Care

Directed and scored by London-based singer and producer Klein, Care is a fantasy musical set in a care home. After a magical turn of events, the kids are transported to a Disney-esque world that will change their lives forever.

Live performances by a 13-strong cast of singers, musicians and actors will mix with Klein’s sensory sound world, which is assembled around staccato earworm loops of piano refrains and murky electronic tones, layered with filtered and distorted vocals. Often glitching to the point of near collapse, Klein’s compositions spasmodically summon euphoric strains of gospel music and influences as diverse as Nigerian B-Movies, Andrew Lloyd-Webber musicals, Disney films, and reality TV show Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta. Among the cast confirmed so far are musicians Lord Tusk, Jacob Samuel and BBC AZN Network members Manara and Sweyn J.

Klein said: ‘Musicals can be intimidating and inaccessible and I want to open them up. It can be free and it doesn’t have to be intimidating, cheesy or plain old weird and dated. You can still follow the rules of what a musical is meant to be, but also remove them. My musical brings a level of diversity not only in the way people look, but also in the mentality. There is a need for multidimensional roles to be played by people of colour and making this visible is important. I couldn’t just imagine making music for people to listen to on Spotify. There is never one narrow way of doing something – there are so many art forms and disciplines you can branch out with, and as soon as you realise that, the world is your oyster.’

Regarded by many as one of the UK’s most intriguing and idiosyncratic producers and performers, South London-based Klein has released EPs Tommy (Hyperdub, 2017) and Lagata (self-released, 2016), and LP Only (Howling Owl Records, 2016), and performed in venues including the Southbank Centre, London; Pioneer Works, New York; and Yale Union, Portland. Her releases, accompanying videos and performances have defined a singular vision operating between disjunctive experimentalism and a sensory world that melds popular reference points with personal associations.

Care is accompanied by a new book written by Klein and illustrated by artist Evie O’Connor. Care is commissioned and produced by the Institute of Contemporary Arts.