The Sound Channels Residency brought together 5 musicians in Jersey to collaborate and create. Led by Moving Arts Collective producer Aras Amiri, the aim of this project is to celebrate the power of music as an international language by facilitating collaborations and exchanges between Jersey and international musicians. It has enabled musicians from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds to share and create new music that responds to the landscape of Jersey. 

Musicians include Esther Rose Parkes (singer-songwriter, based in Jersey), Tom Schmidely - Guitar, Marin De Nattes - Bass Guitar, Léo Rodier - Drums, based in Paris), and Omid Amiri (Saxophone, based in UK) whose musical background span Funk, Fusion, Afrobeat, Free-Jazz, Groove, and Folk. The depth and particular voice of a place which is the character of Esther Rose Parkes, meets the colours and diversity of sounds and music traditions.

The five musicians had two days to write together during the residency at Greve De Lecq Barracks. After never having played together before, they created new pieces of music that incorporated each musician's musical language in a unique, skilled and authetic way. The Moving Arts Collective also invited visual artists Anna Shipley, Yulia Makeyeva, Lisa Macdonald and Karen Le Roy Harris to create visual responses to the music during the residency which were projected during the two performances at Capital House directly after.

In June 2023 the Sound Channels music was premiered with two special gigs at HMP La Moye Prison attended by over 70 prisoners and two performances at ArtHouse Jersey’s Capital House. Sound Channels made history as the first band to ever perform at HMP La Moye. Producer Aras Amiri also spoke for the first time publicly about her experience as a political prisoner in Iran. The performances at the prison could only happen with the careful planning by the educational department of La Moye Prison, led by Sanja Koppen. The two performances at Capital House received standing ovations. 

The Moving Arts Collective continues its collaboration with HMP La Moye and in March 2024 we will be working with Finding Rhythms to bring further music opportunities to the prison.

The Sound Channels collaboration continues and a return is planned in 2024.

This project was funded by ArtHouse Jersey.