Reviews - WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THE MOLLUSC DIMENSION…
In anticipation of The Weird & Wonderful Surviveries of Squid Horse
"As a lifelong comic and graphic novels fan, I can tell you that NOTHING like this book exists. It’s a project that will absolutely have deep and wide cultural value. The stories of '3rd culture kids' (in this instance, a British-born child of immigrants from the ESEA community) are often forgotten when speaking about the British experience. Not to mention navigating queer identities within that already complex cultural framework. We should all be excited that we will get to witness something truly groundbreaking."
Ufuoma Urie (Shaven Raven Designs) Black, queer artist (she/they) - WWSSH Book Editor
"I would fully support this publication from Squid who has done vital work in platforming the experiences of queer and trans ESEA people in the UK. I’m grateful for the work he has done for besea.n and strongly believe his art should reach a wider audience."Amy Phung (she/her) - Co-founder of besea.n
“When the world tells me I am not important I see Squid telling stories like mine & then I feel like maybe I do matter— this is why we need more books like Squid’s, because representation matters —”
(queer, brown & mad in Nottingham)
“I feel really honoured to have these insights through these snapshots. Such a tender and compassionate way to look back at one’s teenage years. I’m really touched and I love your illustrations. The colour choice, the composition.
The “practise piano for hours” and “the spending pocket money on unsuccessfully trying to dye your hair. I think these moments are so relatable by so many people - not just queer people!”
(Fimi of @AtelierFBX, a Black non binary artist on How I Survived My Teenage Years)
“I think you’re an amazing performer and you’re very captivating on-stage. And you make playing all these millions of songs you’ve written look very easy. You’re also very funny and I love all the visual elements you bring in.”
“The Mollusc Dimension composed and produced a soundtrack for a short animation I made with the National Maritime Museum's LGBTQ+ families network. He was meticulously attentive to detail and brought a level of quality and professionalism to the film that far exceeded my expectations. His contribution was creative and playful and batting ideas back and forth together was a pleasure. Everything was delivered on time and to schedule and he was happy to make changes multiple times even within a tight delivery window. I would highly recommend The Mollusc Dimension as a sound designer and composer to anyone looking.”
(Lily Ash Sakula on soundtrack commission for “Do You Sea What I Sea”, National Maritime Museum)
“Excellent trans jokes.”
“Really really good.”
“I loved the maths. More maths!”
“I like the parents’ impressions.”
“Your stand up is really funny.”
(Responses to stand-up comedy at Stop Asian Hate UK Event)
“He came over as very relaxed and genuinely friendly, which I think helped the humorous delivery of LGBTQIA+ issues. I find other comedians can be quite cold and aloof with their audience, but The Mollusc Dimension was able to hold the audience’s attention despite it being a mostly straight crowd that night. The crowd were engaged throughout and responded really well, especially to the digs at the media and UK politicians. I laughed all the way through.”
(Apples adult version at Comediasians’ South Asian Comedy Night)
“Your performance was terrific. Light and dark, calm and funny, easy to respond to. Congratulations! I loved it!”
(DC on Apples stand-up, all-ages version)
“We watched a great stand-up set by The Mollusc Dimension at besea.n’s “Celebrating You”. The kids loved the songs and they loved joining in.”
(ESEA mum & chef on Apples stand-up, all-ages version)
“It was an empowering experience.”
(ESEA Academic on all-ages Apples stand-up and live song singalong at besea.n “Celebrating You”)
“That was so emotional… you could feel it resonated so much. Was tearing up. That was amazing!”
(Viv Yau on Live performance of Asians Have Feelings Too)
“Asians have feelings too song is a BOP!”
(BESEA Teacher on Live performance of Asians Have Feelings Too)
“Your film was inspiring and poignant and we were incredibly lucky to have it in our festival.”
(Official Trans Pride Brighton Annual Film Event on Asians Have Feelings Too music video)
“I laughed. I cried.”
