Chashitsu: Auditory Tea Room with Midori Komachi and Nick Luscombe

Sound, space and gesture transform the aesthetics of the Chashitsu (Japanese tea room) into sonic architecture. Beyond ritual, beyond music – inspired by Chadō, the Way of Tea, this performance unfolds as a journey of shared sonic awareness. 

Midori Komachi, known for bridging Japanese tradition with the contemporary sounds of Japan and the West, collaborates with MSCTY founder and producer Nick Luscombe, whose soundscapes of Japan interweave with her compositions.

Midori will also be joined by second violinist Maho Harada, and their dialogue across the space will mirror the interactions and introspection of Chadō.

Coinciding with the launch of Komachi’s new album of the same name, this performance transforms the Elgar Room into an evolving sonic environment - shaping a theatrical encounter that invites audiences into a deeper way of listening.

Nick Luscombe will also DJ a selection of ambient music before the performance.

Supported by the Marchus Trust

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Midori KomachiMidori Komachi is an internationally acclaimed violinist and composer bridging the traditional and contemporary music of the UK and Japan. Since 2017 she has collaborated with MSCTY on creating sound installations and writing original music for major brands such as OPPO and LUSH. Her recent works include installations for the Japan Pavilion at the London Design Biennale 2025 and Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. Komachi’s works have been released on labels such as MSCTY, MusiKaleido and nonclassical.

In 2025, she served as Music and Audio Content Editor with Immersive International for the UK Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo. She was previously a Musician in Residence at the British Council. As a solo violinist, she has performed extensively throughout Europe and Japan. A bilingual writer, she has published two books in Japan, and has frequently appeared on media platforms such as BBC Radio 3, NHK and TV Tokyo. Komachi is an Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s University (Canada) and a PhD Candidate at Goldsmiths, funded by AHRC. She is an Ambassador for the London Music Fund.

Nick LuscombeA British DJ, broadcaster, sound artist, field recordist and producer based in London and Tokyo, Nick Luscombe is also the founder of the site-specific project MSCTY, established in 2010, which has so far produced over 400 soundtracks by various international musicians and sound artists. Nick is the co-founder and artistic director of OIST Sonic Lab at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, researching sound and well-being.

Nick presented the BBC Radio 3 Late Junction show from 2009-2019, and his field recording, soundscape and ambient music mixes have been featured on BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 3. He also produced the BBC Radio 3 Sounds of Japan and Sound Designs series, and also documentaries about architect Kengo Kuma and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto. He creates audio productions for well-known brands such as LUSH, British Airways, KEF, OPPO, at Osaka Expo 2025, Hyatt and more