New Voices 2021 Q&A: Ben Nobuto

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To celebrate the selection of this year’s New Voices cohort, we caught up with all the selected artists and composers for a quick chat.

Here, we speak to New Voices 2021 composer Ben Nobuto. Ben is a British/Japanese composer, pianist and producer from Kent. His music explores themes of attention and fragmentation, often drawing from internet culture and popular idioms in a playful, ironic and surreal manner.

Can you tell us about your musical influences?

My music tends to be a collage of avant-garde techniques, jazz, electronic music, internet culture and surreal humour. I try to create worlds where everything is playful, saturated, and geared towards maximum emotional impact, like advertising. I use notated music but often leave room for improvisation and controlled chaos, sometimes combining electronics with acoustic ensembles. 

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on a piece for strings, percussion and electronics for Manchester Collective. It’s part of a programme called ‘Heavy Metal’ and it’ll be premiered at the Southbank Centre in early December. 

What are you looking forward to most about New Voices?

I’m looking forward to using all the mentoring, support and the extended length of the programme to really challenge myself and take risks in my creative practice. This is great opportunity to grow and learn as an artist. I’m also looking forward to meeting the other New Voices! 



Sound and Music gratefully acknowledges support from PRS Foundation as a Talent Development Partner:

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