Watch: Contour - Live at Le Guess Who?

Recordings

South Carolina-based artist Khari Lucas is a multifaceted creator. Making music as Contour is only one of his many artistic exploits, among which he includes film scoring, fashion work, radio programming, and more. Contour is a vessel for his musical research, songwriting, and production. Via soundbites and references, Contour draws in his artistic ancestors, making past and present interact.

Contour performed live at Le Guess Who? 2023 leading up to the release of his new album Take Off from Mercy via Mexican Summer. Relive the performance with our concert film below.

"The cinematic sounds continue with South Carolina-based artist Contour. Movie clips and artful sound triggers bleed into soulful shimmers as the multi-faceted creative spins songs from 2022's Onwards! "Hearing Voices" is vulnerable and apologetic while the "Trench Player" opens with lines from African American poet Nikki Giovanni's "The Great White Pax", as the songwriter grapples with race, identity, life and death. These notions are played out in his newer material too. He later dedicates his set to those oppressed in Palestine and Sudan, admitting stoically: "This song was written with them in mind, it’s not an empty dedication." - The Arts Desk

Le Guess Who? Recordings

The publication of this recording is part of Le Guess Who?’s ongoing expansion of the festival’s recordings archive, with 100+ recordings from past editions now freely available online.

This archive contains audio and/or video recordings of performances by Kamilya Jubran, African Head Charge, Phelimuncasi, SANAM, Alan Sparhawk, Stereolab, Tom Skinner, Selda Bağcan, clipping., Aldous Harding, Deerhunter, Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Microphones, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lightning Bolt, Neneh Cherry, Arooj Aftab, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, as well as special collaborations and one-time performances such as Saul Williams & King Britt present Unanimous Goldmine, and AEAEA, the live premiere of a collaboration between Nicolas Jaar and Patrick Higgins.

Captured at TivoliVredenburg's Pandora on Friday, 10 November 2023.

Direction: Dammes Kieft
Camera: Anaïs Saebu, Chris Groos, Dammes Kieft, Nando Dullaart (16mm)
Production: Studio Dammes, Ramon de Lima
Montage & Grade: Anaïs Saebu
Sound recording: Marc Broer
Audio mix: Khari Lucas