Rowdy SS

Rowdy SS is initiating happenings, performance and installations as interjections to tour, entangle and/or simplify how we are using and have used spaces, the ‘things’ that do and do not exist in said spaces - the other ways, new ways we can use ourselves, technology and our physicality to communicate, in and outside of these/those spaces.

Often working at the intersection of sound/music, dance/movement and live performance alongside making videos and DJing; his works have delved into love, the masculine/feminine, the societal implications of being first a black boy then man, and mined life to share his vision of said life.

His current project is an ongoing work that includes original sound/music compositions, video, dance, movement and listening as tools for performance to create other spaces, dream/meditative states to explore repetition and surprise movement and counter movement. Variations of a theme, motifs - moments of definition defined by the previous, reliant to predecession and that, which follows.

The intention behind these happenings: to use expected and unexpected spaces for sharing, exploring and furthering conversations that give life to new and old concepts, processes, traditions and techniques; doing more with the constant dualities, healing, destruction, connections/disconnection, the ways of ‘being’ in and during the performance; and allowing for the unearthing of the somewhat conditioned approaches to sharing/expressing ourselves to each other and with one another.

Rowdy SS Places That You've Been...... , video still (2017).png

Places That You've Been...... , video still (2017)

Rowdy was previously a member of Atari Teenage Riot, a Berlin based noise band and has released music on acclaimed indie labels Accidental, DHR and Beat Inc. Rowdy has worked closely with numerous artists and makers including legendary dub creator Lee Scratch Perry, Ron Arad, musicians Eska, Zero 7 and acid house pioneer Adamski and has run successful club nights ‘SOAP’ a no photos, subversive bass heavy alt trap/post-grime night and ‘SONIC’ a club night space for inter-active sound/performance art and DJin in London.

Recent commissions/works include:
Balance - Kottinspektionen Dans, Sweden (2019), 48hours: (w/Last Yearz Interesting Negro), NOW19 Festival, The Yard Theatre (2019), In Movement (w/ Zinzi Minott + Evan Ifekoya) - Somerset House (2019), Fury1 (w/LYIN) - Transmediale Festival, Berlin (2019), Balance - Palais De Tokyo, Paris (2018), Balance (w/ Rebecca Bellantoni) - Block Universe Performance Art Festival (2018), Balance - The Southbank Centre (2018), Balance video screening - CRXSS Platform Festival (2018), FWDREV (w/Lol K) - Nuit Blanche, Théâtre de la ville, Espace Pierre Cardin, Paris (2018)

During his residency Rowdy will focus on further aspects of his sound/music and dance/movement practices that focus on the body in a space, connection and feeling, the power of thinking and finding ways to have physical and sonic dialogues with and in the Somerset House building. 

Rowdy is currently working on new commissions including a new performance work for the 5th anniversary of Block Universe Performance Art Festival 2019 at Berlin Art Weekend later this year.