The listening sessions brought folks together to spend quality time listening to music. In the space of a white cube, staring at a blank wall in unison, I was curious to explore how such an invitation for being together could potentially create meaningful connections among acquaintances, but especially among “strangers.”
[Feature photo: Jessica Hébert]
Photo: Jessica Hébert
The MTL Listening Sessions (#3) – MTL sessions d’écoute (May 2015)
Centre des arts actuels SKOL, Montreal, QC
As music is so very evocative of other times/places and emotions, the experience of music/listening, in an intentioned, quiet and focused setting, created a particular zone of communion. In this performance the audience was invited to bring a song of their choice, which is played off mp3 players in a round-robin DJ session.
Photo: Jennier Tellier
The T.O. Listening Sessions (#1) – The ‘Drop In Session’ (April 2015)
Artscape Youngplace, RECESS-Open House, Toronto, ON
This iteration took place during Artscape’s open house. The drop-in format created more a dance floor vibe. We sat and listened but also jumped up to move around the room. Less focused than the “traditional” listening session, guests in the space nonetheless were asked to propose the track to be played in a round-robin DJ set.
Photo: Jessica Hébert
The MTL Listening Sessions (#2) – The Birthday Edition (Jan 2015)
RATS 9, Link & Pin performance art series, Montreal, QC
Once again sitting with the audience as we stared at a blank wall, while listening to music together, participants were invited to say something about the song they selected (if they chose to) which turned into a second stage of presentation: performances of memory through spontaneous storytelling. We also ate cake.
Photo: Jessica Hébert
The MTL Listening Sessions (#1)
(Dec 2014)
RATS 9, Link & Pin performance art series, Montreal, QC
In this first iteration, participants shared poignant and hilarious stories of the origins of their relationship to the track they selected. Crossovers between stories and songs produced another spontaneous DJ-ing style: repeat participants remembering yet more stories that then inspired further song selections.
Photo: Giles Merriott
The Mobile Listening Sessions (June 2013)
Sir Winston Churchill Square, The Works Art & Design Festival, Edmonton, AB
A listening session in two parts: the first saw me set up shop in a festival tent to invite festival-goers (otherwise passersby) to pop in and listen to a track with me: whatever happened to be currently playing on their mobile mp3 device. In a second part, we gathered in a small group for a round-robin DJ set (as unfolded above).
Victoria Stanton 