Coroner hears how Bedford musician was found dead

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Electronic musician Mira Calix was found hanged after leaving suicide notes, an inquest heard on Thursday, April 27, 2023.

The previous night she told her artist partner Andy Holden that she was going out to record music in her studio.

In the morning he went out and let out a loud scream when he saw the 52-year-old hanging from a wooden beam at the back of their semi-detached home in Bedford.

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The hearing at Ampthill was told that Mira, who was born in South Africa Chantal Francesca Passamonte, was found at the address in Coventry Road at six minutes past nine in the morning on March 25, 2022. Her death was confirmed at 9.29 that morning.

A post mortem examination found she had died due to asphyxia from hanging.

Suicide notes were located at the address, according to a scenes of crime report.

At the time of her death the award-winning artist and composer was described by her label Warp Records as someone who “pushed the boundaries between electronic music, classical music and art in a truly unique way.”

She created a sound sculpture “Nothing Is Set in Stone” for the Cultural Olympiad that ran alongside 2012 London Olympics.

The  BBC 6 Music DJ Mary Anne Hobbs called her: “such an ingenious, pioneering artist…. always questioning, always pushing.”

Tribute shows were made in her name on both 6 Music and Radio 3.

A post mortem examination found she had died due to asphyxia from hanging.

Inquest proceeding