Meny
In November, Elefantöra took part in Avara Tech and Oulu Sound Hack in Finland – a context where art and technology meet through experimentation, curiosity and a shared interest in exploring future sound practices.
The visit formed part of ShareMusic’s broader work to deepen knowledge of new technologies and how they can be used to expand both accessibility and artistic expression. During the week, ShareMusic and Elefantöra participated in the hackathon, where students from the University of Oulu and Aalto University presented self-developed prototypes and instruments. Many of the ideas focused on open-source solutions, accessibility and democratised digital tools, offering valuable insights into both the hackathon format and how technological innovation can support inclusive music-making. Several of the connections established will be taken forward, with the aim of further developing the prototypes into more accessible and usable instruments.
For Elefantöra, the festival’s sound dome became a new and inspiring space to work in. Equipped with 24 loudspeakers and a fully immersive sound environment, the dome offered a unique opportunity to explore the role of space in improvisation and interaction. The ensemble presented two works: a live version of Asta Hyvärinen’s INTERSTELLAR, responding in real time to the composer’s 16-channel electronics, and an open post-hackathon improvisation together with guest artists. The collaboration with Hyvärinen, which began at Nordic Music Days 2024, has continued to deepen, and the meeting in Oulu clearly demonstrated the strong dialogue between her electroacoustic language and Elefantöra’s aesthetic.
The musicians described performing in the sound dome as particularly inspiring. The enveloping 360° environment opened up entirely new ways of thinking about listening, movement and presence in space. Experiences from Oulu will now be carried forward into several of ShareMusic’s other development strands, including the EDI work and the broader exploration of spatial and multimodal sound environments.
Although the week did not unfold exactly as planned, the stay in Finland offered both new perspectives and new relationships. It strengthened connections with researchers and technology developers in Oulu, many of whom have expressed a strong interest in continued collaboration and in developing their prototypes with accessibility and usability as key goals. Overall, Avara Tech became an important part of ShareMusic’s ongoing journey towards understanding how technology can create more pathways into the artistic space.
The trip was made possible with funding from the Swedish–Finnish Cultural Foundation.
In November, the ensemble Elefantöra travelled to Finland.
They took part in Avara Tech and Oulu Sound Hack.
This is a place where art and technology meet.
The visit was part of ShareMusic’s work with new technology.
The goal is to make music more accessible and open to more people.
During the week, Elefantöra joined a hackathon.
Students from the University of Oulu and Aalto University showed new instruments and sound ideas.
Many projects focused on open-source tools and accessibility.
The week gave new ideas and created new contacts for future collaboration.
Elefantöra also worked in a sound dome.
The dome has 24 loudspeakers and sound all around the audience.
It is a very immersive space.
The group performed two pieces.
One was a live version of INTERSTELLAR by Asta Hyvärinen.
They also played an open improvisation with guest artists.
The musicians felt inspired by the space.
The sound dome made them think in new ways about listening, movement and presence.
The trip gave new knowledge and new relationships.
Researchers and developers in Oulu want to continue working together.
The experience will now be part of ShareMusic’s future projects, including EDI work.
The trip was supported by the Swedish–Finnish Cultural Foundation.
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