Circular Quay

"The impacts of a hundred-day confinement were felt by billions around the globe. Thoughts about personal health, job security, relationship stability as well as much more were breathed in and exhaled out daily as they infiltrated the mind and home, denying repose. It was the ironic reality of many, many people to be unable to find rest in the one place it belongs." Through my audio program, I wanted to explore the lingering elements of a global pandemic in a world recovering. I tried to channel particularly absurdism (the idea that life is irrational, illogical and incongruous), which had also risen from the aftermath of a global tragedy almost as a means of coping. This was reflected in key story elements, like the idea of an omnipotent being who chooses to run guided relaxation tours of questionable success through the Sydney Botanical Gardens, and enhanced by manipulating the audio to convey more than just the surrounding atmosphere. For example, the sudden use of heavy reverb on his speech, followed by rapid fading into complete silence bar the noise of your own heartbeat pounding in your ears. There is also an obvious emphasis on mental health, which was contextually influenced by my experience as a student during the pandemic. During that time, I felt strongly that mental health was underrepresented and under emphasised in the Covid-19 response to students. Rather, emphasis was placed mostly on academics and ensuring that work would proceed and be completed as usual. To emphasise it in my own program, reflecting my own experiences, felt empowering and cathartic. In my case, the location of the echoes soundwalk did not need to be a special or particular one; I simply needed to find a park open or wide enough to hold the whole program as well as provide a convincing backdrop for the surrounding activities, like an entire construction site or animal sanctuary. For this, the Sydney Botanical Gardens were sufficient. All recordings were taken either in or around the house, with the exception of those taken from the shared group pool, and most recordings were done through a Rode dynamic mic into a Zoom H-6. This caused a problem when they were taken at a different sample rate to other audio clips, but they were converted through ProTools. Recording in and around the house proved to be an issue for some recordings, however. For example, as the construction site was also recorded near my house, it bled into the background of the dog barking audio clips. Other challenges included my house not always being the most appropriate acoustic recording environment as well as some quieter noises being harder to capture, such as the noise of the drawer skates or rain ambience. I tried remedying these with smarter mic placement, like underneath the drawer for a louder roll and quieter close or underneath the awnings for a louder rain pitter-patter. Next time I would record with a partner to streamline a lot of the process, more easily avoid handling noises as well and to get better recordings in general. All vocal recordings were done into an Audio Technica AT2035 into Audacity via an audio interface in my bedroom. The voice recording varied a lot in volume in different parts in ways that weren't deliberate and had to be compressed once to solve this, then once again to adjust for correct LUFS. Next time, I would try to maintain a consistent distance and axis to the mic to avoid this, as well as employing a pop filter to avoid loud plosives and lip smacking noises. I would also look towards optimising my vocal recording space.

This journey is very special to me and am very excited to be able to share this with you today. As you embark from Milsons point, all the way over the harbor bridge and to the ending point, i have no doubt your clarity of mind and general thought processes will be clearer. During your journey you experience the contrast between tranquility and energy to provide you the perfect balance of stimulation along your walk. Just like life you must have balance, so whilst you immerse yourself in this walk, bring a book or journal alongside with you to encapsulate your thoughts. There are marvelous sights to be seen which are very much unappreciated by most of society. At any point it is always possible to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings and really be in the present. And i hope alongside this walk you take, you will feel the same.

Sydney harbour bridge a recognizable symbol of Australia , build on the 28th of July 1923, using 1,400 workers . Harbour bridge is an Australian heritage listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as an iconic image of Sydney, The location is harbour bridge , the harbour bridge walk .I aimed to represent an echo journey on how it was build . Aspects and facts about the bridge . How it was build . I reflected my vision about that time during the construction ,as you walking and imagining how it was built ,by listeaning to sound walk I am representing to you today. Aspects of representation I approached is I simulated the amount of steel that was used to build the bridge , which was 53,000 tones of steel , and 1400 Labour built the harbour bridge. I added mainly hammering sounds , Labours and construction background. Music was representing some events happened during the construction of the bridge . Sixteen workers died during construction ,two from falling off the bridge. I represented that with low octave chords as it was a sad event . The music I used in the intro was to give a refelection of space while the represented describing the location of the Sydney harbour bridge. As it was surrounded by darling harbour water . I represented in my work a lot of my recorded collection for the project where it included solid sounds of metal and solid objects , foot steps to represent the bridge climb that allowed more than 3 million people to scale the bridge and enjoy an unforgettable experience. It takes 1,332 steps to reach the top of the Summit.

