SOUND ARTIST

During the lockdown of 2020 I performed online for the first time, wrote an opera called Persephone’s Dream over Zoom (for more details go to my composer page) and was asked to put together a digital artwork based on that opera for the Electric Medway Festival. This piece was called Somnambulist and its creation sparked a new way of working for me, as a sound artist.

SOMNAMBULIST

This binaural piece was created for Fat Lady Opera and SparkedEcho by Anna Braithwaite using fragments of music from the opera ‘Persephone’s Dream’. Anna was lent a binaural microphone as part SparkedEcho’s Test + Develop programme. She explored her local environment during lockdown to create this immersive soundscape. ‘Somnambulist’ was included in the digital festival ‘Electric Medway’ and was broadcast as part of alt. radio festival ‘Radiophrenia’ at 1pm on 21st Nov. 2020.

Instructions: Listen through headphones to enjoy the binaural audio.

Opera conception by Tania Holland Williams, composition by Gavin Alexander, Anna Braithwaite and Kevin Grist. Cello played by Clare O’Connell. Improvised vocals by Anna Braithwaite.

HULKED

Hulked is a creative heritage project inspired by the histories, stories and songs of the Thames Barges, many of which are now ‘hulked’ along the Medway River.

I worked as sound artist on a geolocated sound walk which weaves together stories, poems, songs and music as you follow the self-guided route through The Old Brickfields at Lower Halstow.

Co-created with writer Jeremy Scott, the sound walk includes contributions from students of Lower Halstow Primary School and members of the Oast House Community Choir and Thames Barge Community. The Hulked sound walk was shortlisted for the SWS 2024 international sound walk award. To learn more go to:

www.hulked.co.uk

PILGRIMAGE

In summer 2024 I was selected to be a Screen South ‘Showcase Artist’. Since then I have received training, time to play with a 360° sound rig and support to complete a commission from Deal Festival to create a sound installation for exhibition in July 2025.

‘Pilgrimage’ is an immersive 360° sound installation which captures the experience of walking from Deal to Dover along the shoreline. It uses field recordings and improvised vocal/church organ music (recorded en route in St Margaret of Antioch church), to reflect the experience of the modern pilgrim.

Venue: Landmark Centre, 129 High St, Deal, Kent, UK CT14 6BB

Events: I will introduce my installation at the launch event 5pm-7pm Friday 11th July, appear at a ‘meet the artist’ session at 4pm on Saturday 12th July and run a practical workshop in using ‘envelop’ software to create 360 sound worlds at 4pm on Sunday 13th July 2025.

The installation will be open to the public (for free) from 5pm-7pm Friday 11th July, 10-4pm both Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th July.

Please go to the Deal Festival website for further details.