Today, DJ Tennis and Ashee reveal their new collaborative project Tenashee, along with A/V installation SUPERPOSITION in partnership with lauded visual artist MAOTIK. The installation has been unveiled at London’s W1 Studios, and will remain in place throughout September, with the Tenashee live A/V show to debut on September 19. A concept as at home in galleries and cultural spaces as it is in the live environment, this marks only the beginning of Tenashee’s story and evolution.
The Tenashee project contrasts boldness with intricacy, melody with sound design, and subtleness with intensity. It combines shared musical roots—IDM, drum & bass, and ambient—with a view to experiment, sidestep genres, embrace extremes, and create immersive art-driven worlds for those touched by both music and visual-art to step into.
MAOTIK is a French digital artist focused on crafting immersive environments, interactive installations, digital architectural sculptures, and audiovisual performances. Nestled at the intersection of art, science, and technology, his work has been presented at international festivals and institutions worldwide such as Mutek, Sonar, Oi Futuro in Rio, Art Basel, Frieze London, FIAC Paris, Signal Festival in Prague, the British Film Institute in London, Miraikan Science Museum in Tokyo, B39 in Seoul, and more.
Designed specifically for the unique architecture of W1 Curates, a multi-screen immersive art platform, SUPERPOSITION uses lines and cubic geometry to alter the perception of space, transforming the environment—including both the interior and exterior of the building—into a fluid, evolving structure. By analyzing frequency and tempo, the visual composition starts with simple elements that gradually become more complex over time, layering graphical components that react independently to different aspects of the music.
The visuals respond to a musical piece from Tenashee, based on deconstructed sounds and elements from the forthcoming body of work so far, a project the duo has slowly developed since 2020. The project was conceived during the pandemic when DJ Tennis found himself stranded on a Caribbean island while producer/DJ Joseph Ashworth (Ashee) was housebound. Producing in isolation, and limiting themselves to the musical instruments they had to hand, the duo found themselves in an especially creative state, sharing sounds and sketches as interesting ideas arose, and they finally connected in Ibiza to develop the music further. A need to step away from dance floors, and rediscover the pleasure of making music without a destination—simply enjoying the process—sparked the collaboration. From conceptualization to realization, the installation and the live show mark only the first two steps in an uncharted creative journey.
Together with MAOTIK, Tenashee will also be debuting their live A/V performance at W1 on September 19. A singular blend of immersive visual elements, compelling musical artistry, and an enhanced sound system, the debut show offers a first look into the evolving Tenashee universe, with plans for collaboration across the worlds of electronic music and interactive art to be revealed in time.
From punk band tour manager to event organizer, artist, label head, and everything in between, the DIY roots and decade-spanning experience of DJ Tennis, real name Manfredi Romano, have sculpted him into the quintessential tastemaker. From managing bands such as LCD Soundsystem and Black Flag, his early days as a promoter saw him go on to work with artists from the likes of Ninja Tune, Warp Records, and Raster-Noton. He has performed and collaborated on original music with LP Giobbi and Alex Metric, remixed the likes of Maribou State and Jungle, performed b2b sets with Gerd Janson and Kerri Chandler, and has served as the manager for Tale Of Us and Carlita. Romano is also a well-respected chef who spearheads his own food platform, Munchietown, working alongside other culinary artists he meets while on the road, in addition to hosting star-studded private dinners and much more.
Ashee, real name Joseph Ashworth, is a London-based producer who is influenced by every corner of electronic music, but releases tracks with a raw, energetic edge. His energetic, creative sound has found a home on labels such as CircoLoco, Life and Death, and Aus Music. Joseph’s versatility and depth of musical knowledge demonstrate why he is such an in-demand producer, artist, and DJ.
The SUPERPOSITION exhibition runs till September 30 - visit https://www.w1curates.com/ for opening hours.
To sign up for the debut of Tenashee’s live show on September 19 head to https://laylo.com/djtennis/tenasheew1curateslaunch.