James Welburn
"I used the landscape as my testing ground, where I could find the connection between music and environment."
My latest project is an experimental audio visual work featuring music, field recordings and images I captured and processed in Svalbard during three residencies between October 2022 and October 2023.
The former arctic mining settlements of Svalbard contrasts ancient gritty surfaces, post- industrial wastelands and epic natural beauty. Set amidst an enchanting ecology whose atmosphere is fused with geo-political tensions, surveillance technology and the pending repercussions of climate change as natures great forces lie in wait.
All of these aspects have fed into the sonic pallete I developed for my music and sound design. An immersive experience that resonates with the environment, where questions can arise and be reflected upon.