Penelope Trappes + support

Penelope Trappes is a UK-based Australian experimental artist whose captivating body of work fuses minimalism, haunting atmospherics, and poetic lyricism. A formally trained opera and jazz vocalist, Penelope crafts immersive soundscapes that oscillate between the light and hallucinatory, and the menacingly cavernous, all anchored by her use of subterranean drones.

Her fourth album, Heavenly Spheres (2023), released on her Nite Hive imprint, is an evocative collection composed solely with piano, voice, and an old reel-to-reel tape deck. The album was written during a two-week artist residency at the historic home of composer Imogen Holst in Aldeburgh, Suffolk, for Britten Pears Arts. Her latest release, Hommelen(2024), is an austere yet profoundly resonant work, created using a Halldorophone during her residency at EMS Stockholm and released on Paralaxe Editions.

Penelope is perhaps best known for her critically acclaimed trilogy-Penelope One, Two, and Three-released on Houndstooth. These percussion-free compositions explore themes of mortality, empathy, and destiny, blending field recordings with her distinctive ethereal vocal style. Between these releases, she has showcased her versatility in projects like the extended deep-listening piece Gnostic State and the minimalist, arpeggiated songwriting of the Eel Drip EP, inspired by Francesca Woodman's iconic photographic self-portraits.

Additional highlights include Penelope Redeux, an album of reinterpretations featuring contributions from artists like Cosey Fanni Tutti and Félicia Atkinson, and Mother's Blood, a meditative, instrumental reimagining of Penelope Three. She has also live-scored films at festivals such as Sonica, demonstrating her aptitude for interdisciplinary artistry.

In live performances, Penelope's music transforms into waves of hypnotic tension, accompanied by striking visuals from Agnes Haus. Whether performing solo or with a live band, she has shared stages with luminaries such as William Basinski, Mary Lattimore, and NYX drone choir. Notably, she performed with the London Contemporary Orchestra at Southbank Centre and has toured extensively across the UK, Europe, and Australia.

Penelope's music continues to redefine experimental soundscapes, merging stark beauty with an evocative sense of space and emotion.