Electronic Sound Magazine: Sound Of The Year Awards 2023: Emily Peasgood

Description

Sound Of The Year Awards 2023: Best Sound Innovation — InterviewThe Radiophonic Institute / Museum of Sound, published by Isaak Lewis-Smith, June 2024

This interview followed my win of the Best Sound Innovation award at the Sound Of The Year Awards 2023, presented by The Radiophonic Institute and the Museum of Sound. The award recognises a tool or technology that meaningfully enhances how sound is experienced or worked with.

In the interview, I discuss the development of Listening Desk, an interactive sound sculpture I created to give public access to sound archives without headphones, using a parametric laser-beam speaker and a bespoke soundscape sequencer embedded in the desktop. I describe the design process — from an early sketch through to collaboration with Studio Ben Allen on design, Happylander on software, East JR on fabrication, and Cow Sike Workshop on metalwork, developed in partnership with the British Library — and reflect on how the project reflects a broader shift in my practice towards creating playback technologies and methods for exhibiting sound, alongside my ongoing site-specific installation and field-recording work.

I also talk about my background as a musician and sound artist, my interest in sonifying overlooked public spaces, and my influences and upcoming field-recording projects.

Subject

Listening Desk is an interactive sound sculpture I created to give the public playful, headphone-free access to sound archives. Using a parametric laser-beam speaker and a bespoke soundscape sequencer, it lets visitors listen to and create soundscapes from archival recordings, democratising access to national sound collections. Developed in partnership with the British Library, the piece won Best Sound Innovation at the Sound Of The Year Awards 2023.