8 locations

39 contributors

468 audio field recordings

These figures sum up Curious Pilgrims' first series of Sonic Outreach Shetland sessions and I was pleasantly surprised by each contributor’s collection of audio recordings. The enthusiasm and the generosity of each of the eight groups of participants is reflected in the nature of the recordings and demonstrates not only people’s listening experiences of Shetland’s coasts and waters, but also a particular level of engagement with what the surroundings had to offer, often in a very playful manner. What unfolded from each set of recordings is a balance between natural sounds gleaned from the shores of eight different parts of Shetland and humankind’s interventions in those locations though the use of found metal, wood and plastic objects.

From each session I gathered all the material recorded, went through each and every audio file and composed eight different sound pieces that reflect the conditions we were all immersed in. In designing each work, through layering of recordings and placements of sounds, I also wanted to project the creative interplay that emerged from the participants’ engagement with place and sonic events, and the treatment of each location as a field of so many inventive possibilities.

It was an immense pleasure spending time out and about with all the participants, walking listening and recording in the magical settings that Shetland’s coasts have to offer. Thank you all and I’m looking forward to sharing more time with some of you again and with new participants.

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Renzo Spiteri