(Queer Asian, Brighton on Asians Have Feelings Too music video)
“An amazing experience to attend a night of queer and trans ESEA joy! A night of poetry, music and protest songs. The night ended with a panel of trans majority and queer ESEA creatives discussing barriers within the industry, celebrating chosen family and embracing uniqueness.”
(besea.n on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“Had the best time watching The Mollusc Dimension’s amazing solo debut solo which is produced by the amazing Tuyet Van Huynh. Amazing panel chaired by the one and only Mei Mac with inspiring and awesome people Tuyet Van Huynh, The Mollusc Dimension, Enxi Chang, Lusty Lovelace and Tim Lytc.”
(Steph, Asians in Britain (she/her) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“What a beautiful night. It was an absolute treat to experience your live performance.”
(Tim (they/them) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“What an incredible night of queer Asian joy.”
(Keira May (they/them) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“I feel uplifted and also wondering what can I do in the future.”
(Chloe (she/her) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“This panel gave me so much joy. So empowering to see BESEA, queer and trans representation on one stage, discussing with such vulnerability and authenticity their individual experiences with BESEA, queerness & Trans identity. Exploring oppression and identity politics through pain and joy in the most gloriously queer way.”
(Kam (he/him) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“It was so moving and the panel opened up so many questions for me. Every single person said something affirming that went into a deep part of me and wanting to affirm/show appreciation... noises left my body - "mmm". I heard those "mmms" echoing on the other side of the audience, hungry souls acknowledging this nourishment. I thank you for vulnerability and for being powerful and authentic and for being so big hearted in sharing your space with other Asian voices for representation. I loved how naturally your youness flowed while having bants or paying reference to things in the set. I'm just soaking it all in now. Loved the parodies AND the originals... the visuals... YOUR EYE MAKE UP and just the joyous celebration of queerness and diversity was exactly what I needed! All of it was so embracing!! Praise the intersections for bringing us closer together!!”
(A trans-masc person on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“An incredibly joyful night. The audience protest chant (and encore!) was obviously a highlight. Mei Mac was a brilliant MC for the panel on trans, queer and ESEA identity and experience. How good it is now to be able to meet more ESEA creatives and go beyond the screen. The show was magical.”
(Amy (she/her) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“Beautiful show. A powerful panel discussion on trans Asian representation and queerness, chaired by Mei Mac with The Mollusc Dimension, Lusty Lovelace, Enxi Chang, Tim Lytc and Tuyet Van Huynh who continue to inspire us and the community.”
(Darius Shu, film director and DOP (he/him) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“I was sitting at the back with my friend and we both thought it was excellent.
Loved the mix of songs, poems and the stuff going on on the screen. The whole production was great and you were a mesmerising presence on stage! And the AHFT music video was incredible!”
(Charlie (he/him) on Asians Have Feelings Too Live Show, Music Video Premiere and Panel)
“While The Mollusc Dimension tackles some emotions that can feel dark and frustrating (for those of us who might identify with the subject matter), the song itself is light, bouncy, playful, and at times softly soulful -- much like the wonderful talent behind it! A joyous romp and a sweet self-love ballad mixed into one.”
(Kelsey Yuhara - Artist, Performer, Director, Improviser on the track, Asians Have Feelings Too)
“Totally speaks to us ESEA community - thank you for the representation.”
(Georgie Ma aka Chinese Chippy Girl - British-born Chinese Podcaster on the track, Asians Have Feelings Too))
"This song is so fragile and delicate with imagination, but so strong too from it. It is dreamy, and, for me, a hallmark of The Mollusc Dimension is his very much delightful venture into a world of possibilities. The song’s lyrics are very interesting. One doesn’t get the full meaning unless looking closer. Or I at least didn’t, and I am so glad I did. It starts from a very personal and Individualistic perspective that spans out to look at everything from a wider view. Or so I thought; because, after a closer look, this is a kind of a play with the chorus and verses!"
(Trevor, Poet on the track, Asians Have Feelings Too)
"It's got a really lovely soft synth pop feel and a sad and hopeful lyrical story."
