Research in Music, Psychology, and Transformation
This page brings together my research, writing, and practice-based work exploring music, ritual, symbolism, and psychological transformation.
This research explores Afro-Cuban ritual music and its evolution into contemporary electronic forms.
Developed through both written and creative work, it offers a framework for understanding how ritual, sound, and symbolic structures evolve across culture and time, and how this shapes both creators and audiences.
The work has been presented internationally, including at Dancecult (London), and featured in the University of Newcastle’s Elephant’s Leg (Second Edition).
PhD Research:
Ritual Music and Electronica
From Afro-Cuban Ritual to Contemporary Electronic Forms
Dr. Vincent Sebastian Labra
Changó (Afro-Cuban Orisha associated with rhythm, power, and transformation)
Spiritual Transformation: The Hidden Catalyst For Artistic Innovation
Watch the full talk.
This talk draws on the personal and artistic journey of my PhD research over seven years.
It explores how music can act as a framework for navigating periods of change– and how these processes can be translated into creative work and innovation.
Visual Essays
Research-informed video essays exploring symbolic structure, initiation, and transformation.
Each piece combines concept, narration, music, and sound– created and performed by me.
Se7en: A Jungian Myth of Psychological Initiation
A depth-psychological reading of Se7en as a modern initiation narrative, exploring how transformation unfolds when moral frameworks break down.
Why Some Music Moves You (And Some Doesn’t)
This visual essay explores how rhythm, tension, repetition, and musical structure shape human experience beyond entertainment alone.
Additional essays available on YouTube.
Elephant's Leg II: Creativity in Action
Featuring my research on the evolution of Afro-Cuban ritual music .
My chapter explores how Afro-Cuban ritual traditions live on within electronic music. Drawing on my PhD research, it traces how rhythm and beliefs evolve across culture and time.
Xook Project
City of Sydney
A series of in-depth interviews with leading artists exploring the relationship between art, culture, spirituality, and tradition.
An insight into the realities and perspectives shaping artistic life today.
PULSE
A dance and music work exploring transformation through visual metaphor and immersive sound.
Presented at the 2024 Adelaide Fringe Festival as part of Lee Major’s Rich Mix.
Daniela Zambrano: Choreography / Performance
Vincent Sebastian: Composition / Performance
Dancecult, London, 2023
I presented my PhD research at Dancecult, a leading international journal and conference on electronic dance music culture.
Supported by Create NSW, this work was presented to an international audience of researchers and practitioners.
This research continues to inform my work across performance, studio practice, and creative development
