Jon Hopkins’ set at Polygon Live LDN is slightly different to some of the others.

Rather than a live performance, his set is hybrid — part playback of his latest album RITUAL and part live performance. Here’s what you can expect.

Jon Hopkins’ most recent album RITUAL, released in August 2024, is a 41-minute ceremonial piece that transcends traditional album formats, inviting you into a profound sonic journey. With 440 layers of production, it blends rich soundscapes and hypnotic elements, creating an immersive experience that feels both personal and expansive.

The work is designed to guide you through a meditative space, encouraging deep focus and presence. Each section offers distinct sounds, from chants to rhythmic explorations and organic sounds that add a layer of warmth and grounding.

“I have no idea what I’m doing when I’m composing. I don’t know where it’s coming from, or where it’s going. I just know when it’s finished,” says Hopkins. “What is clear is that this one had the structure of a ritual. I know what that ritual is for me, but it will be something different for you. All I know is it felt like a tool, even a machine, for opening portals within your inner world, for unlocking things that are hidden and buried. It doesn’t feel like an album, therefore, more a process to go through, something that works on you.”

Lovingly constructed from many hundreds of constituent parts from a cast of trusted collaborators, Hopkins describes his role as akin to “building a temple”, with every brick and detail carefully fashioned and coloured in service to the whole.