Serafina Steer and Sam Steer: Women Make Music
Branchage’s commission sees Harpist and songwriter Serafina Steer and animator Sam Steer joining forces for a performance entitled ‘This Side of the Moon’, inspired by Kenneth Anger’s ‘Rabbit’s Moon’ (1950). Serafina Steer (Stolen Recordings), will use the new sound of a ‘psychedelic harp’ to create a live soundtrack to the performance.Anger’s highly original film features mainly ‘doo-wop’ pop juxtaposed against surreal, classical mime. In their bizarre and astounding new animation, the Steer sister and brother team have re-interpreted the archetypes of Commedia Dell’Arte once more.The premiere performance will take place in Jersey as a key headline event of the Branchage Film Festival, taking place at the 1881 Ebenezer Church in rural Trinity, and will be followed by a London performance later in 2011.
Serafina Steer has released two albums on Static Caravan; ‘Cheap Demo Bad Science’ (2006) and ‘change is good change is good’ (2010) and an EP ‘Public Spirited’ was made for a tour in Japan (2008) supporting Tara Jane O’Neil (ex Jackie O’Motherfucker). Mike Lindsey (tunng), Capitol K and Benge (aka ‘the synth king’) have, between them co-produced all of her releases to date. A new EP of harp songs was recorded in a day by Paul Jones and will appear on Stolen Recordings later this year. As well as harp, Serafina plays keyboards, synths and bass.
She has recently been working in the studio with Chromehoof & Patrick Wolf for their latest releases and in the band for a seminal John Foxx (Ultravox) analogue synth show at The Roundhouse. She has played with and supported a wide range of artists including Viv Albertine, Young Marble Giants, tunng, David Grubbs, Buck 65, Sebastian Rochford, JP Masseira, Beth Jeans Houghton & Mary Hampton.
‘Bloody Hell’ a five track EP, was recorded in a disused gymnasium in an abandoned school and is Serafina’s first release with Stolen Recordings.
Sam Steer is a London based artist whose work spans many mediums and forms including animation, illustration and design. He is currently studying an MA in Animation at the RCA and has a varied portfolio of work including animated music videos, bespoke website design, fine art drawing and painting and CD artwork design.