The Glasshouse Artists in Residence stage visionary projects at the cutting edge of technology meeting music 

fter ten months of creativity and innovation, The Glasshouse International Centre of Music’s Artists in Residence are ready to share their visionary new work. This June, music lovers are invited to experience three one-of-a-kind performances by Frankie Archer, ako and Natalie Sharp – bold, boundary-pushing artists at the forefront of music and digital experimentation. The programme marks the start of The Glasshouse’s third decade – it’s most creatively ambitious yet.

Explosive electro-folk artist Frankie Archer invites audiences to become creators in a unique performance on Thursday 12 June. Electronic musician and producerako explores our evolving relationship with AI in an immersive audio-visual performance on Wednesday 25 June.Activist artist-musician Natalie Sharp presents the latest chapter of her evolving project SPUME to an invited audience during a week of research and development at The Glasshouse.

The artists started work on their projects in September 2024, inspired by the possibilities of digital technology in music creation and performance. With support from The Glasshouse and partners Newcastle University, Mediale, and Advanced Media Production Network, based at PROTO in Gateshead Quays, their ideas have come to life. Now, it’s time to experience what they’ve created.

About the artists and their projects

Frankie Archer’s electro-alt trad music blends her love of electronic sounds with Northumbrian folk roots, capturing human experiences from old folk traditions, reimagined with a special focus on the stories and perspectives of women and girls.

Commune, Frankie’s project, welcomes gig-goers to step inside the music as creators and collaborators on Thursday 12 June. Connected by copper wire, the audience will become an instrument, manipulating the sound to create an immersive and interactive experience. Blurring the edges between performer and audience, they’ll find connection and meaning in the communal experience of sound. Folks can join in as little or as much as they want, without pressure or expectation but with openness and warmth.

ako (alias of Simeon Soden) is an electronic musician who fuses vaporwave with experimental dance music. His audiovisual performances use creative coding, modified game consoles, VHS manipulation, analogue video equipment, and CGI, often repurposing obsolete tech to critique hyper-consumerism.

His concept album Algorithms of Loving Grace looks at our growing relationship with AI and its potential to enhance or disrupt the human experience. His project imagines AI’s potential to redefine work, allowing individuals to engage in socially valuable pursuits beyond traditional labour. On Wednesday 25 June, audiences can experience it through a live, immersive audio-visual performance with an analog television wall behind ako.

Natalie Sharp is a disabled artist, musician, and radical body activist using performance, music, and sculpture to challenge norms and celebrate identity, transforming spaces into inclusive, expressive environments and confronting ableism with bold work.

Her project, SPUME, is an evolving immersive performance that explores the intersection between the human body, sound, and the natural world. Utilising soundscapes, tactile technologies, and innovations in sensory installations, SPUME seeks to create an experience where the audience feels the rhythms of the natural environment and the vibrations from the performance. This activation of the body as a site for healing through feeling sound creates an immersive experience that resonates deeply with both the audience and the coastal environment. For this chapter of SPUME, an invited audience will have the chance to explore and experience the technology, research and development behind the creation of this immersive installation.

In 2024, The Glasshouse entered its third decade, and it’s their most creatively ambitious era yet – enabling homegrown musicians to make and perform their best work. As one of the leading live music centres in the country, they provided the Artists in Residence with space, support, and expertise to create ambitious and innovative live experiences.

As lead partners, Newcastle University’s music department worked closely with the Artists in Residence to inspire future musicians, students and academics. It was also part of a two-year partnership between The Glasshouse and Mediale, an international arts commissioner based in North Yorkshire, supporting the artists to produce work that combined music and technology in fresh ways.

This work forms part of The Glasshouse’s broader impact as a creative powerhouse for the North East, contributing £681 million to the UK economy over its first 20 years.

The final partner was Digital Catapult’s Advanced Media Production Network, based at PROTO in Gateshead. The team supported the musicians with technical training and access to specialist equipment to develop their projects during their residency. Advanced Media Production leads UK innovation by combining technologies and virtual environments to revolutionise media production.

Lucy Scott, Senior Producer Contemporary Music and Artist Development, said: “In 2024, The Glasshouse celebrated the start of its third decade, ushering in its most ambitious creative era yet. Our goal is to provide a platform for local musicians to create and share their best work. Through our Artists in Residence programme, Nat, Frankie, and Ako have utilised our space, resources, and expertise to develop innovative live experiences – experiences we’d love for you to come and see.”

Rachel Williams, Head of Digital, said: “Produced in collaboration between The Glasshouse Artist Development and Digital teams, and our fantastic partners from the across the region, this programme allowed us to experiment and play with different types of music production, performance and experiences with these three innovative artists. We’ve learned alongside the artists, testing new ideas and ways of working, all while exploring ways to invite audiences and our networks to experience this style of work, blending music performance and digital technology.”

These residencies show The Glasshouse’s commitment to nurturing bold, future-facing music experiences that inspire and connect.

Frankie Archer said: “My time as an Artist in Residence has been so freeing. It’s given me the time to sit down and explore how to bring my music into another dimension with interactive technology and given me support from beautiful people at The Glasshouse and Newcastle University.

“This show will be a bit different. People won’t just see it but will be making it happen. I’ve deconstructed some of my songs so certain parts will be controlled by the people in the room, changing sounds through movement and touch. I can’t wait to see that happen!”

ako said: “The residency has been great. The financial support has given me the time and space to work on a large creative project, which, in an industry where independent artists juggle numerous responsibilities alongside their creative practice, pursuing artistic growth can take a backseat to the demands of survival. So, carving out dedicated time like this is vital for developing new ideas and growing as an artist.

“Support from The Glasshouse and partners provided structure, learning opportunities, and access to high-quality facilities. It’s also been great to have folks to bounce ideas off and get feedback along the way. It’ll be great to finally share my new album after working on it since September. The performance will be my most ambitious yet.”

Nat said: “The residency has been invaluable in manifesting the latest iteration of SPUME, particularly offering insights into eco-acoustic and spatial sound design. Collaborations with Newcastle University’s marine engineering and Sunderland Glass Centre have pushed the project forward. While some hurdles presented challenges, they’ve only strengthened the project’s direction and I look forward to sharing this version of SPUME with peers and partners.”