Over the course of the exhibition, Touching Bass are curating an event series in the gallery space honouring the spirit and themes of iwoyi: within the echo, the British Library-commissioned, five-screen installation and film by Tayo Rapoport and Rohan Ayinde.  

This first event, hosted by Alex Rita, centres on healing and rest with two intimate live performances in the PACCAR Gallery. Ease into the meditative sounds of Rita’s Calm Roots DJ set with poetry from the film’s director Rohan Ayinde, followed by acclaimed sound artist and composer felix taylor, playing live. 

In the grand Entrance Hall of the Library we are proud to host sets from DJ Paulette and Jamz Supernova either side of a conversation between these two DJ legends about the history of the dancefloor and Paulette’s memoir Welcome to the Club.   

Tickets for this event are pay-what-you can, minimum £7.50.  

14+ only. 14s to 15s must be accompanied by an adult.  

Please note that the PACCAR Gallery has limited space and access is strictly subject to capacity.  

Alex Rita (Calm Roots) is the London-based multidisciplinary artist, DJ and creative director of Touching Bass. Calm Roots - which started as a regular, two-hour NTS Radio exploration of the meditative corners of her collection - centres introspection, rest and slow living through a synthesis of performance, DJ sets and holistic health. Her practice has led to commissions for Lisson Gallery, Tate Modern and We Out Here festival, as well as collaborations with Nala Sinephro and sound therapist, Rahel Debebe-Dessalegne. 

DJ Paulette is an award-winning DJ, radio presenter and author whose thirty-year career has seen her play some of the world's greatest parties and club nights, from Manchester's Haçienda to Ibiza Rocks and the Ministry of Sound. Manchester born and bred, DJ Paulette has entertained huge crowds around the world with disco, house, techno and is a regular on Reform Radio, Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM, and as a stand-in for Afrodeutsche and Craig Charles on BBC 6 Music. In her debut book Welcome to the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ’ she offers a remarkable view of the music industry- from its unity and respect to its misogyny and racism, while also drawing attention to the often-invisible women who keep the beat going. 

felix taylor is an artist and composer from South London. His work uses field recording, musical composition, computer programming, radio broadcast, collage and film making. In the past year, felix has released a composition for Philip Glass’s Orange Mountain Music label and public installations for Turner Prize-nominated collective Gentle / Radical, Museum of London and Our Croydon alongside a number of scores for radio and film. 

Jamz Supernova is a DJ, radio presenter, podcaster, and head of music label Future Bounce. She is known for selecting sounds that span musical genres and subcultures, and for supporting and nurturing emerging artists. Her musical explorations reach every corner of the world, reflecting her own Jamaican, Cuban and Irish heritage, and the cultures she grew up around. She has a long running BBC 6 Music slot, selects specialist sounds on BBC Radio 1xtra and appears worldwide at clubs and festivals. Jamz Supernova’s famously vibrant DJ sets do entertain, inform, link musical timelines and tell a story through sonics.  

Rohan Ayinde is an anadisciplinary artist and poet. His work traverses audio, visual and literary forms and often embraces installation and performance. Through an entanglement with the phenomenon of the black hole, his practice attempts to excavate an architecture of ideology through the analytical framework of black feminist thought. Ayinde is one half of the wayward/motile collaborative duo i.as.in.we, with friend/producer/dancer Yewande YoYo Odunubi. He received his MA in Visual and Critical Studies from SAIC (2019) and is currently the Director at Blanc Gallery (Chicago). 

Touching Bass is the London-based club night, musical community, staple NTS Radio show, record label, concert series and creative studio; lead by Errol and Alex Rita, sustained by a network of friends. 

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