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Music

Visit a 'Tuneable' Sonic Space for Artists in London

Sonos Studio LDN will host intimate gigs, installations, workshops, and exhibitions in an acoustically designed space.

Sonos Studio LDN. Photos courtesy of Sonos.

Following an LA studio which has been home to artworks by The xx and SOFTLab, Sonos has recently opened a venue and work space in Shoreditch, London. The converted warehouse has a 170-capacity ground floor live music hall, a cafe, a drop-in center upstairs that will be open to anyone and feature work stations and host workshops, and two surround sound listening rooms.

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The space was designed by architects Brinkworth Design and everything was created to maximize the music experience (and to insulate the place so the neighbors don't get upset)—from the reclaimed sonic-friendly pine floors that come from BBC's Broadcasting House (and have listened to speeches by George Orwell and Winston Churchill) to the bespoke curtains and acoustic walls.

To ensure the space within the warehouse sounded not only great, but also could adapt to a variety of performances, Brinkworth consulted with music producer Giles Martin and acoustic expert Nick Whitaker from Miloco Builds, who specialise in recording studios.

Concert space downstairs with adjustable ceiling panels

"The solution developed for the main ground floor space was to create a ‘tuneable’ environment through the use of adjustable acoustic panels on the ceiling and main glazed wall," explains Emma Wynn from Brinkworth. "Through angling, rotating and changing surfaces within a series of panels it is possible to adjust the sound absorbency of the room to suit the type of sound or performance. On the first floor, the function of the space is more relaxed and the intention was to acoustically enhance the space through the use of more domestic qualities—plants, furniture, books etc. Absorbent ceiling panels without the tuneable functionality soften the space."

Although a relatively small venue the idea is for more intimate gigs to take place and Tom Panton, Head of Sonos Studio London, says they've produced a room "that is among the best-sounding for its size in the city."

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The studio also takes influences from other musical heritage hotspots in Europe, the ground floor ceiling is influenced by Amsterdam's celebrated Trouw club, which closed in January this year, and the upstairs blue floor is a nod to Abbey Road Studios.

Sound artist and experimental designer Yuri Suzuki was there at the opening weekend, teaching people how to turn fruit into musical instruments using his Ototo invention kit. The kit uses a cassette tape-sized PCB synthesizer and crocodile clips and enables people to trigger sounds using conductive materials, like a banana or glass of water.

Yuri Suzuki's fruit instruments

Work stations upstairs in Sonos Studio LDN

Cafe

Upstairs

The space will play host to exhibitions, gigs, workshops, and installations. A Portrait of British Songwriting will be the first exhibition. Opening 8 October it will feature photography portraits of songwriters, including Clive Langer and Eugene McGuinness.

Sonos Studio LDN is located at 21 Club Row, Shoreditch, London E2 7EY.

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