Field Recordings

“On the morning of the second day whilst at Arvon Lumb Bank writers’ retreat I walked up the steep hill cow-heavy to Hepenstall Cemetery where Sylvia Plath is buried. I recorded my footsteps crossing the cemetery and the sounds that surrounded me whilst stood at her grave. I was so struck by the life, insects, birds, a lawn mower and at one point an aeroplane which on the recording sou...

“Alcoutim sits on the shore of the River Guadiana, which acts as a natural border between Portugal and Spain. While having a drink nearby the wind picked up and the boats and Jetty started making a wonderful noise. Note how the local Church bell rings 3pm and, a couple of minutes after, the Church in Sanlucar De Guadiana (across the river in Spain) rings 4pm! Marking the time difference betw...

“About 300 people watched the Euro’s final at MOTH club in Hackney, London. It ended with a tense penalty shoutout and joyous celebrations (at least from the Lionesses’ supporters).”

“Hundreds gather outside Downing Street banging pots and pans as Israel’s blockade continues to cause the starvation of Palestinians in the Gaza strip. 120 people – 80 of them children – have been confirmed dead from famine as of 26th July. In the last 24 hours two babies have died from malnutrition. Nearly 1000 Palestinians have been shot to death by Israeli soldiers whils...

“Binaural recording made on Samsung Galaxy S20 using Roland CS-10EM earbuds.”

“This is from February, so not very current at all… But I still love the sound. The snow was delightfully squeaky and I took every chance I could to stomp around during my wonderful stay there this past winter.”

“An emergency protest hours after parliament voted 385 to 26 to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group. Palestine Action are a direct action protest group who target Israeli weapons factories in the UK and their supply chain. This vote happened on the same day that MPs – including Yvette Cooper who drafted the order to amend the Terrorism Act – dressed up in sashes to ce...

“What a joy to stand in the rain alongside neighbours and elders on a day of protest!” An intergenerational singalong at the Brooklyn No Kings Protest, Prospect Park. Saturday, June 14th.”

“Here’s a recording I made on the sidelines of my son’s soccer (call it football if you want!) game in Brooklyn in May.”

“A lovely circular walk along the river where the ancient clapper bridge known as “The Tarr Steps” is located. A beautiful forested area with plenty of wildlife.”

“As part of the EBU International Audio Storytelling Festival, I organised a communal drone performance using skudučiai. Skudučiai (usually plural) are traditional Lithuanian folk instruments, simple wooden pipes, each producing a single pitch, meant to be played together, with or against each other, listening and arriving at shared melodies through connection in the moment. Each participant...

“Last Sunday, I went field recording at Lerderderg State Park on Wurundjeri Country, about an hour away from my place. I recorded this from the dry creek bed as people walked the trails back to their cars at the end of their Mothers day activities. I love how they integrated into the soundscape”

“On route to Annapurna Basecamp which is a 12 day trek, we came across this vast waterfall, called a cascade as it features a series of small falls, all connecting to each other. Next to the waterfall was a Buddhist stupa that had memory bells adorned to the outside, each carved with a memory. As the bells rang, the waterfall rushed down the rocks to soundtrack them; it felt like the memorie...

“I was recently in the Pacific North West of the USA. I captured the dawn chorus from a remote forest on Lopez Island – the third largest of the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State. Photo by Todd Stevens”

“It was lovely yet windy Saturday. I was enjoying the sounds of the trees moving at a small wooded area in front of the village church, with the village noises in the background.”

“…from my camp out at the Knepp estate last week – managed to creep up pretty close to a nightingale singing in the shrubby hedgerows.  Absolutely gorgeous to fall asleep to them calling out to each other through the night.”