In this article Kamila Stasko-Mazur writes a deep analysis of the practice of the Soundwalk. The text explains the main objectives of the practice as well as describing the history of the Soundwalk from its origin, and talks about the most popular acts within the field. She states that a Soundwalk as a practice was performed in first instance by World Soundscape Project, an organisation dedicated to promote ‘acoustic ecology’ and delete ‘noise pollution’. The writer also focuses in depth in the work of Hildegard Westercamp and other practitioners like Francois Augoyard or Christine Kubisch with her ‘Electric Walks’, an electromagnetic version of a Soundwalk.

In terms of theory, Kamila encourages that a Soundwalk should increase our conscious listening in order to create awareness of the sonic environment. One of the goals of a Soundwalk is to develop improved sensorial skills, train our sound perception and raise your creativity to create complex soundscapes.

Hildegard Westerkamp’s Kits Beach Soundwalk

This second text is an article by David Kolber, he describes the work of Westerkamp in the beaches of Vancouver, where she often records her Soundwalk and other compositions. Hildegard is continuously creating a juxtaposition within the sounds in the coast being destroyed by the sounds of the city. These ‘unwanted’ noises are constantly annoying Hildegard, as she states ‘interferes with her listening. It occupies all acoustic space’. She is specially focused on the sound of the barnacles, as they create an interesting tinkling, ‘it is thanks to such products as “bandpass filters and equalizers” that those tiny voices and sounds may be heard again.’ I found interesting this idea as I use myself these kind of techniques to create pleasant high frequencies, in fact, in the text, David continues talking about high frequencies, and quotes Dr. Tomatis ‘high frequencies are sounds that charge our brain and give us energy’ I think this concept is very present in the world of ASMR ‘Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response’ a modern trend with adepts all around the world, and a practice that I like to experience, and that I always take into account when I create my own compositions.