Baby When You’re Blue
Baby When You’re Blue Tate Modern March 2024
‘Baby When You’re Blue’ is an 8-minute harmonic soundscape with a poem at its centre. Vocal harmonies are stacked atop one another, creating an atmosphere that encapsulates feelings around longing and grief. Mukombe leans over a mirror as if I’m leaning over a body of water. The work draws inspiration from myths of Narcissus, sirens, and the idea that we are constantly in reflection of one another, particularly in grief. The soundscape builds to a crescendo before abruptly stopping. Giving way to a lone piano loop. Munesu Mukombe addresses the audience, reciting a poem… “the depths of blue the feelings of blue the mourning of my blue…”