TebuSpace Originals
Sonic Refuge
A musical autobiography told through rhythm, memory and sound.
A collection of music that starts in Cameroon, follows a move to the UK, and looks at the experiences, relationships and changes that shaped the person who made it.
- Developing
- Album project
- Afro · Latin · Jazz
- Composition
Status
Developing. The album is taking shape; an excerpt and a film are on this page, and further recordings and dates are announced to the newsletter first.
River Jingle
Listen · 0:40
Tebu, The Unboxed Musician
Sonic Refuge is a collection of music that reflects my journey as a musician and as a person. It starts with where I come from in Cameroon, follows my move to the UK, and looks at some of the experiences, relationships and changes that have shaped who I am today. The album brings together 8 to 10 compositions. Each piece is connected to a particular moment, place, person or feeling from my life. Some come from periods of uncertainty or change. Others are connected to friendship, loss, discovery, belonging and the experience of building a life somewhere new.
I did not set out to write an autobiography in the traditional sense. Instead, I wanted to see whether I could tell parts of my story through music. My African musical roots, Afro-Latin jazz, improvisation and the music I have encountered along the way all come into the compositions. So does the experience of living between different cultures and musical worlds. The result is a collection of pieces that reflect different stages of my life rather than following a simple beginning-to-end story.
Every composition has its own story
Some are connected to people who have been important to me. Some come from particular places or periods of my life. Others are more difficult to explain and are simply connected to a feeling or a memory that stayed with me.
This is where the idea of Sonic Refuge comes from.
What a refuge can be
Over the years, music has been one of the places where I have been able to make sense of things, express emotions and feel connected. A refuge does not always have to be somewhere you can physically go. For me, it can be found in playing an instrument, creating a piece of music, working with other musicians, remembering someone, or simply having the freedom to express something that is difficult to put into words.
The podcast and the documentary
The album will also form the basis of the Sonic Refuge podcast and documentary series. Through these, I want to talk about the stories behind the music, the people and experiences connected to it, and how those experiences found their way into my compositions.
Personal, but not only about me
This project is personal, but it is not only about me.
We all carry memories of places we have left, people we have met, things we have lost and moments that have changed us. Music can sometimes bring those things back in ways that words cannot.
Sonic Refuge is my attempt to document that journey through music. From Cameroon to the UK. From one musical world to another. From the experiences that shaped me to the person I am still becoming. This is where I have found some of my refuge. In sound.
Gallery
From the work
Photography and artwork from the project.
Cover artwork for the album. 
Composition sketches for the album's opening movement. 
Tracking sessions, Manchester.
Follow the project
Recordings, film and live dates from Sonic Refuge are announced to the newsletter first. Promoters, labels and collaborators are welcome to get in touch directly.
Or email info@tebuspace.com, replies within two working days.