"Growling, flailing, kicking, screaming, the experimental British musician Aya clutched a microphone and ranted about her hormones. If anything, the progesterone is doing wonders right now, she cackled in her Yorkshire accent as she triggered an unpredictable minefield of bone-rattling bass and clattering breakbeats. The crowd in New York City's Knockdown Center on Friday whooped as their bodies moved without thought."
"The British party just elected a bunch of fascists today, she added, before lamenting about the state of the NHS. It was part of the performance: Aya's chaotic music rebels against formal structure, becoming a sonic vehicle for exploding the limitations of gender. Equal parts artistic subversion and cathartic release, Aya's set epitomized the best of C2C NYC, a sold-out, one-day edition of an independent music festival originally held in Torino, Italy, which will celebrate its 25th anniversary this fall."
"With its affinity for innovative pop-auteurs and critical darlings, the Torino edition has become a global destination for experimental music fans; 53% of its audience now comes from outside Italy. New York became an obvious choice to expand into, says the festival's artistic director, Guido Savini, over email. It's a chance to place the festival's curatorial language within what is probably the most complex and definitely the most competitive cultural ecosystem in the world."
"Now in its second year, C2C NYC has made its foray as the city's music landscape has undergone what some may call a festivalization an exploding market for festivals that echoes the national trend. Live music has boomed post-pandemic, with specifically electronic music seeing more revenue growth and getting more billings in some of the US's biggest multi-genre fests. It's not just Knockdown Center, but nearby Queens venue Nowadays has boasted takeovers from electronic music meccas such as Dekmantel and Sustain-Release."
Aya performed at Knockdown Center in New York with growling vocals, flailing movement, and hormone-themed ranting. Bone-rattling bass and clattering breakbeats created an unpredictable sonic experience that pushed against formal structure. The set framed the music as a vehicle for exploding limitations of gender, combining artistic subversion with cathartic release. The performance also referenced contemporary politics and healthcare, including the election of fascists and concerns about the NHS. The event was part of C2C NYC, a sold-out one-day independent festival expanding from Torino, Italy, where it has become a global destination for experimental music. C2C NYC entered a city music scene shaped by a broader festival boom and growing electronic music revenue post-pandemic.
#experimental-music #electronic-music #gender-and-performance #music-festivals #post-pandemic-live-music
Read at www.theguardian.com
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