Our high-fidelity audio technology has revolutionized the way deaf and hard-of-hearing creatives interact with music & sound.
Recently, SUBPAC was highlighted by CNN Tech for Good for its impact on the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community due to the way it allows such artists and creatives to literally feel the beat. They sat down with Chris Fonseca, a London-based choreographer, and professional dancer. Fonseca, who has been deaf since early childhood, relies on the way music feels as opposed to the way music sounds to choreograph compelling dance moves.
“There’s a stereotype that exists where Deaf people shouldn’t be able to connect with music, they shouldn’t be able to dance,” Fonseca says. “But music is a universal language. We, as Deaf people, access music through feeling.”
SUBPAC Gives Music Feeling
Our wearable subwoofer has been a critical component to Fonseca’s sound experience. Fonseca wears the SUBPAC to feel the deep bass frequencies and understand the song’s tempo when choreographing.
“The beats come through the PAC, and they essentially spread out across the back, down my arms, and down through my legs,” Fonseca explains. “So I actually feel vibrations from head to toe. It’s like a wireless connection to the music.”
Photo from https://www.chrisfonsecadancer.com/
With the help of the SUBPAC, Fonseca continues to hone his innate musical talents. These talents have led him to star in numerous campaigns for Smirnoff, including the official music video for “Mami No Like” by Donae’o.
Additionally, he has choreographed for various other music videos, such as “More Than Words” by Sleepwalkers feat. MNEK.
With the help of the SUBPAC, Fonseca intends — and succeeds — to inspire other members of the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities to engage in music, dance, and other sound-based art forms they’ve previously felt excluded from.
Expanding the Reach
With the help of revolutionary creatives like Fonseca and other artists with hearing impairments, the reach of SUBPAC to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities is expanding. From supporting audience members at the Good Vibrations Music Festival to helping deaf students hear the music of humpback whales, SUBPAC has been an essential component of this new relationship with sound.
Fonseca leads a room full of dancers wearing SUBPACs. Photo from https://www.chrisfonsecadancer.com/
Though it’s a wearable subwoofer, SUBPAC is quiet to the outside world. Its inherent quietness eliminates any self-consciousness.
With icons like Fonseca leading the force for SUBPAC, we can’t wait to see the creations that come forward from our friends in these communities.
You can find the full CNN feature on Chris Fonseca and the SUBPAC on YouTube HERE.