Giant Sing Along
Outdoor collective karaoke
An exercise in cooperation
Musical Swings is an urban interactive installation that stimulates human connections in public spaces. Imagined as a collective experience, the work invites people of all ages and backgrounds to make music together. It’s an intuitive game, where cooperation between participants unlocks secret melodies, encouraging collaboration and an active awareness of others.
Permanent Installation
Touring Installation
In 9 cities since 2011
The Musical Swings in Montreal
Created in 2011, the installation has become a celebrated icon of Montreal’s entertainment district, returning seasonally every spring. As a result of its success, a touring version of the Musical Swings was created and has been travelling the world, receiving a number of international awards and recognitions. A new permanent version of the work is also available for cities around the world.
A living piece of art
Cooperation is rewarded when participants swing in synchronicity; triggering secret, more complex, melodies. This collaborative exercise encourages intuitive play and experimentation without requiring any musical knowledge, allowing the public to become co-authors of a constantly evolving composition.
Participants reported feeling like they were making music with their entire bodies; surrendering themselves unexpectedly to this collective performance, almost as if by magic!
Following the success of the 21 Swings in Montreal, a touring version of the installation was created. It premiered in June 2014 at the Green Box Arts Festival in Colorado, USA. The Musical Swings have since visited several countries and continues to tour around the world. The installation currently is available for touring or for permanent installation worldwide; Contact us to host them!
A Permanent edition now available!
Fabricated in Montreal, contact us to know more.
Collective experiences have the power to break down the social barriers that prevent us from interacting in public space. The cooperative nature of the installation transforms unusual and underused sites into thriving destinations that are welcoming for all. Over time, new urban habits are adopted by the public, creating a new sense of ownership over the shared space. When asked about the Musical Swings, participants have repeatedly testified to feeling renewed pride for their city.
Impact Study
For the Musical Swings 2016 tour in the United States, Daily commissioned an independent study to analyze the economic and social impact of the temporary installation. The following are some highlights from the report.
* Study conducted during the 2016 US Tour: West Palm Beach, Florida; Detroit, Michigan; San José, California. With the support of the Knight Foundation.
To develop the interactivity of the project, Daily studied the concept of cooperation with Luc-Alain Giraldeau, biology professor, expert on animal behavior and Director General of the INRS: “Cooperation emerges when the behaviour of each individual depends on the decisions of the rest of the group: it’s a game where, from the start, you need to adjust to the actions of others.”