Applying MAPmima content to Woolloomooloo for testing

Second prototype - testing layers

In this assessment I took inspiration from 'sand box' style video games such as: Final Fantasy, Assassin's Creed and Kingdom Hearts, to create a soundscape that mimics those heard in this video-game style and lets the user explore Sydney's CBD as if it were a world in a video game. In these games the avatar moves from one area to the next freely, and the music and dialogue interaction with other NPC avatars change to reflect the in game circumstances related to the specific area. In my Echo I have included three areas that are typical of this style. The first is a free roam adventure sequence in which NPC characters offer you quests or mention generic information relating to the city. The second is a combat sequence in which the player must fight or escape some aggressive NPC characters. The third is a shop sequence where the player may purchase items or gear to help them in the game. In each I have used atmosphere recordings, original music and voice overs to recreate those typically heard in these games. I chose the area in front of Town Hall for my project as I believe that it is in some way iconic of the city of Sydney and is the kind of place that would be included in a video game representation of the cit. It is also a transport hub for the light rail and train line and so it has many possibilities for interaction with people (or rather, NPC characters). It is also located next to the QVB which worked well for my 'shop sequence' as it is a shopping complex. I hope you enjoy exploring the city of Sydney through the eyes (or ears) of a video game avatar.

A night out on Oxford Street PART 1: Enter Oxford Street on a Saturday Night. Tonight ill be taking you through Oxford Street, as we walk past some of Sydney's best clubs that showcase great music and put on some of Australia’s best events. Built by convicts in 1803, it was once used as a passageway for easier navigation and access to a signal station located in South Head (City of Sydney, n.d.). Nowadays, Oxford Street is home to Sydney’s most extensive nightlife. You notice the crickets cry dying blissfully and the air coiling chronically as you leave the serene Hyde Park. Notice how the sound begins to erode and distort to the on-coming sounds of traffic. The mumbles of chatter can be heard in the distance, but it’s not loud enough to subordinate the sounds of your own footsteps. A line hordes at the Burdekin Hotel, white button-ups and inaudible chatter; just locals trying to get into the pub. No music can be heard yet, only the crippling sound of asphalt that quakes the ground around you and the sound of laughs. The night has just begun. PART 2: The Oxford Art Factory, one of Sydney’s best nightclubs located in the heart of Oxford Street, attracts the liking of all people to share their love and connection towards all areas of music. Recently becoming quite popular among younger audiences, it is known for consecutively hosting the event ‘SASH’ every Sunday, as well as hosting other major events with both national and internationally renowned headliners. The venue was inspired by New Yorks Andy Warhol Factory during the 1960s (Oxford Art Factory, 2023). Its large capacity makes this venue an attraction for those who seek new musical and nightlife experiences. What you are listening to right now are the events taking place both inside and outside the venue. Remember, you are still outside and just a humble observer. The chatter constantly grows louder as the queue attracts more people; the shuffling of the feet rakes the path as they move inside one by one. These people came here to dance; they came here for House music. The music feels distant, however, the low-end bass groove makes your heart warm and pulsate as the vibration penetrates through your skin. Using a simple low-end filter, I cut off a large portion of all high and mid frequencies making them completely subordinate and isolating the bass, allowing for the track to sound more distant yet present within the location. PART 3: As we continue to walk further and deeper into oxford street, we stumble upon an interchange. We hear music quite distant, however, we follow the rumble into Flinders Street. The music is different; louder, faster and deeper. You can hear the kicks reverb sing in an echo-like harmony that ricochets the walls of the apartment. Like before, masses wait to enter inside the rumbling cage of the Flinders Hotel, all dressed in black, a strong community of techno lovers, uniting in matrimony to enjoy the euphoric emotions that techno delivers. The Flinders Hotel, opened in 1918 used to serve as a local pub/ restaurant (The Flinders Hotel, 2020). Now it is the epicentre of techno nightlife in the city. The small confined space allows for fuller crowds, closer community and amazing sound quality. The venue is primarily known for hosting hard techno event ‘Black Noir’ every Friday, and constantly brings hundreds of people through the doors as well as multiple famous and internationally known techno headliners. As the walk comes to an end, take a moment of reflection to recall the presence of people, the social interactions and the emotions that are attracted by music. Additionally, think past those aspects and focus on what is really happening outside; the traffic, the cars, the birds, and the footsteps. This program was intended as a way to both educate and experience what Sydney’s nightlife is like and the diversity of music and the presence of social interactions within our society. I hope you have enjoyed your walk. References: Functions. (2016, December 27). Oxford Art Factory. https://oxfordartfactory.com/functions/ Oxford Street: A history from track to high street | City of Sydney - News. (n.d.). News.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/photos/oxford-street-darlinghurst-a-history-from-track-to-high-street#:~:text=In%201803%2C%20convicts%20cleared%20this The Flinders Hotel. (2020). Theflinders.business.site. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://theflinders.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral#summary

