Sound and Music’s Seed Award brings together a diverse group of composers, each with a unique voice and vision. This Q&A series offers a glimpse into their creative worlds, revealing their musical influences, current projects, and aspirations for the future.

Here, we speak to Seed Award 2024 composer Genevieve Dawson.

Can you tell us about your musical influences?

I grew up singing jazz standards and scottish folk songs, while surrounded by 70s soul and west-coast songwriters on my parents record player. I wrote songs obsessively as a teenager, graduated to performing in musicals, singing in choirs and playing in bands, winding up as a choral scholar at Oxford and studying classical composition. Singing in choirs has shaped my love of vocal harmony and the flexibility of the voice as an instrument. I lived in North Africa after university, in Cairo and Morocco, giving me a new perspective on rhythm, improvisation, and ways of making and playing together. On my return I started running vocal improvisation circles, exploring memories with group singing and playing with long form improvisation practices. Alongside this practise I wrote my debut album which I think draws on jazz, folk and soul in its roots. I’m currently really inspired by vocal groups like NYX, BODIES and composers like ML Buch and Cassie Kinoshi who are expanding the definition of what composers can be.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m currently working on a new album and a separate piece of gig-theatre exploring modern protest law and the witch trials in Scotland.