On a breezy, overcast day with temperatures hovering around 21°C, a group of us gathered at Hall Place in South-East London for a soundwalk organized in collaboration with Centrepieces, a London-based mental health charity. The goal was simple: to immerse ourselves in the environment, capturing our surroundings through sound and sight.

Hall Place, with its rich history and beautifully maintained gardens, provided a backdrop for our soundwalk. Despite the overcast sky and the gusts of wind, the location had a lot human activity. Families strolled through the gardens, children’s laughter echoed through the open spaces, and groups of friends chatted leisurely on benches. The natural environment was alive with various species of birds, though they remained hard to capture, both visually and audibly, due to the weather and the busyness of the area.

The soundwalk was a collaborative effort, with participants from Centrepieces encouraged to document the experience in their own unique ways. Armed with mobile phones, cameras and recording devices, each artist had the freedom to capture whatever resonated with them—whether it was the sound of the wind through the trees, the crunch of leaves underfoot, or the distant murmur of water flowing through the gardens. The diversity in approach and perspective was as rich as the environment itself, and the resulting collection of recordings and photos provided a unique portrayal of our walk together.

After the walk, I took on the task of editing and piecing together the various elements to create a cohesive soundscape that encapsulated our shared experience. The soundscape begins with the sound of the wind blowing—a natural starting point given how the wind dominated the day, both in its presence and in our conversations. As the wind fades, the sound transitions into the crunch of leaves beneath our feet, followed by the rhythmic crunching of gravel as we continued our walk. Finally, the soundscape concludes with the gentle flow of water, mirroring the stream and waterfall we encountered at the end of our journey.

One discussion we had during the walk was about the similarities between the sounds of wind and water. Both elements, though distinct, share a fluidity and rhythm that can be hauntingly similar. This observation inspired the structure of the soundscape—starting with wind and ending with water, creating an auditory journey that ties together the natural elements we encountered.

To add depth and harmony to the piece, I incorporated ambient piano chords. These chords serve as a gentle guide, providing structure to the otherwise unpredictable patterns of wind and water. The music doesn’t overpower the natural sounds but instead weaves through them, adding an additional layer of emotion and cohesion to the soundscape.

The soundwalk at Hall Place was more than just an exploration of a location; it was a collaborative artistic experience that brought together diverse perspectives to create something unique. Through sound, we were able to capture not just the environment, but also the shared experience of being in that place, at that time, together. I have fond memories of this day and I can only hope this gives pleasant and happy memories to the listeners.

This soundscape stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the beauty that can be found in the ordinary—wind blowing, leaves crunching, water flowing. It’s a reminder that even in a busy world, there are always moments of connection waiting to be discovered in nature and art.

The soundscape is on YouTube and can be found here: https://youtu.be/8S7cJ0Fdi9Y

Special thanks to volunteers, staff, and members of Centrepieces for being part of this art project.

To learn more about Centrepieces please visit: https://centrepieces.org/web/

*Some parts of this blog were generated using Chat GPT