October - November 2023

During the residency at HELLERAU, composer and sound designer Pierre-Luc Senécal from Montreal will be working on two projects:

"MegaGrowl" and "Bones of the Earth". Both are related to his unique approach to the voice, especially with "Growled Vocals". This distorted throat singing technique is often used in the Growlers Choir, a choir of heavy metal singers that he founded in 2018. The Growlers Choir has created a repertoire at the crossroads of experimental, contemporary, electro-acoustic and metal music. The next project is the concert "MegaGrowl", a 60-minute spectacle for Growlers Choir, classical choir, organ and percussion. The project, which involves almost 50 musicians, will be performed in a church in Montreal in October 2024 and is scheduled to go on tour in Europe in 2025. Pierre-Luc Senécal's work during his stay in Dresden will focus on writing and composing the remaining 35 minutes of music.

"Bones of the Earth" is a one-person piece for voice, electric guitar and electronics. As the only musician in the group, Pierre-Luc Senécal wants to sketch the first piece of music for this new project. Drawing inspiration from Sigur Ros, Lingua Ignota, Haxan Cloak and sludge metal, he creates soundscapes and lyrical melodies that slowly build to a cathartic climax. To this end, he manipulates a processed baritone guitar and explores vocal techniques such as fry vocals, inhalation and growl. Although Pierre-Luc Senécal is not a professional singer, he has a great passion for vocal sounds and wants to develop his own practice and musical language using the voice. The piece will be performed in Quebec in April 2024 as a support act for the Growlers Choir's album launch.

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