Eric Thielemans ‘EME’ // Hanne De Backer

Hanne De Backer is a Brussels-based improviser and founder of the collective g a b b r o, which explores free improvisation in surprising locations — from prisons to sinks and coastal landscapes. She combines a warm, physical approach to sound with an inquisitive expressiveness, which she brings into collaborations with Steve Swell, Terrie Ex, Signe Emmeluth, Jakob Bro and Paal Nilssen-Love.

In her solo work, she explores the physical power of the baritone saxophone as a sounding body that breathes, scrapes and shimmers. Her background in both theatre and music gives every note a dramatic presence, like a breathing sculpture. In the space unfolds an intimate dialogue between air, wood and metal – between body and instrument.
With this solo, De Backer investigates the strength of playing alone: how a single voice can fill, challenge and embrace an entire room.

With Everyday Magic Ensemble (EME), Eric Thielemans explores resonance – within ourselves, between each other, and with the space around us. At its core lie scores from his artistic research On Resonance and techniques he has developed over 35 years of music practice: a celebration of sound, movement, and collaboration in the moment.

During the residency week at Walter, EME creates new ways to let the environment resonate along. Six musicians build layers of sound and echo, with special attention to the human voice as an instrument.
In addition, Thielemans develops a new work for solo percussion and voices, inspired by lamentations: intense, eloquent dialogues between sound and voice. Powerful and direct.