Futurism, wearable musical instruments and lockdown: an opera with a difference

Carleen Anderson is a composer, writer, singer, producer, performer and creator of MELIOR Opus Griot – an artform-blending opera set in a fantasy underwater world. We caught up with Carleen to hear how funding from National Lottery Project Grants helped her work to take on a new life during the pandemic.

Born in Texas and raised on the sounds of gospel music and soul, Carleen’s transatlantic three-decade music career spans work as a solo artist and prolific collaborator, in genres from jazz to opera. Her major achievements to date include being shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize, receiving a Brit Awards nomination, winning Jazz FM’s Best UK Vocalist Award in 2013 and having Cage Street Memorial, her first project funded through National Lottery Project Grants, put forward for Jazz FM’s Innovation of the Year Award for in 2018.  

Carleen has a close affinity with Hall for Cornwall, where she is an Associate Artist. In June 2018, Carleen was invited to headline its closing ceremony before shutting its doors for major redevelopment of the building. Carleen’s oceanic-themed work is deeply inspired by her experiences of the southwest coast, particularly swimming in the English Riviera.

Tell us about MELIOR Opus Griot.

MELIOR Opus Griot is a futuristic opera, set under the sea, which blends storytelling with a variety of performance genres. It involves visual art, interpretive dance, an eclectic music ensemble, and the pioneering wearable musical instrument, MI.MU Gloves, designed by Imogen Heap.

It is based on a little girl named Cassie, my alter ego, who is rescued by mermaids after being thought to be lost at sea. A seafloor society called MELIOR charms Cassie into delivering messages of harmony to the land-dwellers over many centuries. 

Opus refers to the collection of compositions written about this adventure. Griot represents the African storyteller, a Diasporic style of narrating. During her recurring subaquatic travels, Cassie is cleansed from oppression and uplifts the earthlings each time she returns to the shore. 

Why did you apply to National Lottery Project Grants? 

As an artist known as a soul singer, my futuristic opera concept was dismissed for decades in the music industry. In 2013, I was encouraged by several colleagues within the Black theatre arts community to apply to National Lottery Project Grants to develop my first musical theatre work, Cage Street Memorial. Thanks to this support, the project received critical acclaim which enabled me to expand my artistic visions. 

In the following years I submitted several bids to the Arts Council that were declined but, in 2020, my bid was successful. My motivation to continue resubmitting even after applications fell through was due to the positive ethos of cultural inclusion that the Arts Council demonstrates. 

What have you learned about making work under lockdown? 

Whilst making work as an artist in lockdown, I’ve learned to design a home-based operating infrastructure. I focused on creating a strategy on how my skills could facilitate income. 

Fortune played a part in the discovery of salary possibilities, as I was offered work as a narrator in two different BBC programmes. These opportunities made me aware of the different ways I could generate income as an artist beyond traditional employment. One of these narrator jobs included an offer to compose music for the programme. 

Both opportunities required learning new IT skills to increase my employability and to deliver work via the internet. Acquiring this digital media knowledge improved my means of gainful employment. 

How did you reach your audience?

With the support of Hall for Cornwall and Falmouth University’s Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA), a pre-recorded livestream preview of MELIOR Opus Griot was broadcast on my Facebook page on 29 September 2020. Their marketing campaigns combined with my social media networks resulted in the production preview receiving over 3,000 views. 

Before Covid-19, the premiere was scheduled to take place at Hall for Cornwall in October 2020. It was planned to feature as part of the reopening celebrations after their building renovations. 

Before the social distancing restrictions, Hall for Cornwall’s theatre had a 2000-seat capacity. Due to lockdown, more people saw the preview than they would have seen the premiere at Hall for Cornwall, due to the shift online.

What are you working on next / what are you looking forward to in the future? 

I am currently continuing with the development of MELIOR Opus Griot for the premiere. I couldn’t workshop the production due to social distancing restrictions, so it was postponed. 

With the growing interest in the concept of futuristic opera, I am planning a revised premiere of the MELIOR Opus Griot in 2022. It will involve filmed on-stage performances at Barbican Plymouth and Warwick Arts Centre in Coventry in 2021 to prepare for a preview at Hall for Cornwall in 2022.  In accordance with the ongoing social distancing restrictions, these performances will also be viewable online. 

What is the one piece of advice you would give to those applying to National Lottery Project Grants?  

Have your questions answered and budget calculated offline first. You can then use this copy to reference your input as you complete the online form. 

View the livestream preview of MELIOR Opus Griot, broadcast on Facebook on 29 September 2020.

View the Livestream

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