SOMNIA: William Basinski / Bendik Giske

Made with AI, on purpose / Source: Now or Never

Settle into your individual bed under the grand frescoed Dome of the historic Royal Exhibition Building and float between states of consciousness: presence and rest, focused listening and quiet contemplation. Yes, you’re sleeping here.

The lullaby for this collective slumber comes from American composer William Basinski performing The Disintegration Loops in its entirety. For the first time, all four albums are presented continuously in a single concert setting.

Composed between 2001 and 2003, this universally celebrated masterpiece of avant-garde and ambient music was born from the gradual decay of magnetic tape, as Basinski attempted to digitise older recordings only to hear them slowly disintegrate. What remains is a deeply affecting meditation on time and loss, unfolding into a soundtrack of rare beauty and profound calm.

Joining the sleepover is Norwegian musician, composer and saxophonist Bendik Giske, with a solo performance in its most elemental form, presented especially for SOMNIA. Renowned for his avant-garde approach to the instrument, Giske’s performances radiate vulnerability, drawing audiences into a world of sound charged with intensity and physical presence. This is music to surrender to.

As darkness gives way to morning, a special guest performance gently stirs the room awake, marking the transition from night’s deep listening to the world beyond the Dome.