Artist Residency - Niño Árbol sponsored by British Council

In May 2026, Woodside Studios welcomed Mexican interdisciplinary artist and electronic music innovator Niño Árbol (Kevin Martínez) for an international residency supported by the British Council, The Night With..., and PRS Foundation. Bringing together Glasgow's vibrant creative community and Mexico's thriving electronic music scene, the residency centred on the development of a new electroacoustic project between Martínez and Scottish classical musicians.

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As a multidisciplinary studio, Woodside Studios exists at the intersection of music, visual culture, design and contemporary art. The residency reflected this ethos, creating an environment where artists from different disciplines and traditions could exchange ideas, challenge established approaches and develop new forms of creative expression. By pairing Martínez's experimental electronic practice with the precision and nuance of classical performance, the studio became a laboratory for collaboration, where acoustic and electronic worlds could collide in unexpected ways.

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Martínez has built an international reputation for work that moves seamlessly between the dancefloor and the avant-garde. Having performed in more than 24 countries, he has appeared at globally recognised events including Festival Ceremonia, MUTEK and Boiler Room. As a producer, DJ, curator and founder of the influential Mexican collective ssensorial, his practice continually explores the space between sound art, technology and club culture, transforming abstract sonic concepts into immersive physical experiences.

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Throughout the residency, classical instrumentation and electronic processes were brought into conversation, resulting in the early development of an electroacoustic work shaped by experimentation, improvisation and shared curiosity. The project drew on the distinct musical languages of its collaborators while seeking common ground between them, revealing new textures, rhythms and possibilities through the exchange.

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For Woodside Studios, the residency was a natural extension of its commitment to nurturing ambitious cross-disciplinary projects and connecting local practitioners with international voices. More than a creative residency, it was a cultural dialogue—one that linked Glasgow and Mexico through sound, collaboration and a collective desire to push beyond conventional boundaries. In doing so, it reinforced Woodside Studios' role as a space where disciplines converge, ideas evolve and meaningful artistic encounters take shape.