Bristol’s dBs Institute has announced the programme for Driven By Sound: Sonic Identities, a free one day conference for the city’s music industry and those looking to further careers in the sector.

The conference, which will take place on Saturday 15 February at the Mitchell Lane campus in Redcliffe, will explore the role identity plays in music creation and technology.

From 1pm to 7pm, the afternoon conference will bring together industry experts, producers and academics from the city’s music scene. Featuring a packed schedule of seminars, panel discussions, and workshops the event will examine the creative and technological forces shaping modern music, from AI to experimental songwriting.

With only 100 free tickets available through Eventbrite, the event offers an opportunity to connect with key figures from Bristol’s renowned music scene.

Hannah Phipps, dBs Institute’s Managing Director, commented: “We’re really excited to open our doors to the wider musical and creative community for a day of conversation and experimentation; two of our favourite things to do here at dBs.”

“If you’re not a noise-maker (yet!) or if you’re just feeling curious, our spaces are welcoming for anyone at any level. So, even if you don’t fancy getting hands-on, there’ll be opportunities to sit back and listen, or have a nose around some of our amazing studios.”

The event will open with dBs pro creative director Jay Auborn, who will explore the emotional potential of AI in composition during The Charismatic Composer, alongside composers and engineers from Charisma.ai —the team behind the AI-driven game The Kraken Wakes, which The Financial Times described as “potentially revolutionary.”

Bristol’s vibrant music venue scene will also take centre stage in Building A City From The Grassroots Up, a panel hosted by dBs Institute managing director Hannah Phipps, featuring representatives from Motion, Clock Factory and The Underground.

Closing the day, in the conference’s headline slot, is pioneering Bristol producer Pinch —whose Tectonic label has helped define UK electronic music—will join writer, DJ, and Butterz label manager Elijah for an exclusive In Conversation With session.

Beyond the lectures, panel discussions and seminars, there will be a range of practical workshops covering modular synthesis, graphic scores and vocal experimentation, the relationship between DJing and wellbeing, how to process 3D audio and recordings using Dolby Atmos and blending acoustic and synthesised layers using Ableton Rack.

For more information and to grab one of the final few tickets remaining, visit the event’s Eventbrite page. For more information about dBs Institute and courses available at the Bristol campus visit https://www.dbsinstitute.ac.uk or stay up to date via social media by following on Instagram and TikTok, @dbsinstituteuk on Facebook and @dbs-institute on LinkedIn.

About AMBITIOUS

AMBITIOUS by name and by nature, we are a PR led communications agency that delivers integrated strategic communications - online, offline and everywhere in-between. Proud to be crowned winners of The Drum Magazine's RAR Best PR Agency of the Year.