Sound is amazing. The possible combination of sounds is infinite. Yet what we hear every day is usually restricted by expectations of what sounds familiar, conventional or… nice.

Pitch Shifting is a collaboration between improvising vocalist rit. and Peter O’Doherty of Northern Lights Project. Over the next year, they’ll be creating an immersive sound installation that will premiere at Outburst Queer Arts Festival in 2023 before touring.

This 90-minute workshop is the first stop along the way – an exploratorium where you’re encouraged to expand your ears beyond usual expectations. Get curious about the surprising, different and usually discarded sounds and transform them through different ways of listening. Your voices will form the basis of the final soundscape composition.

In these fun, experimental workshops over two festival weekends, we’ll swap nice for interesting. As a participant you’ll be invited to think creatively, speak, listen, read, write, sit and move (walking or wheelchair). Standing is optional and you can input as much or as little as you fancy.

Participation is FREE but booking is essential

rit. (they/them) is a vocalist and composer who is also nonbinary and autistic. They use their voice to make sounds, and sometimes their teeth. With a background ranging from traditional folk music, industrial cyberpunk, musical theatre and medical simulation, rit. may even surprise you with a song.

Peter O’Doherty is Artistic Director of Northern Lights Project. a Derry-based organisation that creates, produces and promotes cutting-edge new music and adventurous interdisciplinary arts events.

Pitch Shifting has been made possible by generous support from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.