Frisson

Commissioned for Multivocal, VCA Film and Television alumnus, Alex Wu explores the psychophysiological phenomenon of musical chills in a new film entitled, Frisson.  The camera observes current students of the University of Melbourne listening to emotionally significant music of their choosing, allowing the audience to view subtle reactions and expressions of the body. Displayed across three large screens, Frisson invites the audience to experience a moment of quiet contemplation, creating space for a meditation on their own physical and emotional relationship with music.

Hear from the featured University of Melbourne students and alumni on their relationship to music and the piece of music that gives them musical chills – or Frisson.

Image for Folarin Joseph

Folarin Joseph

It’s hard to put to words the profound art form of what we - or at least I know - as music. I think these frequencies and sounds communicate feelings on such a deep level to us all. We use music to convey everything and all things themselves exist as their own forms of music (hence the concept of instruments). Ultimately, music for me is the communication of feelings in their purest form from element to element. Everything I listened to during this filming evoked strong feelings within me - both physical and emotional. In particular, listening Frank Ocean’s ‘DHL’ opened this feeling of elevation. The drops of the drums and switch up to this point where he’s really trying to speak out the feeling from his chest that just hits you every time. Music is ALL.

Image for Gillian Tang

Gillian Tang

Despite the power of literature, I believe that music can reveal one’s ability to express the inexpressible; whilst there is a finite amount of words to express one’s emotions, music is a multifaceted world that is yet to be fully unveiled. I find myself intertwined with this notion as I constantly use music as an attempt to understand myself amid complex human experiences. The song that always gives me goose bumps is the movie version of ‘When You Believe’ from The Prince of Egypt. Through intertwining the juxtaposing instrumentation, and individual and choral singers, I always get goose bumps as it truly elevates the beautiful message from the lyrics. Despite following the specific story of Moses, the lyrics are widely applicable, emulating the possibility of beauty within the human condition when one can believe in themselves, as well as others.

Image for James Howard

James Howard

I find it fascinating that something as simple as the transferal of energy through the air into my ear-canal could have such a profound effect on me. Maybe it’s because of this that I decided to spend my life in the artistic pursuit of understanding sound. My life revolves around music. Listening to it, composing it, and studying it. My focus for the video shoot was on the music of Talking Heads. Their performance of “Burning Down the House” from the band’s 1984 live album, Stop Making Sense, never fails to lift my spirits. It’s got such simple rhythmic drive, and the three major chords (G-F-A7) that make up the whole song makes it so easy to play along to on the guitar. David Byrne’s unique style of singing and song-writing always appeals to my own sense of existential anxiety, all the while compelling me to dance along.

Image for Kaine Hansen

Kaine Hansen

Music in all its genres has always found a way to soundtrack my life and allows me to make sense of a chaotic world. It’s no surprise that I feel in love with music when I was a teenager as angst, lust, confusion and new heightened emotions pumped through my veins. It seemed no one understood what I was going through except for jangling guitars, hard-hitting snares & lyrics that pierced my heart like nothing else. Live music often sends me back to that period and a good mosh pit always restores my faith in humanity. One live recording which gives me goose bumps every time I listen to it is ‘Colossus’ (Live at Le Bataclan) by IDLES. This punk band is all about love and compassion. My skin tingles every time I hear people moshing and screaming with the intent of keeping everyone safe.

Image for Nathan Zammit

Nathan Zammit

Music is my lifestyle, among my various social practices. Whether playing with fellow musicians, enjoying with friends, making some at home or listening on trips, I feel euphoria in various musical experiences. Transitioning from classical piano to jazz improvisation allowed me to express my creativity and develop my musicality and harmonic / rhythmic analysis. This brought me to composition and production to make music to share. I admire Jacob Collier, because whether it’s the bombastic polyrhythms in his percussion, his energetic international collaborators, or his microtonal vocal intonations, I always appreciate his dedication to music. During filming, the team captured my physical rhythmic gestures navigating Collier’s piece, ‘With the Love in My Heart’. I feel most connected to music when my body is physically engaged, and while my mind is thinking about how beautiful sonic moments are created.

Image for Simone Maurer

Simone Maurer

Music is my career—I have studied, practiced, performed, and taught music every day for over two decades. As a child, I had to practice music before I could eat meals, and while this could have stopped my enjoyment of music, it did the opposite! Listening to the second movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 elicited the strongest physiological reaction due to my deep connection to the song. My mother gifted me a CD of this concerto during my teenage years when I had decided that I would pursue a life in music. The second movement gives me mixed emotions: it’s melancholic yet soothing; yearning yet peaceful; graceful yet powerful. This layered emotional complexity has ensured it remains a steadfast favourite.

Behind ‘Frisson’: Interview with the Director

How do you capture subtle psychophysiological reactions on film? Hear from director, Alex Wu, on the process of filming Frisson.