Papilloneer Orchestra was born two years ago from a simple desire by Soumaya Phéline Abouda: to decontextualize the DJ turntable and assign it an instrumental and experimental role. By inviting four other DJ and sound artists to collectively conceive several movements of improvisation, Papilloneer Orchestra unfolds as both a musical performance and a space for research and transformation of the imaginaries connected to sound, gesture, and stage presence.
Anina, Gomar, Jano, Oeryo, and Soumaya Phéline inhabit the listening space through a scenography designed to adapt to the typology of each venue and to engage the audience in a shared, wandering mode of listening. In turn, the size of the orchestra remains open and undefined: by inviting local artists to join the performance, or through open calls for participatory jam sessions, each iteration is conceived as a moment of learning and dialogue.
Papilloneer, a contraction of [papillonner] and [Pioneer], refers to the fluttering movements of performers, sounds, and gestures, while also asserting a pioneering stance in the search for new artistic forms. The project situates itself within the legacy of DJ and turntablism cultures,referred to as CDJism: treating turntables as expressive instruments.
