Week 1 (tri2) - Deep Listening & Composition through Sound

We began our first lecture of this module with a unusual listening exercise. We were asked to lay on the floor on foam mats and listen to Lean by Pauline Oliveros. Whilst listening, I looked out for key thoughts or feelings that stood out to me.

Deep Listening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EskkbBbmDKE

My Thoughts on The Piece:

• My head hurts

• It made the traffic in my head stop, suddenly I feel quite disoriented

• The sounds reminded me of a vast desert - similar to the Dune movies

• It was quite mysterious, nature like (once again thinking to a wide desert)

• I felt lost, like like I was stranded

• overwhelmed

• Orange Sand, heat, bright

It was an interesting exercise, and I find it intriguing how everyone interpreted this piece completely differently. For example, my friend sitting next to me imagined a futuristic blue city - quite a contrast to what I have described.

So, now that we got to imagine different worlds and sceneries, we need to actually address what was the point of it.

What is a Soundscape?

You know those moments when you're out in nature, or in the city, and you just stop and listen? All those little sounds around you, the rustling leaves, the distant chatter, the hum of traffic, they create this immersive experience. That's what a soundscape is all about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb-kQcoKu4

Just like a photographer carefully frames a shot, sound artists use different sounds as their building blocks to construct an auditory scene. Close up sounds, like footsteps or whispers, act as the sharp focus, while background ambiance, like wind or city noise, provide context - almost like a blurred backdrop. It's all about finding that perfect balance and composition.

In fact, the parallels between soundscapes and photography run deep. Both mediums use carefully chosen elements to convey meaning, atmosphere, and emotion. A soundscape ensures that no single sound overpowers the others, just like a great photograph finds its balance between subjects. But of course, that doesn't mean you cant flip those conventions upside down, and find beauty in chaos.

At the end of the day, whether you're looking at a photograph or listening to a soundscape, the goal is the same - to transport you to a specific moment or feeling. It's an immersive experience for your eyes and your ears.

My Soundscape

During the second half of the lecture we were asked to create our very own soundscape. We ran around the university recording different sounds we stumbled upon and later used them to craft our unique soundscape. This time, as our production tool, we used Adobe Premiere Pro to craft our piece.

Whilst Creating my soundscape, I ended up using sound effects from the BBC sound effects website. I found the process extremely satisfying, adding random sound effects to find sounds that feel just right together. I ended up using the reverse options as well as the reverb to create interesting alterations of the original sound samples. I will explore the final product in my week 2 post!