinkle Tinkle are musical urinals and toilets. They are acoustic musical instruments which produce notes when struck with urine. They are initially designed for music festivals and venues and Emily is currently working with an architect and metal-worker to design a prototype. The Peas-pod will be able to view early-access videos of the prototyping process, and help design the name. Read more about all of these projects   Why support Emily? From graveyards to public lifts and rubber chickens, Emily's work is diverse, exploring humour and the human condition in equal measure. Her work often occurs in outdoor or publicly accessible places, underpinned by her desire to create inclusive music and art experiences.

“My practice is underpinned by celebrating the underdog. I grew up in Grimsby, a post-industrial depression town. My family were ex-fishermen and dock workers. We are working class, and music and art weren’t a luxury we could afford; it wasn’t for people like us. I was fortunate to receive support to study music, but my early experiences drive how I work today.”

Why support a composer on Music Patron? Supporting a composer on Music Patron gives you a first-hand perspective on the many elements within the creative process and an understanding of an authentic journey of a composer. You can find out more about what it’s like to be a patron here. BiographyWith a a PhD in Creating Accessible and Inclusive Musical Artworks in Communities, Emily has created 19 artworks in seven years that use “experimental approaches to engage communities of people who feel the way I used to about art”. Working at the intersection of music, sound, art and tech, Emily’s creative output includes installation, sculpture, field recording, archive creation, graphic scores, and performance, often developing bespoke technical solutions. Emily has created work for organisations including The Royal Parks, The British Library, Folkestone Triennial, Illuminate Productions, Tate Modern and Turner Contemporary. Her work has been experienced in trains, public lifts, graveyards and even an ancient fort. She has been nominated for an Ivor Novello Award 8 times in community engagement and sonic art categories, winning in 2018 with Halfway To Heaven. She is a Guildhall School of Music and Drama professor, teaching field recording, sonic art, and electronic music composition, and she leads a community choir and community samba band.

“I think life is bonkers and so short. This is a big part of my creative drive. I create work that encourages making the most of the moment or making people laugh. I am brimming with ideas and love for creating things others would dismiss as bonkers.”

Listen Crossbones | Emily Peasgood