Sydney’s Oxford Street is home to a cluster of nightlife entertainment venues in the heart of the city. Since the 1980s, the Darlinghurst stretch has been the hub of the LGBTQI community as a safe, inclusive space for staff and patrons in the many restaurants, bars and clubs that light up the street. In 2020, the covid-19 pandemic brought with it restrictions that caused these venues to operate at significantly diminished capacity or to shut down completely. Without customers, bars and clubs became casualties to the cost of rent, leaving a minority community with even fewer opportunities for work and entertainment. With the restrictions easing in March 2021, this Echo explores the energy along the strip as people return to the spaces that survived the pandemic, with first-hand accounts from those affected. Produced with recordings directly from the area and voiced by local members of the community, experience a night out by listening to the sounds of the city’s nightlife reinvigorated in the voices of the people, the celebratory music and the palpable excitement in the atmosphere. Although there is much to celebrate, it is impossible to ignore the hardship that has preceded this moment. Without enough support, jobs were lost and vacant signs still occupy many of the shop fronts. I chose this location to capture a unique historical moment in time for the city of Sydney: the effects of the coronavirus pandemic were not only economically devastating but also culturally and for a community that relies on their social and creative exchange, the shut downs were particularly damaging. There is still a sense of unknown regarding the future and despite the relief of revellers returning to their favourite nightlife spots, there is an unmistakable feeling of mourning for the time that was lost. Voice Credits: Jake Cross, Sue She, Kate Bayley.

Welcome to Ballast Point. This beautiful park boasts scenic walking paths, historical sculptures and installations as well as amazing panoramic views of the harbour. This park is a great spot to go and relax while taking in the environment around you. The aim of this project is to explore the relationship between nature and ambient music, and what kind of effects it can have on your emotions. As you walk through the park, you will be immersed by an ambient composition that combines some of the most calming sounds that nature has to offer, with the gentle evolving sounds of ambient music. Life is full of complications and roadblocks. I believe that meditation and self reflection can be extremely helpful in clearing a persons mind and giving you the opportunity to have a break from the stresses of life. Exposure to nature is inherently calming, but when combined with the sounds of music, I believe it can transport a person into another state of mind that is full of tranquility, self reflection and an appreciation for nature. 
On a personal level, I have a special connection with this park. I often come here when I feel like I want to escape the confines of my house that we often find ourself stuck in for so much of the day. The park and its environment gives me a sense of freedom and peace, which is why I’ve created this project in order to try and share some of that feeling through the art of music. As you begin your walk the kind of instruments you will hear include soft oscillating pads, delicate synth leads, pianos playing simple melodic ideas and angelic vocals. The composition wasn’t created to be complex, but rather focuses on how each instrument and sound interacts with each other, and what kind of emotions they evoke. Further more, the music is intended to occupy your subconscious, rather than be the main focus of your walk. This way the music and environment work together in a way that is more impactful for you, the listener. While listening, you will also begin to notice the presence of sounds from nature. I collected these recordings with the intention of adding another dimension of immersion to your experience. On a quiet day you will still be able to hear the songs of birds, on a calm day you will still be able to hear the gentle rustling of trees in the wind, and when the water is still you will still be able to enjoy the calming sounds of the water sloshing about as you look over the harbour. Because I didn’t want to simply add to the soundscape of sounds that already exist, these sounds were processed with unnatural reverbs and delays. My intentions while using these types of processings is to try to create a slight disconnect with reality as it’s often liberating to escape for a while. 
If you listen very closely, you may also hear a faint echoing voice speaking to you in certain parts of the walk. You may not be able to understand what it is saying, but interpret it however you desire.
 Before you begin on this walk, I’d like to ask that you try to clear your mind. Take your emotions with you but don’t focus too hard on what made you feel that way. You could take this walk on a warm summers day or a dull and drizzly day, and even though one might seem more enticing than the other, peace can be achieved on any kind of day. Note that the music will be perceived differently based on the emotions you take into it. The park has been split up into 10 unique audio sites for you to explore. I hope I this walk will enable me to share a bit of what this place means to me, and most importantly that you enjoy your walk through the beautiful Ballast Point Park.