Pak Yan Lau (BE)

Pak Yan Lau, born in Belgium, with roots from Hong Kong and now based in Brussels is a sound artist, improviser, musician and composer, who has developed over the years a rich, dense and captivating sound universe from prepared pianos, toy pianos, synths, electronics and various sound objects. Skilfully blending acoustic, electro-acoustic and electronic approaches, she explores sound in a bewitching way, merging these different approaches and sound sources with poetry, magic and finesse.

Her solo efforts were documented among others on the excellent recording “BOOKS” (2015), magnificent wooden object-trilogy released on the Silent Water label where it explores in 3 distinct parts the world of synthesizers-samplers-electronics, then the world of harmonics and metallic basses of various “toy pianos”, and finally the interior of a prepared grand piano, transforming its conventional sound into an enveloping tense sound weave.

Her close collaborations go into different directions from grooving (Going) and abstract texturing (lauroshilau, Duo Pour 454 Chordes) till crossmedia projects with photographers (Stills) and shadow theatre (Le Poisson et La Perle/ The Fabulous Choi Sisters). She composed music for dance theatre, short movies, sound walks and documentaries.
As an improviser she has shared music with wonderful musicians such as Chris Corsano, Akira Sakata, Darin Gray, Tatsuhisa Yamamoto, Tetuzi Akiyama, Mette Rasmussen, Rie Nakajima, Toshimaru Nakamura, Susana Santos Silva, Manuel Mota and many more.

Pak Yan Lau’s performance took place at the 2021 edition of Sonic City festival (November 13-14, Kortrijk, Belgium) as well as at a one-off concert, organized by Kontraklang on September 10, 2022.