(Beli Evans, Writer & Poet on the track, Asians Have Feelings Too)
"A brilliant performance that had me both gripped and giggling throughout. It takes us on a familiar yet fabulously swirling journey where we meet historic, religious and contemporary figures, creatures and characters. Their funny interactions and inventive representation poke at our perception of the world around us, and encourages us to cut, collage and stick the history (and geography) books as a way of questioning whose are the loudest voices shaping our world today. The music delicately moves us through the journey, adding suspense, fullness, atmosphere and drama with exquisite expertise. The low-fi props and costumes, bold substitutions and raw and rough edges are such an inviting element of the performance, I want to jump into the story, be playful, throw on a net curtain, be a part of it myself and add another new dimension!"
(Greygory Vass, Open Barbers on Pashville)
"The Mollusc-Dimension's video Pashville was a creative tour de force! Incredibly funny, clever and multi-dimensional, he not only played many roles beautifully, improvised/composed and played his own music, but managed to do all this in a piece that was thought-provoking, irreverent in the best way and very witty."
(Lysander Dove, Bar Wot on Pashville)
“A lovely take bringing trans history alive in a time travelling docudrama series. It's a succinct and brief history of some of the most incredible transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people, plus how gender identity services first came about. In a perfect take away from episode one, it debunks the myth that transgender is "new" by tracing the conversations we still have about gender and sex back to Ancient Greece. Another nugget to love about this show, it's made by an all trans and nonbinary production team.”
(Jamie Wareham, Forbes on Adventures in Time & Gender)
On Asians Have Feelings Too - Placard-making, Listen & Share Party
“I think it was a really interesting topic [to hear about being LGBTIQA+ and ESEA] as Asian parents don't usually talk about this.”
(Young ESEA person)
“I really enjoyed being part of a creative project.”
“It was fun to participate with a group-artist collaboration online!”
“I enjoyed AHFT because it was a really comfortable space, with great music and lovely people. Always a joy to be with others doing something creative. It was also a very informative event that addressed the much overlooked issues of discrimination against Asian people. Also it was great to have an exclusive preview of the sound of AHFT!”
“Thank you for the event. It was my first time on zoom so I was a little apprehensive and shy, but I had a really good time and enjoyed myself. It was also really inspiring to see everyone’s artwork and their ideas. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the funding and I hope everything will go smoothly.”
(Young ESEA person)
“I liked hearing your song so much I didn't want to leave and go to my family dinner.”
(Young ESEA person)
"Thank you for the drawings. They are hilarious. Simple but full of all salient features."
(Feedback on comic illustrations)
“Always there with deep thoughts, and wit, on creativity.”
(Jami on Vibrance - Time Travel with The Mollusc Dimension)
“Very interesting and informative event! I really enjoyed all the openness and creativity and finding out more behind The Mollusc Dimension.”
(M on Vibrance - Time Travel with The Mollusc Dimension)
“It was fascinating and revealed such a lot about your creativity and inspiration. You really came across as a warm and genuine artist.“
(D on Vibrance - Time Travel with The Mollusc Dimension)
“It gave us many much-needed laughs at the same time as being both subversive af and genuinely lovely and uplifting. It was very delicately balanced and struck just the right note, and it had us thinking and talking about it for a good while afterwards. A very cool and exciting piece and our favourite of the show.”
(Puck on Pashville, Open Barbers/ Bar Wotever, 2021)
“The entire show was really well done. Everyone was unique and very entertaining!”
(VL on Crushes, Forest Gayte Pride, 2021)
“Brilliant! Thanks for the lolz, bath bits extra funny.”
(Esther on Crushes, Forest Gayte Pride, 2021)
“I really like the mix of conversation, your personal musings were funny and quirky (in a brilliant way). I could have listened to you for much longer. I was intrigued by the audio description and monochrome, making us do the work of thinking about what we (don’t) see. And clearly so much work!”
(Sebastian on Crushes, Forest Gayte Pride, 2021)
"It conveyed the title well and (though I clearly won't even know without seeing a score) seemed to be very secure and intelligently played. You never gave us the opportunity to switch off - always grabbing our attention. Bravo."
