‘Sound Bites Concerts’ Music, Food And a Unique Experience

October 15th, 2024

Imagine having dinner, not with random music playing in the background, but with carefully selected sounds designed to enhance the flavors of your meal. That’s exactly what Clare James, a flutist and graduate of UNO, had in mind when she created “The Sound Bites Concerts.”

While studying at UNO, Clare became fascinated by how our senses shape the way we experience food and drinks. She learned that the right music could make a meal taste better or even bring out new flavors. This idea grew into the Sound Bites Concerts, where food and music are paired intentionally to create a unique sensory experience.

The concept taps into something deeper—synesthesia. This condition, where one sense sparks another, like seeing colors when hearing music or tasting flavors when reading, gave Clare even more inspiration. She says that even if you don’t have synesthesia, you can still feel consistent connections between sounds and tastes.

Clare’s journey with Sound Bites began when she lived in Boston. At a recital, the audience was given chocolates to enjoy with different pieces of music, such as pairing mint chocolate with a Bach violin sonata. This creative experience stayed with her, and although she couldn’t act on the idea at the time, she never let it go. Years later, while preparing for her master’s recital, she found the perfect opportunity to bring the concept to life and teamed up with Metro Community College’s culinary school to create her first Sound Bites event.

Now, Sound Bites is hosting two upcoming concerts. The first, focused on pairing drinks and music, takes place this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Bad Seed Coffee and Supply. The second, featuring a full meal and performances by members of the Rangbrook Ensemble, will be held on Wednesday, October 23rd, at 6:30 p.m. at Au Courant Regional Kitchen in Benson.

For more information, check out Sound Bites on Instagram: @soundbitesconcerts.