Laura Nygren is a classical double bassist in recovery, now focused on experimental music practices, voice, and creating through acts of care. A returning resident to Fish Factory, her first visit in 2019 inspired her to create her avant-pop act Show Pony, she returned this past April to develop her new work, Glisten, together with collaborator Baz Laarakkers.
Glisten is an artistic research into the materiality of snow and ice. Using field recordings, vocal techniques, and electronics, Laura is developing a body of work around the molecular language of melting. Her research revolves around two questions: How can ephemeral materials express collective resilience? How can we, as artists, resist ecological destruction and fight political apathy? While a single snowflake might vanish instantly, a drift takes days.
Baz joined her mid-month, and together they adventured up the mountain of Stöðvarfjörður and took an unforgettable trip to the Hoffellsjökull glacier for field recording. Back at the factory, they spent time re-amping samples of snow and ice using Atomic Analog gear and composing from recordings made on the mountain, at the glacier, and around the factory. The results will eventually materialise into a vocal work, to be completed later this year.
While in Iceland, Laura recorded, wrote, absorbed, and enjoyed watching the country transition from winter to summer, dabbling along the way in her favourite hobbies: fiber arts and making bad ceramics.
Her time at Fish Factory was filled with laughter and inspiration from the other residents and factory regulars. She connected with local musician Sarah Steiner and recorded some bass for Sarah’s music — a highlight among many. It was a time of feeling close to people who started out as strangers and left as incredible friends, a reminder of how small, wonderful, and weird the world can be.
Glisten and this residency are made possible by the Dutch Fund for the Performing Arts (@FondsPodiumkunsten).