Introducing "MYCELIUM": Sirintip’s captivating interdisciplinary musical suite, born from a five-year artistic and research odyssey, intertwines the wonders of fungi and plankton with the power of music and storytelling.
Mycelium, the intricate underground network of fungal organisms, inspires a journey of interconnectedness and hope, mirroring the unseen bonds between humanity and nature.
Through collaborations with trumpeter/composer Danny Jonokuchi(Lady Gaga), visual designer Nitcha Tothong (Lumen Prize Winner), and dancer Marie Lloyd (Bill T. Jones), MYCELIUM merges science and artistry, incorporating data sonification, lyrical storytelling, and captivating visuals.
This 90-minute performance, accompanied by a large ensemble of nine musicians, visual projections, and dance invites audiences to delve into the unseen world of microorganisms, fostering a sense of wonder and empowerment amidst environmental challenges.
Mycelium Trailer
Main Collaborators
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Sirintip
Founder, Composer, Arranger, Voice
Thai-Swedish multimodal artist, singer, and producer Sirintip creates works centering on climate action through empathy and meaningful connections. With three critically acclaimed releases and numerous collaborations, she brings a unique perspective to the stage.
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Danny Jonokuchi
Composer, Arranger, Trumpeter
Danny Jonokuchi is a multi-talented jazz artist recognized for his performances on GRAMMY Award-Winning projects and known for his world-class arrangements. He leads The Danny Jonokuchi Big Band and The Revisionists and has composed and arranged for a variety of renowned artists.
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Nitcha Tothong
Art Direction, Visual Artist, Visual Projections
Nitcha Tothong, a Thai interdisciplinary media artist, combines digital and analog mediums to explore sensory experiences and conscious experience. Her works aim to subvert and reconfigure views shaped by contemporary technology and soft power.
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Marie Lloyd Paspe
Choreographer, Dancer
Marie Lloyd Paspe is a Filipina-American dance and vocal performer, choreographer, and educator. She explores diasporic identity work within bakla spaces of memory and time, igniting shared oneness in her performances and collaborations.
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Jessica Wu
Co-director
Jessica Wu is a New York City-based writer, director, and songwriter with over two decades of performance experience on Broadway, national tours, and television. She has written acclaimed musicals and theatrical works, including You, Me, I, We and Hello Kitty Must Die, and serves as Artistic Producer at Brooklyn Children’s Theatre, creating equitable musicals for young performers.
Additional performers
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Ben Wendel
Grammy-nominated saxophonist Ben Wendel has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists. As a founding member of Kneebody, his work spans multiple genres, and he has received numerous awards for his compositions.
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Zach Brock
Zach Brock is a multi Grammy Award-winning violinist and member of Snarky Puppy. Known for his improvisational skills and collaborations, he has released numerous albums and performed internationally.
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Jimmy O'Connell
Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, trombonist Jimmy O’Connell is an in-demand musician on the New York jazz scene. From Broadway stages to big bands and small groups, he brings versatility and energy as a B.A.C. and Warburton endorsing artist.
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Andrew Gutauskas
Andrew Gutauskas is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and film composer known for his work with various artists and his original soundtracks. He is the music director for Brass Against and a member of several other projects.
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Kengchakaj Kengkarnka
Bangkok-born Kengchakaj is an award-winning pianist and electronic experimentalist. His work draws from Southeast Asian traditions and he has been a recipient of numerous artist residencies and awards.
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Kaisa Maensivu
Finnish bass player Kaisa Maensivu is the founder of Kaisa's Machine and has performed internationally. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Sibelius Academy and a master's from the Manhattan School of Music.
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Nolan Byrd
Award-winning drummer Nolan Byrd has performed at notable venues and festivals worldwide. He is known for his versatility and deep interest in composition, having participated in exclusive programs and residencies.
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JAda Hicks
Jada Hicks (she/they), a junior at George Mason University, has trained at the Dance Institute of Washington and performed at the Kennedy Center and Symphony Space. They have worked with renowned artists and are passionate about choreography, recently creating the quartet CRAVE!.
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Raegan Noelle Taylor
Raegan Noëlle Taylor, a senior at Marymount Manhattan College, is earning a BFA in dance with concentrations in Ballet and Modern. A graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, she has performed works by Pedro Ruiz, Bill T. Jones, and others, and has danced at the White House for Michelle Obama.
CREW
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Gift Pratoomvieng
Gift Pratoomvieng is an accomplished audio engineer and vocalist who has worked with renowned jazz musicians such as Joel Ross and Immanuel Wilkins. She holds a degree in Music Production and Recording from the University of Stavanger, Norway, and has performed at esteemed venues like the Good Vibes tour across Europe.
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Argie Mitra
Argie Mitra is a stylist, designer, seamstress, and movement artist dedicated to bringing creativity and precision to every production. A true multi-hyphenate, she thrives on collaboration, continuously learning, and connecting with fellow artists.
