Dots+Loops

Dots+Loops’ passion for sharing their unique style of contemporary post genre music is palpable. While they ardently embrace contemporary compositions at the core of the performance, this feels like something more, like a piece of modern art. Yet the performers, Connor D’Netto, Kieran Welch and Flora Wong lack the pretentiousness that sometimes accompanies the personalities who produce Art with a capital A.

Will this be every audience’s cup of tea? No, nor is it trying to be. If you like work that is simple to comprehend, traditional classical, or ‘verse, chorus, verse’ type music that’s not particularly challenging, this won’t be for you. Dots+Loops is perfect for people who enjoy the ambient, experimental, boundary smashing, and thought provoking.

Celebrated composer Connor D’Netto has a very humble, down to earth stage presence. His instruments of choice are modern electronics, analogue synth, guitar pedals, and what appears to be a DIY series of buttons, dials and leads. Violinist Flora Wong is at one with her instrument, her stage persona is that of someone who is transported to another realm when playing. Aside from his musical prowess, Kieran Welch provides witty banter between tunes and has a playful time with the audience which lightens the mood.

The evening begins with Welch performing find by Leilehua Lanzilotti. This is a very dreamlike, ambient work which allows one to relax and absorb the artistic set design – two large modern artworks hanging at the back of the space, framed by digital projections on screens either side of the front of the stage, surrounded by recycled lightshades which have been turned into lamps, and aroma diffusers adding to the overall atmosphere. Welch follows this with Tooth & Nail by Missy Mazzoli, after which Flora Wong takes to the stage to perform Actually Untitled by Connor D’Netto. Wong follows this with Heroes pt. 1 and 2 by MJ O’Neill, which she had commissioned to celebrate her violin’s 10^th birthday. The show culminates with D'Netto on modular synth, Welch on viola, and Wong on violin, performing Drones in Large Loops.

The show was produced for one night only as part of Metro Arts’ Restrung Festival. While you may not be able to catch this exact program again, Dots+Loops have several upcoming shows you can attend. Just visit their website for details of events in the pipeline.

Kitty Goodall