aquasonic performance reveals world's first underwater band

performing underwater? it’s a doddle for aquasonic, the world’s first underwater band and ambitious project from five danish musicians who make music whilst submerged in aquariums. avant-garde ensemble between music have spent years experimenting with underwater music, developing their own custom-made instruments with the help of deep sea divers, scientists, and craftspeople. 

image © charlotta de miranda

co-founder, artistic director, composer and musician laila skovmand came up with the idea for the band in 2002 which calls itself between music. their experimentation with underwater instruments includes trying 20 different kind of strings for a ‘rotacorda’ which plays music using a rosin wheel beneath water.

image © charlotta de miranda

for the past 10 years the band has worked this way, including the singer, all performing without oxygen support. the collective first performed in the Netherlands in 2016 and are now prepping to perform at this year’s sydney festival in australia with aquasonic, performing from january 6-9 at carriageworks. 

image © jens peter engedal

image © jens peter engedal

image © katia engel