Instruments Electronics, Percussion

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Professional skills Sound editing

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Biography

Renzo Spiteri is a multi-percussionist and drummer, sound artist, sound recordist, composer, improviser, and interdisciplinary arts collaborator who has been active on the international arts circuit and has been described by the press as “an artiste who constantly surprises” and whose music “touches the soul directly”. Originally from the Mediterranean island of Malta and now based in Shetland (Scotland), Renzo is a versatile and innovative musician whose work spans a wide range of musical genres and artistic disciplines. With over three decades of international performance experience, Renzo is recognised for his unique approach to percussion, music, and sound design. His deep-rooted passion for exploring the vast possibilities of sound has led him to develop a distinct artistic voice, one that combines traditional percussion techniques with experimental and contemporary practices.

As a percussionist, Renzo is renowned for his ability to create intricate rhythmic landscapes, using a diverse array of instruments from around the world. His performances are dynamic and immersive, and his repertoire includes traditional drums, hand percussion, and custom-made instruments, alongside everyday objects, and field recordings. This eclectic approach allows him to seamlessly blend different musical styles, from world music, jazz and improv to experimental and classical fields, and his innovative use of percussion has captivated diverse audiences.

He has performed on prestigious stages and festivals in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, including Royal Festival Hall (London), United Nations Headquarters (Geneva), Jerwood Hall LSO St. Luke’s (London), Sonic Arts Research Centre (Belfast), Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Washington DC), SOTA (Singapore), National Concert Hall (Dublin), Babylon Club (Istanbul), Ludwig Forum (Aachen), TAK theatre (Berlin), Nordic Music Days (Faroe), WOMAD, Festival of the Desert, Future Everything Festival, Sonorities, Musica Viva, PASIC, amongst others.

Over the years, Renzo has collaborated extensively with a wide and diverse artistic spectrum including Raymond MacDonald (Scotland), Asaf Sirkis (Israel), Trilok Gurtu (India), Mercan Dede (Turkey), N’Faly Kouyate (Rep Guinea), Guo Yue (China), Dan Moore (USA), The Edinburgh String Quartet (Scotland), Idan Raichel (Israel), Dan Moore (USA), Joji Hirota (Japan), Cappella Mediterranea (Spain), Thomas Agergaard (Denmark), Pedro Rebelo (Portugal), Michael Alcorn (UK).

Renzo's work extends beyond the concert stage; his collaborative spirit has brought him into creative interdisciplinary partnerships with contemporary dancers and choreographers, visual artists, film directors and theatre professionals across the globe, creating immersive sonic environments. His ability to adapt and respond to various art forms has made him a sought-after collaborator in multidisciplinary projects, where music and movement, sound and visual art intersect. He has worked with Akram Khan Dance Company, ZfinMalta Dance Company (Malta), film director and photographer Charlie Hamilton James, and contemporary visual artists Vince Briffa and Derek Nice.

At the core of his artistic journey as a composer, sound artist and sound recordist is a profound engagement with natural phenomena, with particular emphasis on the sea, coastlines, and water, often incorporating elements from nature and everyday sounds into his compositions. Renzo merges improvisation, electronics, and field recordings both in his studio work, solo live performances and multi-media creations, as well as within his artistic collaborations. His most recent film collaboration was National Geographic’s award-winning and BAFTA and Emmy nominated film, ‘Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story’.

Renzo is also an educator and mentor, leading workshops and masterclasses that inspire young musicians and artists to explore sound in unconventional ways. His contributions to the arts have earned him recognition as one of Malta's leading contemporary artists, with a passion for pushing the boundaries of creative expression.

Renzo was appointed Malta’s national ambassador for the EU’s Year for Intercultural Dialogue 2008, artistic director and creative producer of the Malta World Music Festival (2016-2018) with a remit leading to Valletta Capital of Culture 2018.  His music has been played on BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Shetland and London’s Resonance FM, amongst others. He is an endorsed artiste for Schlagwerk Percussion (Germany), Yamaha Drums & Hardware (Europe), Paiste Gongs (Switzerland) and Tycoon Percussion (Thailand) and holds a Master of Arts degree (with distinction) in Sound Arts from Oxford Brookes University.

Website: www.renzospiteri.com

Social media pages: Facebook, Instagram

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Contact email

Works

Title	Year composed	Instrumentation Genre
Stillness	2019	Other

See the full list of works by Renzo Spiteri

Events

Date	Title	Venue
18 Feb 2021, 7 p.m.	Stillness performed at Hebridean Dark Skies Festival 2021	An Lanntair, Stornoway, Scotland, UK
20 Sep 2023, 6:30 p.m.	On a Wing and a Prayer	Shetland Museum, Lerwick, Scotland, UK