Really pays to harp on it

AMERICAN harpist Mary Lattimore and composer and vocalist Julianna Barwick will collaborate on stage and perform individual sets at Altar as part of Dark Mofo in Hobart on Sunday.

Their concert will include radiant ambient music, layered with choral symphonies, harp, synths and otherworldly vocals.

Lattimore performs on a 47-string concert harp and also uses synth effects to create unusual and mesmerising sounds.

Her compatriot Barwick, who has collaborated with the likes of Yoko Ono, Radiohead and Philip Glass, builds evocative choral symphonies by layering her own voice on top of itself.

Lattimore followed in her mother’s footsteps and began playing classical harp at the age of 11.

“I didn’t have much of a choice at the start, but I’m glad she made me do it because I grew to really love it,” she said.

“Learning those techniques gave me the foundation to be able to experiment with the sound.

“It feels very personal now. It’s beautiful and soothing, but at the same time there is the potential to get weird with it and be very eclectic.

“I like to make it more modern and strange, to find different sounds and techniques you wouldn’t normally

associate with the harp. I build on that with synth loops to make a choir of sounds.”

Lattimore will perform tunes from her solo album, Hundreds of Days, as well as other works.

“They are mainly based on memories or impressions of places I’ve been or experiences I’ve had,” she said. “It’s kind of like a diary for me.”

Lattimore is excited about performing with Barwick.

“I think it will be fun,” she said.

“We’ve been friends for years now and did a little bit of collaboration on a tour we were both on, but this will really be our debut together.

“We will pick a key, see how it feels, and blast it out. It will have an element of surprise and adventure.”

Mary Lattimore and Julianna Barwick will be at Altar, 112 Murray St, at 4pm on Sunday. Tickets are $29 plus booking fee, available from darkmofo.net.au