DMLab London: New Perspectives
DMLab is a space for Disabled and Non-Disabled musicians, technologists, and makers to exchange practices and explore new accessible instruments.
When: Monday 25 November
Time: 6PM-8.30PM
Venue: Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, London, E1 6LA OR live stream
Tickets: Register for free now!
Event overview
At this event we’re delighted to welcome presentations from:
- Chris Ball: a creative technologist facilitating the use of technology within the arts. Featuring Chris’s recent journey making simple and cheap Assistive Music Technology (AMT).
- Calina de la Mare: an inclusive practitioner and workshop leader for inclusive music enesembles in London.
- Lou Barnell: demonstrating her breakthrough wearable vocal processor encased in a melting sculpture/collar.
The event will also include opportunities for networking and music making and testing a selection of instruments from Drake Music’s Accessible Musical Instrument Collection.
While this will be an in-person event, there will also be the opportunity to view the presentations online. Register for an online ticket to receive the Zoom link, which will be shared ahead of the event.
Access
- The venue, Rich Mix, is wheelchair accessible, via a permanent entrance ramp and lifts inside the building. The event will be held in The Studio, which is level throughout and is located on the 4th floor.
- There are accessible toilets (with RADAR locks) on the ground floor, 1st floor, 2nd floor and the 4th floor.
- There will be a quiet space available
- We will have live captions and BSL interpreters at the session (these will also be available on the livestream).
- There is a hearing loop in the Studio that can be used by switching most hearing aids to the ‘T’ position.
- There is also an infrared system in The Studio which requires the use of headsets (which Rich Mix provides).
Please let us know of any specific access requirements when registering for the event.
Find out more about accessibility at Rich Mix
About the speakers

Chris Ball (he/him)
Chris Ball is a Manchester-based freelance creative technologist. He works to facilitate the use of technology within the arts, and has completed projects with both local and international artists requiring skills in electronics, programming, interaction, design and fabrication.
The DMLab London presentation will cover Chris’s recent journey making simple Assistive Music Technology (AMT), cheap. Chris will focus on two devices:
- A simple, cheap accessibility switch
- A hub for converting switch inputs into USB MIDI data
These devices are both designed to be exceedingly cheap and easy to modify. These will be released under an open hardware license.

Calina de la Mare (she/her)
Calina is a violinist, composer and workshop leader for Soundbox Ensemble: an all ability inclusive music group for young people. She has had many years of mentoring support from Drake Music and now works as a workshop leader for Drake Music on projects such as OrchLab in collaboration with the `London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Calina will discuss her work as an inclusive practitioner and workshop leader for Soundbox and her involvement in setting up the new Newham Music inclusive ensemble Music Unlocked. She will discuss Assistive Music Technology (AMT) and will share ideas for working in an inclusive music ensemble.
Aside from her work in Inclusive Music, Calina is a session violinist and composer and recently mixed her fourth album with her band 3head.

Image credit: Anthony Bennett
Lou Barnell (she/her/they)
Oram Award Winner Lou Barnell will demonstrate her breakthrough wearable vocal processor encased in a melting sculpture/collar. The wearable instrument is a vocal loop and granular synth controlled by her muscle flexes and sensor technology. Lou’s music communicates her synaesthetic experience of sound, hyperfocus and sensory overload. She uses wearable instruments and sculptures to create music, and to contain, shape and release her body and voice, and to create a soft immersive approach to performance she calls ‘Live Dreaming’.