Fairies

The file above is binaural and headphones are necessessary to get the authentic spatial sound!!!

Fairies is a piece written for ambisonics loudspeaker setup.

Fairies delves into the audiotory world of English folkelore and fairy beliefs. Inspired by field recordings from sites reputed for contemporary fairy sightings, I crafted a piece that intertwines the mystique of the legendary creatures with the natural soundscape of their alleged habitats.

My field recording journey took me to various enchanted locations across England. In Cornwall, near St. Just, I explored the location where a man was said to have been kidnapped by the fairies. In Dartmoor, I drew inspiration from the music of composer Thomas Wood, who once claimed to have heard the fairies’ music in the national park. The Infamous Cottingley, known for the 1917 hoax where two young girls convinced many intellectuals of the existence of fairies through fabricated photographs, also plays a significant role in the composition.

The piece investigates the sonic representation of Fairies though the lens of Norwegian folklorist Jeanette Sky’s theory: our perception of nature shapes our beliefs in magival beings. By manipulating the concept of fairies, I suggest, we might influence broader societal views on nature conservation.

The piece was commissioned by Notam and premiered the Spatial Audio Salon at Ultima Festival 2024.

Besides the piece I was part of a panel discussion on ecology and sound art with Tulle Ruth and Bjarne Kvinnsland moderated by John Andrew Wilhite.

All photos are private photos.