Okkyung Lee - Signals (2026)

Cellist Okkyung Lee, in collaboration with Explore Ensemble, has released "Signals," a complex meta-narrative situated at the intersection of live performance and studio manipulation. The album is based on recordings from three European festivals, which Lee recontextualized into a "meta-document" that blurs the boundaries between reality and artistic fiction. Compositionally, the record is divided into sections dedicated to each ensemble member, demanding deep concentration from the listener to perceive its abstract acoustics. The work explores themes of subverting aesthetic signals and the challenge of conveying political or personal convictions without literal lyrics. The musical texture is defined by sharp contrasts—ranging from percussive noise and feedback to baroque strings and avant-garde woodwinds—culminating in a disquieting yet intellectually stimulating atmosphere.

Tracklist:
1-1 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Siwan [6:20]
1-2 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Taylor [6:28]
1-3 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - David [2:06]
1-4 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Wings / First Love [3:32]
1-5 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Deni [6:01]
1-6 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Christine [4:13]
1-7 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Alex [5:25]
1-8 Okkyung Lee;Explore Ensemble - Wings / First Love (Version II) [5:21]