The potential of everyday sounds.
grass and rust. Remigen, Switzerland 2022
I was recently asked about the discipline of field recording. Why did I employ environmental sounds on this record? And what drew me to the specific recordings that are woven throughout? Without spoiling the interview, I thought I’d jot down some ideas in response to the these questions as I reflect on my process.
On the album’s first single—ground glass—I begin the track with a recording of wind, rushing through what feels to me like large trees full of foliage on a summer night. This somewhat foreboding scene follows the sounds of a walk in forest, gravel underfoot and birds overhead, on the first track (good enough) for now. The experience markedly (and intentionally) changes between the two songs; from a sun-dappled, idyllic walk in the forest to that of an impending storm.
I’ve mentioned my motivation for the composition entitled ground glass in a previous post, so I won’t rehash it here. But suffice it to say, the piece reflects my personal journey coming to terms with a chronic lung condition. As the song progresses, the wind gives way to rhythmic breath sounds recorded while using my CPAP device. The song concludes with a third field recording of a knife against metal, heavily processed and razor-sharp.
I chose all of these sounds for very specific, if not obvious reasons. The initial wind sample is metaphor for breathing, the knife sample for an anticipated biopsy. And while it’s not imperative for the listener to fully understand each of these references—I hope the song stands on its own as a collection of coherent and engaging sounds that evoke an emotion nonetheless—knowing my intention regarding the field recording enhances the meaning of the song.
The potential of everyday sounds lie in their ability to invoke the past, to connect the listener to an otherwise fleeting memory or emotion. That personal tie, between the listener and the song, can foster a poignant affinity and expand the depth and breadth of the listening experience.
