The city of Naples returns to the music scene with the innovative project Naples Breaks, promoted and financed by the Municipality as part of the initiative Naples City of Music. Curated by Ponderosa Music & Art, the project aims to transform the urban sounds of the city into an extraordinary new sound work, telling the story of the Neapolitan identity through rich musical research.
The heart of the initiative lies in the creation of a “musical snapshot” of Naples, a work that collects and re-elaborates the characteristic sounds of the city – from the din of crowded streets to sacred and profane rituals, from the voices of the neighborhoods to the atmospheres of natural places. Napoli Spacca – Soundscapes City Performance It is not just an artistic work, but a deep exploration of the urban environment and its traditions, with the aim of protecting the past and projecting it towards the future.
"The project Naples Breaks – explains Sergio Locoratolo, coordinator of cultural policies for the Municipality of Naples – represents a perfect combination of quality entertainment and sound research. Through the fusion of tradition and innovation, a soundscape is created that captures the contemporary essence of Naples, telling our time and offering ideas for future musical creations”.
The project is based on a vast database of field recordings (field recordings) that capture the sonic essence of the different neighborhoods and environments of Naples. This sound archive, which will be made accessible to the public through the portal Naples City of Music, will form the basis for a unique and immersive musical performance, scheduled for September 2, 2024 in the courtyard of Castel Nuovo / Maschio Angioino.
The sound research was entrusted to two internationally renowned artists: Paolo Polcari, co-founder of the group Almamegretta, and Stuart Braithwaite, Scottish guitarist of Mogwai. Together, Polcari and Braithwaite combine advanced recording techniques with a deep knowledge of Neapolitan traditions, creating a musical dialogue between the past and the future.
According to Ferdinando Tozzi, the Mayor's delegate for audiovisual and music industry, Naples Breaks perfectly embodies the vision of Naples as “Music City”. “Polcari and Braithwaite’s sonic exploration reflects our ambition to promote the city internationally, combining innovation, technology and local traditions to grow the music sector and chart its future routes”, said Tozzi.
The culminating event of the project will be a live performance that will transform the sounds of Naples into an immersive sound installation, allowing the audience to live a unique multisensory experience. Admission to the event will be free, subject to online reservation starting from August 27th.
The project also includes an in-depth panel, entitled “Re-generating, between popular traditions and sound innovation. Napoli still rocks.”, which will also be held on September 2 at Palazzo Cavalcanti. Artists and scholars will discuss the importance of the dialogue between tradition and innovation, with particular attention to the role of the city of Naples as a center of musical creativity.
Article published on 26 August 2024 - 14:01
