SOMAPHON Concert Night
IN-BETWEEN: Sonic Layering
Julia Witas
Julia Witas opens the second SOMAPHON concert evening, "IN-BETWEEN: Sonic Layering". Working across music, moving image and performance, the Berlin-based artist explores grief, death, nature and dreams, engaging the emotional and transformative dimensions of sound and memory. She makes cinematic compositions through atmospheric soundscapes, drone, field recordings, dynamic vocals and sculptural breath.
Moving between consuming distortion and poetic fragility, Witas's work holds sound as both a physical and affective material. Her performances are characterised by emotional intensity and visceral immediacy, unfolding as immersive encounters in which voice, texture, memory and atmosphere remain in motion.
Witas has performed internationally at art spaces and cultural music venues including Volksbühne in Berlin, MS Stubnitz in Hamburg, Stadtwerkstatt in Linz, Das Lot in Vienna and Lost Angeles in Los Angeles.
PANIK
PANIK continues "IN-BETWEEN: Sonic Layering" as a whiny duet complaining via sound. Their rough soundscape moves through screams and whispers, dodgy noises and juicy basslines. The invitation arrives accidentally: walk through the sound, leave the party, and listen for something you might not necessarily hear.
Sara Persico
Sara Persico closes "IN-BETWEEN: Sonic Layering". The Italian sound artist, composer and performer works with voice, analogue electronics and field recordings. Her practice moves through experimental performance and composition, working with vocal material, electronic sound and recorded environments.
She has performed at festivals and venues including Berlin Atonal, documenta fifteen, Irtijal Beirut, Nuits Sonores, CTM Festival, Nyege Nyege Festival, Launchmeat, Nextones Festival, Le Guess Who? and Botanique Brussels. Her collaborations include a vocal-ensemble performance for Caterina Barbieri's light-years at Rewire Festival and London's Southbank Centre, as well as work with Elvin Brandhi, Tony Elieh, Ludwig Wandinger, Dirar Kalash and Ziúr.
Persico's solo debut EP, Boundary, was released by Karlrecords in March 2023. Her album Sphaîra followed on Subtext Recordings in February 2025, alongside an audiovisual performance with Mika Oki. She was part of the Shape+ Platform roster for 2023/24.
