Experimental Words: an album of science and spoken word

Experimental Words pairs some of the UK’s most exciting spoken word artists with leading scientists – challenging them to co-create performance poetry

A new spoken word album created by scientists and poets.

Experimental Words pairs some of the UK’s most exciting spoken word artists with leading scientists – challenging them to co-create performance poetry that explores their worlds.

Experimental Words was originally devised by public engagement expert Dr. Sam Illingworth (Associate Professor in Academic Practice, Napier University) and highly regarded poet Dan Simpson (poet-in-residence Glastonbury Festival, Imperial College London, St Albans Cathedral). After successful live gigs in Manchester, Edinburgh, London, and Chicago, the science communication duo turned to a recorded format during the pandemic.

After a successful launch event in June, the album is now available on all major music streaming platforms – including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. It can also be downloaded via Bandcamp. Scientific performers include world-renowned researchers, whilst the poets are represented by a London Laureate, UK Slam Champion, and regulars on the BBC.

Music-video style short films have also been created to accompany three of the tracks from the album – including work by Forbes 30-Under-30 and BAFTA award winning Peter Fellows, doctor-turned-filmmaker Nidhi Gupta, and UK Poetry Slam champion and filmmaker Tyrone Lewis – for an epic exploration of the creative power of the performing arts and science.

Scientist and co-producer Dr. Sam Illingworth says: “Through these collaborations we hope to demonstrate what can happen when science and the arts listen to each other and work together to forge new understanding. Enabling practitioners from both disciplines to create shared experiences has resulted in the creation of something totally unique - an opportunity to for science and society to reconnect through the arts.”

Poet and co-producer Dan Simpson says: “The energy and audience response at the live launch has convinced me of the desire from the public for interdisciplinary work like this. Science is both needed and, due to the pandemic, even more in the press – the arts can help show humanity’s research and advancement in a new and holistic light.”

Experimental Words is funded by Arts Council England, with the album produced by spoken word record label Nymphs & Thugs.

Dr. Sam Illingworth is an Associate Professor in Academic Practice at Edinburgh University in the UK. His work and research focus on using poetry and games to develop dialogue between different audiences. He is the Chief Executive Editor of the Geoscience Communication journal, the co-director of the Manchester Game Studies Network, and the founder of the poetry journal Consilience. www.samillingworth.com

Dan Simpson is a writer, performer, producer, and educator. His subjects include science and technology; history and place; art and culture; people and poetry. A former Canterbury Laureate, Dan has been Poet-in-Residence at Glastonbury Festival, Waterloo Station, National Trust Stowe, Imperial College London, and St Albans Cathedral. His two collections of poetry are Applied Mathematics and Totally Cultured (Burning Eye Books). www.dansimpsonpoet.co.uk