Eco-Acoustics on the Gold Coast

Some of my sonic adventures so far...

Taking my microphones into the field

The late R. Murray Schafer pioneered the term Acoustic Ecology and blazed a pathway for artists and scientists to explore our relationship as listeners to the natural (and not so natural) world. This field of study gives us a frame work in order to explore sonic environments and to document changes over time.

Sometimes in my quest to record the natural world I am thwarted by more unnatural sounds (see my previous ‘The Wizards of Neranwood’ post)

The Wizards of Neranwood

But the dissonance and harmony of these worlds offer an intriguing insight into the rich ingredients of our sonic environment.

I would like to share some of the little field recording adventures I have taken so far in my Ngarang-wal (Nerang River) project. I have kept them short so they can be easily digested.

Take a listen and let me know what you think.

Neranwood at Night

Exploring Neranwood and Austinville at night

I took a drive one evening to Neranwood to record the night time insects of the forests around the Little Nerang Creek. It was pitch black and there was no-one else around (a little creepy). I turned off my car lights and walked along the bridge that crosses the creek, recording the insects at different locations. These critters are more chill than the cacophony of sound of the mid-day summer insects. In this recording I have edited together 6 different locations around the bridge, aiming my recorder into the bush and at the creek. You can hear the changes in intensity of the various spots I stopped at and there is always the creek babbling away in the background.

The Spit

One of the many bush tracks that lead to the beach on The Spit.

The long thin strip of land that goes from Surfers Paradise to the Seaway is affectionally known as The Spit. This land has been shaped by the shifting sands of the coast and the moving mouth of the Nerang River (until the Seaway stopped it in its tracks). The Federation Walk Coastal Reserve is full of coastal scrub that stabilises the sand and is home to healthy populations of birds and other critters. It is a pleasure to explore. In this recording you can hear lots of bird calls over the rumbling of the ocean. You will hear the scratching of two bush turkeys who are making a nest a few meters away and you will also hear a couple of dogs barking nearby (it was a busy Sunday at the Spit)

In a Boat on the Nerang

Too many cables makes spaghetti

I like this recording because it reveals the dissonance between the natural and not so natural world. This particular spot on the Nerang river is near Cascade Gardens, a beautiful park that hosts a healthy population of trees, birds and bats. It is also right near the busy Gold Coast Hwy on one side and the tight suburban suburbs on the other. I start this example at the point where there is a siren, a helicopter, a plane, the electric boat I am in and plenty of birds. I ask Ben (my brother in law) to cut the engine and the sound of the birds over the water is wonderful.

Underwater Near Girung Island

On the same boat trip we cut the engine near Girung Island just off Isle of Capri and dropped the hydrophone fairly deep down. It was fascinating hearing the articulate pops and crackles the little creatures down there make. What was also apparent was the sound of all the Sunday morning watercraft (they were not at all close to where we were). The thought dawned on me that we as humans make a lot of noise down there for our marine neighbours. I wonder what they think of all that racket…..

Percussion under the Bridge

Did you hear that? Under the Green Bridge

Not all bridges sound great, but the Green Bridge that connects HOTA with Chevron Island has some wonderful sonic qualities when you get underneath it. Here is a selection of some of the percussion one-hits I have recorded under the bridge. I have been sending all my samples to my fellow artist Jake Morton who has been organising a sample library to use with his sensory percussion kit (more about this process in a later post). Some of these samples will become part of the percussion in my songs.

I am not yet sure how much of these field recordings I will use in my final productions, but the process of documenting these sounds has been rewarding for me as a sound designer and artist, learning to listen and appreciate the sonic environment of the river and this city.

I hope you have enjoyed this taste of my audio adventures so far. In a way I do feel like an explorer, armed with a microphone or two.

This Project is supported by HOTA, Home of the Arts. #Artkeeper