Sub_Bar

The Sub_Bar cooperative project aims to establish a groundbreaking musical ecosystem for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by focusing on sub-frequencies rather than traditional tones. This project provides a holistic approach, encompassing music education tailored for artists with hearing impairments, as well as music management and event production.

Unlike other initiatives in this field, Sub_Bar promotes music and artists who exclusively use sub-frequencies (ranging from 1 Hz to 150 Hz) to create sounds that can be felt physically. This music is designed for tactile experience rather than auditory perception.

The project aims to provide musical training to 15 artists with hearing impairments. Participants attend two-month courses held in Berlin, Lisbon, or Vienna, with each course culminating in a final event where students perform alongside prominent hearing artists. These music courses are organized and delivered by Eufonia, an interdisciplinary platform exploring the relationship between science, art, and culture, and Studio M.A.R.S., a multidisciplinary collective that synthesizes music, art, design, science, and technology.

In addition to music education, a music management and booking agency will be established to facilitate further performances and sustain the project through expansion into other European cities. This agency will prioritize hiring people with disabilities to provide access to an industry that has traditionally been exclusive. A scientific study led by the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Lisbon (FPUL) will accompany the project, investigating how deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals learn music through sub-frequencies.

The primary tools enabling sound perception for individuals with hearing impairments are subwoofers and haptic technologies. Communication between hearing and non-hearing participants is a central element of the project, supported by on-site sign language interpreters. Through these initiatives, Sub_Bar not only advances inclusion but also highlights it as a collective responsibility and opportunity.