Melt The Quilt Presents: Tobias Sarra + Susanna Orr Holland

Tobias Sarra + Susanna Orr Holland

Tobias Sarra

is an experimental musician, producer, and interdisciplinary artist based in Newcastle-upon-Tyne whose work defies easy categorisation. Singer-songwriter, pianist, multi-instrumentalist and intuitive creator, he blends jazz, folk, contemporary classical, ambient, noise and art-pop into performances and recordings that move fluidly between composed material and improvisation. His music, rooted in emotional depth and surreal playfulness, often creates dialogue between spontaneity and structure, chaos and resolution, inviting listeners into unexpected sonic worlds.

Sarra creates distorted ambient soundscapes, semi-improvised songs and experimental compositions that explore fractured consciousness, overstimulation and the absurd, embracing musical parody and linguistic playfulness. He also works under aliases and in collaborative projects, including improvisatory ensembles, and performances with objects, found sounds and electronics.

His most recent album Part One: (Pictures of) Shells brings together disparate genres with a loose, exploratory feel and features a cast of international improvisers.

Susanna Orr Holland

‘A performance by Susanna Orr Holland is like a meeting of the east and the west, the rational and the intuitive, the conscious and the unconscious….’ Foakies

Breath-taking vocals and world folk with heart for the earth

Susanna’s unique style weaves a mix of influences from British and Irish folk song, classical, to Indian and Persian vocal techniques. Accompanying herself on guitar, Indian harmonium and bodhrán and performing with Edinburgh’s finest musician’s.

Susanna has performed with Cathal McConnel, studied with Frankie Armstrong and Indian classical mistro Pashupatinat. She has performed the Edinburgh Fringe many times and festivals across Britain and continues to play at folk sessions and in improvisation events.

Since her first album in 2013 she has continued to weave traditional song and storytelling together, creating rare performances of musical theatre that have toured Scotland such as Remembering Brigid and Remembering our Earth. As well as in the community such as Psychiatric hospitals and community centres engaging audience participation and connection.

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Host or Publisher Tobias Sarra