Record label and creative platform of activists, Das SPEZIAL, has utilised the Drawing Studio at Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) as an instrument for a new single made in collaboration with All Saints’ Church in Southbourne, Tate Modern and the Natural History Museum.
Comprising some of the finest and most talented musicians from across the country, Das SPEZIAL includes, founder Shahab Notghi, Stew Jackson from Massive Attack, Drew Morgan from Portishead, and Ewan Pearson. They wrote, recorded and produced the music in Bristol over a few days before coming to AUB’s Drawing Studio.
Shahab explains why they wanted to come to the Drawing Studio:
“My idea was to use the Drawing Studio as a space to enhance the music. This building is so special. It’s the first purpose-built drawing studio created at an art school in over a century, and it also happens to be Sir Peter Cook’s first building in the UK.
“I didn’t really know how it would turn out as the space isn’t a traditional square, it’s a round cylinder which could have caused a lot of issues with the sound. But we took the risk! Chaos and art have always gone hand in hand and it’s all about having fun!
“The idea was to use beautiful spaces made to celebrate creativity, community and pure human engagement as an instrument which you can hear, feel and enhance the feeling and emotion of the songs. Every note was played into the space and captured as it naturally echoed back – creating tension, depth, and a living, breathing sonic texture. The design, the light, the silence between sounds – it all adds a kind of magic that’s hard to put into words.
“Architecture became the instrument. The room became the reverb. And the track came alive. A real analogue reverb chamber.
“That resonance adds a beautiful richness and depth we’ll be weaving into the final mix. It’s the kind of texture you can’t fake, and we’re using it intentionally to build tension and atmosphere throughout the track.”
The tracks made using AUB’s Drawing Studio will be available to download from Spotify and Soundcloud from 26 December.
