Lénok Discusses Foraged Materials in Exclusive Interview with The Quietus
Lénok’s Nocturnal Journey: A Spiral Through Sound and Emotion at CTM Festival
Berlin – As the dusky shadows of the German capital set in, the CTM Festival stage transforms into a crucible of crafted chaos through the visionary artistry of Lénok, who recently took a giant leap from bedroom compositions to captivating live performances. This sonic sorceress, known for her experimental soundscapes, breathes life into her work through a residency with SHAPE+, crafting an experience that echoes the vast spectrum of human emotion and the complexity of our technological age.
In a nondescript Berlin hotel room, a universe away from her quiet hometown in Slovakia, Lénok reflects candidly on the visceral impact of her performance. ”It’s normal to experience shock responses,” she contemplates, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the depressing decor of peeling wallpaper. “In The Hague, it feels like a continuous loop: school, library, home. Here, everything feels alive.” Her performance, drenched in a culmination of trembling body movements and tears, unveils a confrontation with the self, set against the backdrop of Berlin’s ever-thrumming nightlife.
Pursuing her sonological studies at The Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Lénok diverges from traditional pathways, opting to explore the expansive realms of intermedia arts. As she preps before her set, nestled in her Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), she talks about the messiness of creation, filling her notepad with nocturnal inspirations. For her, these whispers of the night unveil “billions of interconnections,” echoing her desire to strip away the extraneous and find the threads that resonate most deeply.
Joining her for this artistic adventure are visual collaborators Grinderteeth and Synthtati, whose lighting designs aim to translate the emotional landscapes borne from Lénok’s intricate soundscapes. “The interplay between soaring strings and harsh noise is astounding,” says Grinderteeth, emphasizing how color can affect the subconscious. The vibrant lights shape a “core biome” of emotional expression, as they ebb and flow through every sonic wave, from electrifying yellows to simmering reds.
As Lénok takes the stage, the experience ignites with a haunting field recording of a crowd leaving a desolate castle; it engenders a theme of abandonment, both communal and personal. “Even in a crowd, one can feel isolated,” she notes, pointing to the paradoxical nature of connection and solitude. With the challenge of creating a truly immersive live experience amidst a sea of virtual distractions, Lénok remains resolute, championing the impact of raw, genuine human experience over a manufactured one.
Synthtati elaborates on this dichotomy between digital and physical interactions, calling virtual spaces “completely absorbing,” while simultaneously acknowledging their pitfalls in creativity and presence. “Treating them as an easy path avoids confronting what’s right in front of you,” she warns, underscoring the necessity of ‘deep listening’ in both performance and in life.
Lénok’s set unfurls like a fever dream, a blend of chaotic sounds and evocative elements, all encapsulated in rising plumes of smoke. Breaking the fourth wall, she playfully engages the audience, channeling the energy of a wandering RPG character. Moments of humor punctuate the tension, as jocular “animalish spirits” reverberate through the alluring yet murky soundscape. “There’s no ground to stand on anymore,” she cautions, expressing the urgency inherent in a world that can feel disjointed and fast-moving.
The collaborative process echoes Lénok’s thematic exploration, as she juggles the tension of chaos and precision throughout the short rehearsal timeline. “It’s about embracing unexpectedness,” Synthtati emphasizes, while Lénok sees this improvisation as liberating instead of constraining. What emerges is a series of vignettes that interlace intense emotion and authenticity—capturing raw experiences that might otherwise be bogged down by overthinking.
The tension between joy and horror also manifests in the masks integral to the production, designed to elicit conflicting emotions. As described by Lénok, their exaggerated smiles and sharp teeth provoke a sense of surreal intimacy. “It’s that weird moment when you feel so intensely, you don’t know if you’re lost or finding a deeper understanding,” she elaborates, reflecting on how her performance and its accompanying visuals thrive in this ambiguity.
In her quest for introspective listening, Lénok reflects on how society is becoming mechanical, pushing herself to cultivate authentic interactions within her performances. “Those unplanned moments often shift the entire direction of the project,” she reveals. This connectedness extends beyond the theatrical setting; it’s a method of unearthing emotions that resonate deeply, captured by Lénok’s recordings of cherished memories entwined in sound.
As her collaboration with SHAPE+ comes to an end, Lénok leaves the audience with a reminder to remain present and connected within their own narratives. Art, she teaches us, is not merely about recreating feelings but about embracing what is intimate, chaotic, and — most importantly — human.
Diving headfirst into the infectious, transformative state of Lénok’s artistry, one can’t help but feel hopeful that the boundaries of live performance and immersive artistry are just beginning to blur — a world where every nocturnal activity beckons us to listen deeper and feel more intensely.
