Performed by:

• Matt Brombley (Electronics and Vocals)

• Neil Valentine (Viola)

• Shri Sriram (Bass)

Kindly funded by Arts Council England

Supported by Solent University

Performed live on Friday 7 July 2024 at Solent University Music Studios.

'Soft Masc' is the second of two improvised performances from this experimental music trio of Matt Brombley (electronics and vocals), Neil Valentine (viola) and Shri Sriram (bass).

The piece explores the complex relationship of 'belonging' to masculinity — calling us to pay attention to quieter voices and sounds, giving strength and assertion to their whispering, and making space for them to belong, however uncomfortable their truth.

The piece opens with electronic loops and sounds created from samples of the quietest timbres from each instrument, compressed, time-stretched and processed to bring them forward into the mix and allow for qualities within them to be heard. To accompany this, viola plays in pizzicato, and bass plays with bow, bringing out their quieter voices.

The piece then moves into a section which modulates between D Major and D Minor, later moving into F# Major, all accompanied by arpeggios which challenge and destabilise the ability to belong in any one key. The piece ends with an exploration of first treading lightly, then muscling into the space, with lyrics drawn from the trios exploration of the challenges of their very different experiences of masculinity.