"Kattima Attā" (Synthetic Soul) explores the universal human practice of seeking guidance from the divine through rituals. In the past, shamanism was practiced as a bridge to communicate with supernatural entities, such as gods, forest spirits, or ancestors. People would gather to pray, breathe together, sing, or dance. These are actions that transcend cultural boundaries.

Today, the source of wisdom has shifted from supernatural entities to "synthetic sources", such as the internet, data reservoirs, and artificial intelligence. If we have a new "omnipotent being" we believe in, should there be a new form of ritual to connect with it?

Seathencity is a collective of composers, musicians, and sound engineers who believe in extending traditions to contemporary practices. In this performance, they use traditional musical instruments as a medium of worship, reimagining the act of a shaman when connecting humans with this "new divine entity."

This collective improvisation is structured in three acts: Unity in Breathing, Unity in Rhythm, and Unity in Pitch, mirroring traditional ritual. The performance features many rare folk instruments from various cultures in Southeast Asia, such as the Makgalong, Pinae, Sabudchai drum, Rakdung, and Kudyapi. These instruments are accompanied by live-processing electronics that modify their timbre and create an immersive texture. The sounds and a contemporary dancer work together to reimagine the role of music and shaman in the ritualistic performance.

https://seathencity.com/

Performers

Benjamin Tardif (Contemporary Dance / Shaman)
Numpark Sribanditmongkol (Fiddle / Mallet / Operator)

Pawarin Phiken (Drums / Mallet)

Nutthapong Punpetch (Bow-Guitar / Percussion)
Chawin Temsittichok (Live Processing)
Ornjira Udomchanya (Pluck Instruments)
Matas Masungsong (Percussion)
Patchaya Nantachai (Khaen / Winds)
Worawan worachat (Winds)
Chatchur Chursombul (Live Sound Technician)

Sma Saengwech (Voice)

Thanakorn Permpoon (Percussion)

Nuttawat Sangthong (Percussion)

Tonboon Jaroenphol (Percussion)

Kasira Pholson (Voice)

Marcella (Voice)