There is a special, mystical quality that music seems to have over those who listen to it. It’s the ability to transform one’s mind, to transport the listener to a different space than where they are. Take that journey this coming Wednesday, April 9, with An Evening with Matt Venuti: AmeriCosmos at The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. Venuti, a national touring musician and multimedia artist. The performance features Venuti’s unique, improvisational music backed by a montage of videos from nature and outer space.

“It’s live music and a visual journey through the heart of nature, the depth of sound and the vastness of space,” says Venuti. “All of the visuals I captured and edited myself, except for the space visuals, which are from NASA’s footage. The nature videos are from all around the country—Florida, California, the desert states, the canyons, the Finger Lakes, Maine—and I’m playing a live soundtrack to this the whole time, changing and improvising as it goes on. Except for the very first spoken word part, “Desert Dreams”, the performance is never the same.”

What makes Venuti’s work stand out, however, is not just that it incorporates visuals alongside his music. It’s the instruments that he uses to create the ethereal soundscape that propels AmeriCosmos.

“I play the electronic valve instrument (EVI), which is a mini wind synthesizer that I use with a looper, so I can create all kinds of arrangements and then dissolve them into something else. You might think that you’re listening to a symphony orchestra at some points,” says Venuti. “It’s really the perfect instrument that allows me to look at the visuals and create a soundtrack as the visuals unfold.”

Venuti also plays an instrument called the hang, which is shaped like a flying saucer and derived from the steeldrum. The hang is played on the musician’s lap, with the use of their hands to create tonally distinct rhythms and melodies. Beyond the use of unique instruments, Venuti’s mission with AmeriCosmos is to connect audiences through an appreciation of the natural world.

“I’ve been told that there’s something about this experience, musically and visually, that calms people down and gives them a deep appreciation for nature, which is something I feel like we’ve lost as a culture,” says Venuti. “I hope we can all agree that we live in a beautiful country that should be appreciated and not divided.”

April 9, 6:30pm, The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th St. W, Bradenton.

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