About

About Colin Stetson

Colin Stetson is a renowned saxophonist and composer celebrated for his innovative approach to the instrument and his ability to push the boundaries of contemporary music. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Stetson grew up surrounded by a rich musical landscape, studying the saxophone from an early age and honing his craft through rigorous classical and jazz training. He attended the University of Michigan, where he studied under esteemed saxophonists Donald Sinta and Christopher Creviston.

Stetson’s music is characterised by his pioneering use of extended techniques, including circular breathing, multiphonics, and percussive key sounds, which transform the saxophone into an orchestra of its own. His solo works, such as his newest album The love it took to leave you showcase his ability to create dense, emotive soundscapes without overdubs or loops.

In addition to his solo career, Stetson has collaborated with an array of artists, including Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, and Laurie Anderson. He has also composed for film and television, with notable scores for2018’s Hereditary, The Menu and Uzumaki.

With a fearless dedication to exploration, Colin Stetson continues to redefine what is possible in modern music, earning his place as a singular voice in the world of contemporary composition and performance.

Colin Stetson returns to Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts following his sold out performance in April 2023. Read the review of this performance on Brighton Source.

About Kayla Painter

Kayla Painter is an experimental sound artist, musician, producer and DJ. Her immersive, ever-evolving AV performances are a natural consequence of the entire writing process – the visuals figure into the earliest stages of her music. Her debut album Fractures (2024) was written about NASA’s mission to Jupiter's Frozen moon. It won Bandcamp's 'Best Electronic Album of the Year' and the PRS Foundation's 'Women Make Music' award for the album’s creation.

She is a passionate explorer of the creative potential within field recording (she coined the term 'Ambient Owl Core' to describe her ambient music with field recordings of Owls); her compositions bristle with self-sourced timbres captured in an enduring spirit of experimentation. She also uses her platform to explore specific themes both personal and external, such as her mixed Fijian-British heritage.

Kayla Painter is a visiting lecturer in creative composition and electronic music production at a host of Higher Education institutes. Her most notable panel appearance was alongside Laurie Anderson and Hannah Peel for the WITCiH Digital Festival.

Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 October.

Lead image by Jan Rijk