SEN~SA Entanglements
What we perceive as chaos in this world, is nothing but serenity given time to explore. Whatever is found to be a loose end, can be traced back to itself, and shown to be the starting point of discovery.
The Entanglements festival, presented by SENSA (Sonic Exploration Network of South Africa), has woven the strands of sound, human connection and entropy, creating an atmosphere of abstract frequencies not bound by any resonant structure. Taking root in both Joburg and Cape Town over the course of two weekends, there was a harmonic cacophony shared between the lovers of experimental sound and exploratory music.
“Sensa is a platform for exploratory music and sound art. We host events where people can explore in a safe space the boundaries of their own perceptions of what sound is. Sound can exist in any kind of form, in any kind of way. It only requires one to pay attention to it.”
Sage, a multi-disciplinary artist and member of SENSA, who helped put together the Cape Town part of Entanglements Festival, alongside veterans from the Edge of Wrong era, Aragorn Eloff and Rosemary Lombard.
The word “entanglements” carries the core sentiment of the festival; an intertwining of what our myopia perceives as separate. When sound that has never been heard before by strangers that have never met, we lose our unfamiliarity with the unknown. In the noise we say a silent namaskaram and abandon the need for an objective understanding of reality. All that remains is the vibrational essence of creation.
“Close your eyes again. Listen. What do you hear? What do you feel? What happens when we stop domesticating sound and allow it to unfold freely? There’s only one way to find out.” - Aragorn Eloff
Exploration was the maxim of Entanglements. And nowhere was this better experienced than in the instruments played. Our most primal instrument flowed in harmony with guitars, field recordings, synthesisers, violins, drum machines, double bass, an umakhweyana, makeshift acoustic sound machines, flutes, harps and instruments yet to be named. Beyond this, the mind and possibilities of creating were investigated through workshops and talks held by truly experimental artists. Aragorn Eloff (@asqus23) spoke about modular synthesis and the freedom it brings. Asher Gamedze (@one.stab) and Stanley Sibande (@stanley_sibande_music) spoke about the hurdles Cape Town musicians face, and how the change lies in the hands of those who create. Chantelle Grey (@chantellegray23) showed us how deep listening is a practice that requires more than our senses to comprehend.
The feelings of vulnerability and eagerness of all involved were impossible to deny as something reflected within yourself over the course of the festival. A silent understanding of the value the festival pervaded all the conversations and all the spaces in Ganesh. The truth everyone shared became the truth of the festival; here and now is all that matters.
“I think for me it would be just cool to see that artists are able to be vulnerable and that the people that are there hold space for it. I think it's the rarest thing that you can find in the music scene anywhere. It's people showing up quite raw and delivering performances that are so close to their hearts and who they are as people. And at the same time, have all the people in the room dead quiet and respectful of that moment. That is what I want for every single performance. Because I know how powerful that is for both; the people who listen and the people who perform. When the moment of vulnerability is there, it's felt.”
Though all at the festival delved into pure sonic chaos, there was no true uneasiness. If anything, the roots reaching out from the substratum of the festival, has dug itself into the minds of everyone who attended. The South African community of exploratory artists has only grown and found new ground from which to sprout.
“I don't think anyone knew what they were getting themselves into. And I think that was a continuous thread. We knew the schedule and the performances, but what we were going to experience in the moments that we were there were complete unknowns. And I think the highlights were people being exposed to this and being pleasantly surprised and I enjoy the idea that they were part of something that they've never, ever witnessed in any other space.”
Moving with patience and gratitude, SENSA has given South Africa an experience many have dreamed about, and which some have never conceived of. And this patience and gratitude will resonate with all those who attended. Seeds have been planted, connections have been made, and the momentum is unstoppable.
“I think gratitude was the most prominent feeling of this thing. Seeing a vision that formulated two years ago coming to fruition in such a beautiful way was deeply, deeply emotional. It took patience and time and connection and energy and softness to formulate and bring this thing together. And I think when it was over, it was such a beautiful ending to it because it felt complete, you know. I didn't feel like I wanted more, and I didn't think I could have given more. I think I felt like everyone gave so much to put it on and not just like literally, like parts of themselves. And when it was over, I was just so grateful for that.”
“Entanglements is about breaking down the borders and allowing people to experiment across spaces using sound. And one thing that was exemplary for me in this, in the space and like, we can talk about sonically and culturally and spiritually and all that was, it was incredibly diverse.”
