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Two Seas Project

Global Field Recording × Live Studio Jam × Climate Narrative
EarthSonic Programme · Paranoid London × Oulu Sound Collective ry · Oulu & Muynak, Finland/Uzbekistan

Two Seas Project – Climate Field Recording on the Bothnian Bay

🌍 Concept & Framework

Two Seas explores the climate crisis through the sonic landscapes of two vanishing bodies of water: the frozen Bothnian Bay in Oulu, Finland, and the dried Aral Sea basin in Muynak, Uzbekistan.

Curated by EarthSonic (a programme of In Place of War), the project brings together UK electronic artists Paranoid London, Finnish and Uzbek sound creators, Matt Black (Coldcut), and Ben Sheppee (Observatory). Through field recordings, improvisational studio sessions, and site-specific performances, the collaboration examines environmental change through sound—aiming to translate complex ecological data into emotionally resonant experience and inspire global audience engagement.

📍 My Role & Field Recording Process

As president of Oulu Sound Collective ry, I was approached by Heikki Myllylahti (Oulu Urban Culture Ry) to host and organize recording sessions for the EarthSonic crew during their February 2025 visit to Oulu. The project aligned perfectly with OSC's focus on experimental sound, community practice, and socio-ecological awareness, so I gladly stepped in.

Alongside Jussi Alaraasakka, I guided the team across the frozen Bothnian Bay at Nallikari. Dressed in winter gear lent by Nallikari Safari and equipped with ice drills, saws, underwater microphones, and Zoom field recorders, we captured the acoustic architecture of cracking ice, wind channels, and Arctic silence.

I also brought a handcrafted ice kantele—its crystalline resonance recorded alongside the sea itself.

❄️ BOTHNIAN BAY · OULU, FINLAND ⋯ 🏜️ ARAL SEA · MUYNACK, UZBEKISTAN

🎛️ Studio Session & Creative Breakthrough

Back in a home studio generously provided by OSC member Jama, Paranoid London and I immersed ourselves in improvisation. We layered the frozen field recordings with analog synthesizers, letting chance, temperature shifts, and mechanical noise guide the session.

During our exchange, Quinn from Paranoid London shared a pivotal insight: rather than forcing myself to perfectly reproduce every synth setting or parameter, I should simply play, record, and curate the strongest moments.

Letting go of "reproducible perfection" and embracing playful improvisation actually deepened my memory and focus—turning constraint into creative freedom. The session became less about technical control and more about shared presence, spontaneity, and trust in the moment.

📹 Documentary Coverage

The field recording process on the frozen sea and the subsequent live performance at the Frozen People Festival were documented by NDR in their documentary Eisschwimmen in Finnland. The footage captures the technical setup of ice acoustics capture, the collaborative studio jam with Paranoid London, and the atmospheric stage context—offering a behind-the-scenes perspective on how environmental data translates into sonic art.

Watch here:
Eisschwimmen in Finnland (NDR Mediathek) ↗

EarthSonic — Two Seas Project page ↗

🔮 Vision & Impact

This collaboration left a lasting imprint on my practice. Beyond the music itself, I hope it reaches listeners in a way that matters: inspiring awareness around climate change and motivating others to engage with art, research, or action on pressing ecological and sociocultural issues.

At its core, Two Seas demonstrates how artistic practice can translate complex environmental science into accessible, emotionally resonant experience—bridging data, sensation, and shared human attention. I also hope to experience the final composition live, one way or another.

"If even one person says, 'Because of this project, I finally noticed climate change—and want to contribute my own piece,' then the work has fulfilled its purpose."

📍 Credits & Program Context

📸 Documentation

Two Seas Project Documentation