Shellectronica brings together ancient shell instruments and live electronics. Steve Pretty transforms the sounds of conch, triton and frog shells through looping, harmonising and granular processing.

Sometimes the performance starts with making the instrument: cutting a shell’s mouthpiece live on stage, then playing it for the first time. Every set grows from breath and shell, moving between meditative soundscapes and pulsing rhythms.

No prerecorded samples. No backing tracks. No synthesisers.

Explore the instruments and the story behind the music.

The ideas behind the shells

Where did music come from, and how might caves, ritual and conch shells help us think about it? Explore these questions in Origin Episode 39.