Program
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This song explores our connection with nature and Earth, inviting us to hear the wisdom of nature through the echoes of its exhales.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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Into the Unseen
"Into the Unseen" begins with the wonder and discovery of plankton, introducing these tiny, fascinating organisms one at a time as we delve into their mysterious world. As the piece progresses, it evolves into a composition inspired by the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical pattern commonly found in nature. Musically, the Fibonacci sequence is performed through different presentations of 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 13, creating a rich and intricate tapestry that reflects the inherent beauty and complexity of the natural world.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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“Diatoms” is a sonic exploration of the microscopic phytoplankton that generate much of the oxygen we breathe. Through this piece, their story parallels the often-overlooked providers in our society—those who sustain us without recognition.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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“Salps” captures the mesmerizing movement of these gelatinous marine creatures as they propel through the ocean in intricate clusters, spirals, and linear colonies, which is portrayed throught the musical composition and choreography. Their fluid, collective motion symbolizes individuals working independently yet harmoniously to drive the whole forward. Lyrically, the song draws a parallel to scientists exploring microscopic life to deepen our understanding of the larger world.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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Drawing inspiration from planktons that effortlessly go with the flow, "Drifting" features notes that move minimally but create significant impact. The lyrics convey a sense of peace found in accepting and flowing with life's currents. It tells a story of inner tranquility and the beauty of simply existing.
Music by Sirintip Phasuk, Danny Jonokuchi
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Mycelium Growth Equation
"Mycelium Growth Equation" is a unique musical translation of a scientific model from the National Library of Medicine, which analyzes mycelium growth in Pleurotus sp. cultivation using agricultural wastes through two-level factorial analysis. The intricate equations,
\[ M(cm/day) = 0.60 - 0.023A + 0.019B - 0.029C + 0.029D - 0.14E + 0.041BD - 0.036BE - 0.044CE + 0.044DE \]
and
\[ N(mg/L) = 352 + 241.5A + 43B - 0.50C + 50.50D + 21.50E + 59.50AB + 41.00AD - 35.50BC + 47.50BE - 33.00CD - 39.00CE + 32.00DE \]
were used to create musical parameters dictating tempo, key, time signature, and notes. This composition emerged from round 15 of testing, with each round potentially yielding a different musical outcome, reflecting the dynamic nature of scientific data.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6157459/
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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This song uses the journey of mushroom spores as a metaphor for the immigrant experience. While most spores land close to their origin, a rare few catch the wind and travel far, just like immigrants. Their journeys might be intentional or by chance, and upon arrival, they face uncertainty about their future. The song captures the struggle to grow roots in a new place and the often unwelcoming perception of immigrants as outsiders or even parasites.
Music by Sirintip Phasuk, Danny Jonokchi
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Humanity is on trial for its transgressions against the natural world. The list of accusations spans the last two hundred years of neglect and conscious wrongdoing.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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Inspired by the Cordyceps fungus that infects the brains of ants, compelling them to spread the infection and ultimately commit suicide, this song serves as a metaphor for corporate greed. It illustrates how corporations manipulate society, likening their control to a sinister circus where the strings are pulled by unseen forces, driving individuals to harmful behaviors.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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“Where Do I Go From Here?” is a somber reflection on the aftermath of human impact, navigating chaos and destruction. A musical maze of uncertainty, it unravels into an isolated breakdown, searching for meaning and direction in the wake of acceptance.
Music by Danny Jonokuchi, Sirintip Phasuk
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Inspired by a resilient fungus that thrives after a forest fire, "Pyrophilous" celebrates the strength and perseverance of indigenous communities, who are often the most affected by climate change. This song is a tribute to their enduring spirit, symbolizing their ability to metaphorically grow and flourish even in the aftermath of devastation.
Music by Sirintip Phasuk, Danny Jonokuchi
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A song about the light that exists within each of us, reminding us that no matter the darkness, there is always a spark of hope.
Music by Sirintip Phasuk, Danny Jonokuchi
Our Scientific Collaborators
Thank you to Kelly Sutherland, Bob Cowen, Anne Thompson, Bitty Roy and their respective labs for sharing resources, footage, and scientific expertise.
Quotes
Quotes included in the performance are by Bitty Roy, Michael Wherley, Kelly Sutherland,
Carey Sweeney, Kristin Forgrave, and Randi Navarro.
Video credits
Plankton - Kelly Sutherland, Alejandro Damian Serrano, Kevin Du Clos
Ellie Lafferty
Fungi - Heather Dawson
Photo credits
Fungi - Bitty Roy, Michael Wherley
John Cahil Rom
Adiprayogo Liemena
Isabel Fowler
Quang Nguyen Vinh
Acknowledgements
Sitka Center of Art and Ecology for choosing Sirintip as 2022 Artist at Sea that planted the seed for Mycelium.
Thank you to the Jazz Gallery for hosting the premiere of Mycelium.
Mycelium is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
Sirintip is a recipient of a 2024 grant from Chamber Music America’s Artistic Projects program, funded through the generosity of the Howard Gilman Foundation for “Mycelium”.
Mycelium is made possible in part with funds from Creative Engagement a regrant program(s) supported by the funding agencies DCLA and the Howard Gilman Foundation and administered by LMCC.
Mycelium is made possible in part with funds from Oregon Sea Grant, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.
Mycelium is made possible in part with funds from New Music USA and the American Scandinavian Society.
