Join us for our end-of-year DMLab celebration!
Image: Kris Halpin by Josefa Torres
We will be getting together on 26th November at Graeae for some live music and performances using new accessible music technology from:
- Kris Halpin, performing live bringing you up to date with everything he has been doing with the astonishing MiMu Gloves
- Hannah Shelmerdine, a rising talent from the North West who has been collaborating with our DMLab crew in Salford
- Jason Dasent, a producer at the forefront of access for visually impaired musicians who will explore his rig with us and perform live with an artist he is working with
Hannah and Chris from DMLab North West
About our performers
KRIS HALPIN
Kris is a long-time collaborator & colleague here at Drake Music, who has been expanding the world of musical possibilities via the Mimu Gloves. The Mimu musical gloves were first conceived by musical mastermind (& DM Advocate) Imogen Heap as a way of getting out from behind her computer when performing. Since then they have been used by a select group of musicians to push the boundaries of what tech can do including Ariana Grande and our very own Kris Halpin! Kris will be performing live and showing us how his performance and musicality has changed and grown since the gloves gave him access to a new way of playing.
HANNAH SHELMERDINE
Hannah is a fairly new musician based in the North West of England who has a passion for music and sailing. She has been part of DMLab North West since 2017 when she come along to an event and asked if it would be possible to make an instrument which would be accessible to her. Sine that first brave step Hannah has worked with the technologists and musicians in the group to develop both instruments and her musicality, with the outcome that this year she has been invited to be part of Special Virtuosi based at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Hannah says; “I really do enjoy being a part of the orchestra. I especially like that I am their first member participating using an electronic instrument. I enjoy listening to and playing along with, the other musicians playing their standard instruments, it is a fantastically good sensory experience for me. I can now keep in time and keep a rhythm. My concentration span and attention span have improved and increased greatly, as well as my hand/eye co ordination. I have made many new friends, learned many new musical skills and had much fun.”
JASON DASENT
Jason Dasent is the owner and operator of Studio Jay Recording Ltd. He has over 25 years experience in all aspects of recording and music production. As a visually impaired person he has been at the forefront of the industry employing the latest technology and shaping the development of new Caribbean talent. He has been working to overcome the limitations of mainstream music software since “accessibility” was in its infancy. This has enabled him to compete successfully with his sighted counterparts and makes him well placed to impart his knowledge and experience to other visually impaired producers and engineers. Having been part of a worldwide team of Beta testers for accessibility with AVID Protools since 2017, Jason was recognised for strides in this area in July 2019 by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), and he and his wife, (Studio Jay’s Marketing Manager), were sent by CEDA on a mission to London to meet with key manufacturers of music production equipment in an effort to promote full accessibility. The trip was a success in that all three manufacturers contacted (Native Instruments, Focusrite/Novation and Spitfire Audio) have continued to move their products forward with the end goal of full accessibility using Jason as a Beta tester and hands on consultant to help guide their progress from the perspective of a professional user who is visually impaired.
Jason Dasent from Studio Jay Recording
What else is involved at DMLab?
There will also be chances to have a go with experimental tech, chat to like-minded people and share skills and ideas.
DMLab is a community of people who want to dream up and design new accessible ways to make music. It is musicians and makers, Disabled and non-disabled alike, working together. It is based on equality and takes a Social Model approach.
It is also based on a love of music and a desire to open it up to everyone.
Come along to our early Christmas party and join in the fun! Everyone with an interest in music, access and tech is welcome.
Book your (free) place for our November event on Eventbrite.
Not sure what DMLab is? Read more here.
