Light Stories

Matthew Barley – Solo Cello and Electronics with video design by YeastCulture and on-screen dance by Mavin Khoo

This is a personal story in sound and image: the tale of a near-tragic event when a teenage Matthew Barley attempted to take his life during a psychotic episode brought on by a drug overdose, and the subsequent healing through music and therapy. 

The music is almost all for multi-tracked cellos, but there are also synthesizer sounds, percussion, keyboards and a collection of Brazilian birdcall pipes. Drawing on The Seven Basic Plots by Christopher Booker, Martin divides his life story into 15 parts, and paired pieces from his repertoire to these chapters, composing new music where needed. Yeast Culture’s video design also features Mavin Khoo dancing.