Born and raised in Naples, Berlin-based sound artist, vocalist Sara Persico started experimenting in early age on the fringes of Naples’ fiery underground experimental scene, developing a technique that would integrate her voice with analogue electronics, field recordings, and samples. Persico holds a BA from the Conservatory of Napoli and a Master’s Degree from the Conservatory of Bologna and gained several residencies and scholarships like Temp Studio, Lisbon (2018), Amplify Berlin (2021), Sonoscopia, Porto (2022), Sardegna Teatro - V2 Unstable, Argentiera (2022).
Sara presented her work in festival and events like Ballroom Blitz Beirut, CTM Festival, Ortigia Sound System Festival/Bosco Colto, Codex Club, Documenta Fifteen, Dancity Festival, Radical DB, Life Libertas Festival, etc. As improviser and performer, she has collaborated with a wide spectrum of artists, joining Evelyn Saylor’s vocal ensemble for Caterina Barbieri’s acclaimed “light-years” show at Rewire Festival and London’s Southbank Centre, and working on projects alongside The Ex’s Andy Moor, Tony Elieh (KARKHANA), Ludwig Wandinger, Dirar Kalash, Elvin Brandhi, Recordat, and many others.
She’s also a fearless DJ who’s able to straddle vastly different worlds, offering just as much attention to abstract electronic sounds as she does bass-heavy club music, noise, and vocal experiments. She is currently a resident on Bethlehem’s Radio Alhara.
All this energy and experience radiates from her solo debut “Boundary”: Persico’s expressive vocals play a central role, but her command of precisely sculpted electronic textures and dynamic rhythmic structures is just as crucial to the experience. Deconstructed beats, experimental voice, harmonic music, distorted rhythms craft a dense introspective work that explores intimately the boundaries of the self. Identity rupture as a survival technique, a voice-research climax with an unconventional approach - multi-faceted ideas melt in a heavy-aesthetical 6 track solo EP that brings together different styles.
Residencies and Scholarships
Musicboard Berlin, 2023
Musikfonds e.V. - Neustart Kultur 2022
Sonoscopia, Porto 2022
Sardegna Teatro - V2 Unstable, Argentiera 2021
Amplify Berlin, Acud Macht Neu, 2021
Alte Münze, Berlin 2020
Madeira, Funchal, 2020
Temp Studio, Lisbon, 2018
Selected Performances
Madre Museum x Gucci, Napoli (IT) 2024
schiev Festival, Brussels (BE) 2024
Hybrid Festival, Groningen (NL) 2024
Berghain Kantine, Berlin (DE) 2023
Cairo Jazz Club, Cairo (EG) 2023
Nyege Nyege Fest, Jinja (UG) 2023
CTM Festival, Berlin (DE) 2023
Ballroom Blitz, Beirut (LE) 2022
Ortigia Sound System Festival/Bosco Colto (IT) 2022
documenta fifteen, Kassel (DE) 2022
Wiener Festwochen, Vienna (AT) 2022
Rewire, The-Hague (NL) 2022
Re-Textured, London (UK) 2022
Dancity Festival, Foligno (IT) 2021
Amplify Caleidoscope, Berlin (DE) 2021
Hosek Contemporary, Berlin (DE) 2021
Life Libertas Festival, Koper (SL) 2021
Radical DB - Internationl Prize, Zaragoza (ES) 2021
Seasoning Festival, Eindhoven (NL), 2019
Santarcargelo Festival (IT) 2018