MESS presents its annual Residents Reveal, showcasing the work and creativity of our studio residents for 2024, babyxxan and SKNOW.

The MESS Residency Program provides two outstanding Naarm-based artists with unfettered access to the MESS Studio and the opportunity to work closely with one of the most eclectic and historically significant collections of electronic instruments in the world. Throughout the residency, both artists get access to support and opportunities that help further their practice, developing techniques and encouraging experimentation to create bold new material and inform future projects.

babyxxan and SKNOW unveil what they have been working on throughout their residency on August 8th, 2024, at Miscellania. We look forward to welcoming them to the stage before joining them in conversation, gaining insight into their creative process and electronic explorations as they share their experience and learnings of the past few months.

About the artists:

babyxxan (Xan Coppinger) is a trans autistic electronic artist, radio presenter and podcast-producer based in Naarm. Focusing on music as a means for storytelling, babyxxan has a steadily growing discography that can’t be reduced down to a singular style or genre. Whether it is the long-form ambient meditation lost tapes from the lilac island in space (Best Effort, 2022), through to the vibrantly spacious, glitchy tech rekease In-Tran-Situ (Public Possession, 2024), Xan’s productions are often undulating and dynamic, compelling the audience to listen in without necessarily slowing down.

SKNOW is the creative moniker of multi-disciplinary artist Sarah Cvk. Her fluid musical style weaves electronic and acoustic fibres that echo the rhythms of the natural world, drawing inspiration from the surrounding environment and its myriad creatures. Heavily influenced by live jams that organically evolve, SKNOW layers sounds and vocals to create more grounded and soothing soundscapes that go against stereotypical dance-floor energy.

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Miscellania is not wheelchair accessible.

There will be no strobe or flickering lights.

Full accessibility document can be found here.

Free entry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – please contact MESS admin@mess.foundation or Miscellania.