Artist in Residence

Our 2026 Artist-in-Residence is Rory Friers.

Rory Friers is a composer, producer and immersive artist whose work spans film, contemporary composition and spatial sound. As guitarist and songwriter in the award-winning band And So I Watch You From Afar, he has built an international reputation for expansive, emotionally driven music, touring extensively and releasing multiple critically acclaimed records.

Beyond the band, his practice has evolved into a multidisciplinary body of work that brings together film scoring, orchestral writing and large-scale audiovisual installation. His scores for film and television have been released through Lakeshore Records, while his commissioned works for organisations including the BBC and the Ulster Orchestra explore long-form composition, narrative and scale.

At the core of his work is an interest in how sound is experienced physically and spatially. Using immersive audio systems, real-time visuals and emerging technologies, he creates environments that blur the boundaries between music, architecture and audience. His projects range from Dolby Atmos concerts and quadraphonic installations to AI-driven works and XR development, often in collaboration with artists across dance, film and visual art.

His work has been presented internationally in venues including the Southbank Centre, London Science Museum, Art in Space Gallery and Ulster Museum.