What began as a small idea rapidly evolved into a major project for Berlin-based Brazillian artist and composer Stefanie Egedy. An ongoing collaboration with musical artist Rafael Lins, Bodies and Subwoofers (BAS) is a series of site-specific sound installations where the possible interactions between infrasound and the human body is explored through unorthodox subwoofer arrangements.
‘I believe low-frequency sound has the capacity to touch bodies and offer what I call a vibrational experience,’ Egedy explains. ‘These sound waves are capable of filling the air with pressure while caring about the bodies. For me, it is about feeling whole and connected.
‘I always wondered why I was addicted to dancing in nightclubs and I realised it was because it made me feel good,’ she says. ‘I could feel the sub-bass throughout my entire body and for me, that was an exhilarating form of medicine. Our skin feels and our body listens to the unique sound massage enabled by low-frequency sound waves and subwoofers.’
To prepare for these installations, Egedy studies the dimensions of a space, creates a subwoofer arrangement for it, and then composes a piece for that specific room. The aim is for the audience to be able to explore the sound pressure and cancellations throughout the room. Key to Bodies and Subwoofers is the use of d&b audiotechnik SL Series subwoofers.
Egedy’s first experience of using d&b subwoofers in her work was in 2020, an interaction she describes as ‘love at first sight’. From that point on, SL subwoofers have been her number one choice.
‘If low-quality subs are the only ones available at a venue, I simply won’t proceed with the project because I know that my work is now much more effective when it’s produced with that certain standard that only d&b can provide,’ she says.
It was Jonas ‘Jones’ Wagner from d&b Education & Application Support in Germany who discovered Egedy’s work. Since then, the relationship with d&b has grown. ‘d&b have been incredibly supportive of me and this concept. They understand my vision and are doing everything they can to ensure it can be delivered,’ says Egedy. ‘Seeing my work validated by a pro audio giant like d&b is really rewarding, and has given me a huge confidence boost.’
Egedy’s research is still in the early stages, but has found that exposure to LFS results in the reduction of anxiety, stress and headaches, and provides reinvigoration. Her forthcoming Bodies and Subwoofers installation will be showcased at Berlin’s CTM festival in January 2023, and will involve 12 SL subs, which is believed to be the largest scale subwoofer installation in the world.
