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Ahead of his forthcoming Polarity Tour, Jon Hopkins has shared “Scene Suspended”, a brand new piano composition for 2020, first played live by Hopkins at his sold-out Sydney Opera House show last month. The piece began as a spontaneous improvisation that appeared in a time of personal upheaval, acting as a fragile and distinct counterbalance to his trademark epic sound, and was recorded at London’s Air Studios, then augmented with violin arrangements performed by Emma Smith.

Hopkins says:

“The main tracks on Singularity were built of hundreds of layers and processes and took nearly two years to build. Following on from this I’ve been craving a return to simplicity, to acoustic sound and to the instrument I grew up playing. In order to express similar themes but to use as little as possible to achieve this the only sound sources on “Scene Suspended” are piano and violin.”

Watch the visualiser for “Scene Suspended” – BELOW:

Taking in London’s Royal Albert Hall, Gateshead’s Sage, Brighton’s Dome, Paris’ Salle Pleyel, Helsinki’s Music Centre and Berlin’s Philharmonie amongst others, Polarity will tether together “the two disparate elements of harsh and fragile in my music,” Hopkins says. “And by going between the two, we’ll hopefully create some profound moments of stillness.” Playing grand piano for parts of the show, he will be joined on stage by a small group of consummate musicians and long-time friends – acclaimed producer and guitarist Leo Abrahams, violinist and arranger Emma Smith and cellist Daisy Vatalaro.

Watch the trailer for the Polarity Tour – BELOW:

Jon Hopkins Polarity Tour Dates

04.03 – Edinburgh, Usher Hall
05.03 – Gateshead, Sage Gateshead
06.03 – Dublin, Bord Gais Energy Theatre – SOLD OUT
13.03 – Manchester, Bridgewater Hall – SOLD OUT
14.03 – Bath, The Forum – SOLD OUT
15.03 – Brighton, Dome
18.03 – London, Royal Albert Hall – SOLD OUT
20.03 – Paris, Salle Pleyel
25.03 – Copenhagen, DR Koncerthuset – Koncertsalen
26.03 – Stockholm, Gota Lejon
27.03 – Oslo, Sentrum Scene
29.03 – Helsinki, Helsinki Music Centre
31.03 – Hamburg, Laeiszhalle
01.04 – Brussels, Cirque Royal
02.04 – Berlin, Philharmonie – SOLD OUT
04.04 – The Hague, Rewire

Tickets available at http://www.jonhopkins.co.uk/