(Anthony Williams on Vibrance, an original piano solo performed at Stratford & East London Music Festival (1st, Outstanding)
Reactions to a Virtual Summer concert 2020 organised by The Mollusc Dimension (aka Angelus)
“It was nice to listen to music and have the pleasure of enjoying other people's hard work and dedication. We think it was a wonderful idea and are glad to be in it. Thank you!”
“We really enjoy the music with the special effects on the background. I think the whole idea was organised well. Even though in this situation we still can enjoy the music. Is a very successful virtual summer concert. We fully appreciate the hard work you put in. Thank you very much.”
"We thoroughly enjoyed the concert thank you and the editing was fantastic! We particularly loved the Miaou [duet] by you and Angelus and also loved Take Me Back to the Ocean! (….) Thank you for a lovely concert."
“What a fantastic virtual concert you put together Angelus! Very creative! We sat down with some popcorn and really enjoyed it [smile emoji] you clearly put so much effort into it and it was fantastic.. T commented that it must be very rewarding for you to watch it and know that you taught all those fingers to play and produce such amazing sounds. Thank you so much for all you do [smile emoji with eyes closed]”
"Congratulations! The virtual concert was great! We really enjoyed the music and the visuals - especially Take Me Back to the Ocean. But everyone's contribution was interesting or beautiful or delightful or all three! Thanks for putting the concert together. It was well worth it!"
"Thank you for organising the concert. We can see how much time and work Angelus had put in, in editing each of the videos and putting the whole programme together. V [teenage student] wanted to say that she really enjoyed the concert. She along with us listened to the concert from beginning to end."
"We enjoyed listening to the concert and everyone playing, who played in it. We liked the way Angelus edited the videos. We appreciate his hard work. Thank you for everything."
"Wow. Fantastic. Watched Take Me Back to the Ocean a few times. Amazing, so unusual."
“Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension is an invitation and a guided tour to abstract and surrealist landscapes with an expressionist commentary. You’ll stumble upon echoes of Erik Satie and Kurt Weil, playing with goth influences and smooth prog, dancing with self-deprecating humour. In the depth of his sound, you’ll find many of the references and influences he absorbed through his life, and, of course, the melodrama of life as seen through his sea-tinted lenses.”
(Walki in Amplified #179, on Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension Album and also here on their blog)
“Having been somewhat familiar with The Armada portraits and the many critiques of these works that already exist as viewed through a patriarchal lens, I welcomed this fresh and alternative interpretation. While the artist in me came for the subverted altering of the visual works, the amateur historian stayed for this compelling take.
Queering literary and artistic works is not new yet in this performance, Bird la Bird’s dry-witted storyteller magical factoids invite the viewer to take a closer look, and are punctuated by an apt and glittering soundtrack (beautifully referencing Elizabethan music and Mendelssohn) by The Mollusc Dimension, inviting the viewer to take a closer look at the clues presented in the paintings and uncover another welcome piece of queer history.”
(Urie Jo, Artist, on Breaking The Spell of the Armada Portraits)
“Fans of Aphex Twin, for instance, would have loved the Sunday workshop and concert exploring the sonic possibilities of a bouncing ping-pong ball..(..)”
(John Lewis, The Guardian, on Bats and Beats, Sound State, Southbank Centre at which five composers were featured)
“Do you need some JOY? Seriously, I as thinking how this has the good heart and fantasy of Chuck Tingle, but totally safe for work.”
(J, on the work of The Mollusc Dimension)
“Hello, just wanted to say your album is the best damn thing everrrrrrr. It’s so trippy and magical and amazing and is making me so happy. Thank you so much ❤”
(Nikolaia, on Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension)
“Was listening to the CD again this morning on the way to the supermarket. I really love all the melodies and intros and the drama of it.”
(Billy Williams on Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension Album)
“Walking Through My Mind” reminds me of "Lightspeed Champion - Midnight Surprise", it's the way it progresses with new melody progression.
“Didn't Want” reminds of something from The Rocky Horror Picture Show, I really like the "Boo" in the middle. Lol. I really like "Gotta Go" - reminds me of something from Zelda.”
