Sex Ropes & Rock'n'Roll #4 Wrap
The Ritual Carnival has come to town.
It’s been a late write up, but we’ve been waiting for all the amazing footage to return (which has been well worth the wait - thank you to Lux & Lumens and BonnieQueans!) and I’ve been in the middle of a massive multi project overhaul and rebrand of The Soft Machine!
You can see the fresh new Soft Machine website right here…
A huge thank you to everyone who turns up to support these wild nights - there’s a hunger and thirst for a space of deep ritual, of eroticism and art, of witnessing the shadows and dancing along the edges deep in heart space. A place where entertainment can be transcendent, devotional and connective while still being loud, fun and chaotic.
This one felt deeply magic, the flow of energy on the night was intense, and it felt like everyone pulled out our best for this. It feels like things have been exponentially escalating, and this night is so close to the vision that I have of what this madcap carnival should look and feel like…
We were sad that Enryka had to pull out due to illness and the planned collaboration with IDM had to be postponed.
Infernal Desire Machine performed solo, in our most intensely erotic and connected performance yet. I always feel blessed to have Eve X at my side as a performer, partner and love of my life, and our rituals with Infernal Desire Machine are always framed with the deep currents of our intimate relationship to each other, to our Work, and to our intentions in the moment.
A big special thank you to SVLEM for choosing us for their only live performance of 2024 and CONGRATULATIONS to Cecile - this is the first pregnancy reveal to occur during a Soft Machine show, and we salute Cecile for showing up in their 3rd trimester to put on a killer performance with SVLEM.
Eve X and I joined Cecile in a ritual to invoke blessings for their journey into birthing new life, with Eve weaving jute sigils on flesh. It’s an absolute honour to hold this space of love with them, feeling deep community around this beautiful intersection of musicians, artists and those who dance in the erotic spaces, proud and defiant.
Precipice Malum is one of my favourite riggers worldwide, and it was deeply exciting to have them onboard for this event along with Alek, their rope bunny for the occasion. It’s always a joy to witness their tying, with all of its subtleties, dynamics and deep connection. I feel truly honoured to have them performing at TSM events, and excitingly, have added them to our roster!
ZCluster and Erodisi culminated the evening with a Shibari suspension ritual. This was the first full performance where I was tied by another rigger instead of self suspending.
I love having that additional element of connection as well as freeing me up to focus on singing, connecting, and enduring without having to worry about my suspension lines XD. It was especially poignant to be bound by one of the first riggers I was ever tied by, and whose art has graced the cover of the SHELL single.
Thank you Erodisi, for holding me safe, and being mean enough. ;)
Incredibly proud of all the performers, blown away by the photography and video and grateful for all the support and intention pouring into these shows. Extra special thanks to James the production manager at the Vanguard, because the lighting and sound were chefs kiss, and gratitude to Harry and the Vanguard for holding a space for this kind of beautiful madness.
There will be more circus. There will be more music, collaborations and connections.
There will be chaos, there will be wild love in the dark spaces between.
See you at the next Ritual Carnival - we’ll be setting up a couple of big events in December in Sydney and Melbourne to wrap up the year, and yes, they will be wilder and weirder than before…
With love and circus,
Become one with the Machine…