Enter the Forcefields at The Lens Studio

Portsmouth Guildhall's Lens Studio is about to host something that doesn't fit neatly into a single box. On Saturday 7 November at 19:30, the duo known as The Forcefields bring their show 'Enter the Forcefields: an immersive musical experience' to the room, and it's less a gig than a transmission. The bill describes it as a fusion of live music, movement and projected imagery, with each song paired to a custom video synchronised to the music, so it's as much for the eyes as the ears.

The Forcefields are Julia Othmer, who performs as Aayama Forcefield and comes from Kansas in the US, and James Lundie, known as Max Forcefield, who hails from Cornwall. They are a couple as well as a duo, and they released their debut full-length album, 'Symphony of All Things', back in June. The music sits somewhere between electronica, rock and torch songs, with the duo themselves pointing towards Elbow, Pink Floyd and Portishead as references, while reviewers have tended to draw comparisons with Florence + the Machine, David Byrne and Massive Attack. Their most recent single, 'Lion Tamer', picked up Record of the Week on both BBC Cornwall and BBC Devon, which gives you a sense of the ground they've been covering before landing in Portsmouth.

There's a bit of a backstory to the project too. It grew out of remixing Othmer's solo material, and the name 'Forcefields' was chosen simply because it sounded fun to them. The songs lean into themes of power, freedom and transformation, specifically the tension between surrender and control. At one point the pair took a spiritual retreat at The Sanctuary in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, in Ireland, a place known as a sacred site of love, hope and peace set within the former Kilfane Demesne estate, and that sense of ceremony carries over into the show. They even invite the audience to pick their own 'Forcefields' name and join the 'Forcefields Federation', so it's the sort of night that asks you to lean in rather than just stand and watch.

On the practical side, tickets are £14, which includes a 13% booking fee, and the show is covered by The Lens Studio Student Pass, which gives 25% off selected shows against a valid student ID. A few house rules are worth knowing before you go: anyone aged 14 and under needs to be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or over, cameras and tablets are not allowed inside, and there's no external food or drink permitted, with exceptions made for medical needs. Like everything at Portsmouth Guildhall, the ticket includes a restoration levy, and discounted parking can be sorted online or at the box office. If you've been looking for something a bit different on the local bill, this is a strong shout for a Saturday night.