LISTENING INSTRUCTIONS:
This piece is based on a binaural recording, with additional sounds mixed in using binauralized Ambisonics. It's best enjoyed on decent-quality headphones or in-ears. In a noisy environment, I recommend using isolating, closed headphones, but if you're in a quiet environment, open-back headphones will work great as well.
Also, it's intended to be enjoyed at a LOW VOLUME. Basically, dial in the lowest volume that makes you feel like you're not missing anything. If you feel the piece is too drony, lower the volume.
ABOUT THE PIECE:
Winter (or at least the winter we know) is a disappearing phenomenon in many parts of the world. Here's a little remnant of the sound of winter where I grew up, with a thin layer of snow covering the ground, just thick enough you can hear me walk on it.
The piece, a foray into something like environmental sound art, is constructed around a sound walk I undertook when visiting my parents in 2023. I started on their balcony, stopped on the porch, took the garbage out and walked up and down the street for a bit (and, virtually, I returned to the balcony, even though I didn't in real life). A neighbor was practicing the trombone, the church bells were ringing in the distance, and the steel factory produced its trademark sound in the distance.
It's also one of my most personal pieces to date, with all the added sounds coming from objects around the place where I grew up: the washing machine melody, a giant glass vase, a huge Chinese bicycle bell (which was a gift from friends), and my old music box plush turtle that I had since I was a child.
Half of the proceeds of this album will be donated to responsible organizations fighting climate change.
Created with Mégra:
github.com/the-drunk-coder/megra.rs
The code for this release can be found here:
gitlab.com/ellipsenpark/releasecode/-/blob/main/winterish.megra3
Produced with free and open-source software.
Enjoy, and good luck!
released March 1, 2023