(Yujin on Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension Album)
“Wild and the Mollusc Dimension were great, they have catchy lyrics and melodic voices. Also you can totally tell their songs apart!”
(Shakira, Irn Brunette on Wild & The Mollusc Dimension live at Trans Pride Brighton, 2019)
“Takes you to different worlds.”
(Shaven Raven Designs/ Urie Jo, Creative Collaborator on Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension Album)
“I was excited to feature on a few of The Mollusc Dimension's songs for his 2019 solo album. An eclectic, uplifting queer musical wonder!”
(Wild, Live & Recording Collaborator on working with The Mollusc Dimension on Welcome to The Mollusc Dimension Album)
“Thank you for supporting Gaybourhood East's first super hero pride party. The Mollusc Dimension put his art and soul into preparing, promoting and performing at our community event. He sang quirky playful songs for a queer audience, don't miss an opportunity to see him live!”
(Organiser, Gaybourhood East on The Mollusc Dimension performing at Gaybourhood East, 2019)
“I commissioned Angelus (The Mollusc Dimension) to compose music for my short performance film, Escape From The Law of Octaves. Throughout the working process Angelus communicated very well and always delivered work on time within set deadlines.
He bought an immense amount of skill and artistic energy to the project and understood my creative vision and the story that I was trying to tell. I was extremely happy with the sound scape and would not hesitate to recommend Angelus. I hope to work with him again in future.”
(Kai Fi’ain, Film Director on The Mollusc Dimension's work on Seventh Son (formerly Escape from the Law of Octaves)
“Angelus is an able composer and artist. He possesses a strong artistic vision and can respond to briefs quickly and coherently. His contributing piece for Bats and Beats was framed by the guiding concept of the "Five Elements", and the music he wrote corresponded aesthetically to earth, fire, wind, water and metal. He also effectively channeled his personality through the work, and demonstrated his knowledge of the clarinet, cello and piano by writing idiomatically for the piano trio. His penchant for performance emanated through the work too, as he called for the ping pong players to vary their playing styles to music and was himself featured in the piece.
Angelus is a communicative and responsive team-member. He was clear in his communications to the other composers in the group and to the directors, and met all deadlines timely. He was also open to artistic feedback, contributed to discussions and took responsibility for all the performance aspects of his piece, from sourcing props to creating stage directions.
Finally, Angelus has a strong passion for Music and a focused artistic career.”
(Nicola T. Chang, Composer/Sound Designer and Performer on The Mollusc Dimension’s work for Bats and Beats, Ping Pong Concert for Chinese Arts Now)
“I howled!” [with laughter] and “The Clangers meets the Goon Show.”
(Libro Levi Bridgeman, on Quiet Queers Qlub Episodes 1 and 2)
“Enter the mollusc dimension,
A land where the everyday is transformed into the extraordinary,
Artful squid full of ink,
Silver shimmer flying fish,
Flying as no flying fish ever did,
Tomatoes ripe and juicy,
Tomatoes fit to burst,
Spewing seeds,
Slick with art,
Full of tales,
Beauty and dark undercurrents.”
(Phillip Raymond Goodman, Artist on The Mollusc Dimension at an event they curated)
”The Mollusc Dimension is really an exceptional multi-disciplinary artist. It's truly a marvel how one person with only a keyboard and his voice can completely transform the atmosphere of the whole room and captivate the audience. His show is a real theatrical performance with paper puppets that he makes himself and gives them a voice. The Mollusc Dimension mixes a lot of musicals influences, sings and speaks in different voices and manners and, of course, he is a virtuoso on the keys. His lyrics are full of imagery and meaning. He really lifts your mood and you feel as if he is in close conversation with you.”
(Eugene, Artist from the band, tAngerinecAt on The Mollusc Dimension performing at their gig at The Victoria in Dalston)
“Their music was electrifying and dynamic and really got the crowd buzzing!”
(June Bellebono, Decolonise Fest on The Mollusc Dimension performing at Decolonise Fest, Lunar New Year Gig)