Dr Nat Grant

Field Recording, Community and Memory

This paper will investigate the kinds of histories and memories that can be shared through making and experiencing field recordings and sound walks. Whether for creative or archival purposes, field recordings provide a valuable (if subjective) take on historical events, and can draw attention to political, environmental, and social issues. The accessibility of recording equipment and digital networks means field recording and the subsequent sharing of these recordings is incredibly easy, making the process of growing communities around field recording straightforward. I will detail the growing movement towards the use of field recordings as a tool for bringing communities of people together around shared experiences, the uptake in field recording and (creation of/participation in) soundwalks during 2020/21 lockdowns, and how I’ve been able to tap in to this part of my practice as an act of self care. I will also look at field recording as improvisation, and the benefits of an open mind, a trust in the process, and an openness to changes in direction. This presentation will draw parallels between the two activities, both with varying degrees of agency, and both demanding a great deal of trust: a relinquishing of ego and best laid plans.