What is the Book About
This book is intended for people who identify more as creative than technical and
would like to be able to record themselves. It recasts sound, listening and recording
in language and concepts that are relatably human
It’s fun, kind and self revealing using language that is personal and artistically
relatable. The book has creative exercises (writing, drawing, sounding, recording)
to help you to understand and develop your life-connected and musical relationship
with sound.
Starting with phone recording, it ultimately guides you through basic recording with
a computer at home. The final project is to create a new folio of artworks, writing
and recorded music about your home.
Translations, Conversations and Atmospheres is unique, as are you and your relationship
to sound and recording.
Chapters include:
Welcome - Our approach
The Art Spirit - Materials
The Unseen - Sound in your life
White Heather - A unique time and place
Curiosity and Purpose - Recording practicalities
Strange Weather - A guided composition and self recording
Help! - Subjective ideas on recording
Translations, Conversations and Atmospheres - Recording as immersive, embodied and
life-connected
Backstory
Hello, I love making music and through my life this has been a central form of expression
and identity whilst also creating opportunities for engaging with other humans. It has
provided me with a connection to inspiring places and wonderful headspaces.
Music recording has been a part of this and when I had the opportunity to think more deeply
about this area of music making I recognised how much I felt like an outsider in what was
represented as a very technical field. I could see that this focus was limiting engagement
from people who were, like me, interested in the other areas but were disinclined by the
dominant discourse.
My own experience of music recording was life-connected and creative, it was playful and
represented a sonic artwork of people, place and time around ideas and emotions.
I wanted to celebrate that approach and encourage a more diverse engagement.
So I made this book that focuses on creative making, recording, listening and reflecting
with very minimal tech engagement.
How to Get It
There are a few ways that you can get the book.
Like many people I have digital fatigue and I don’t want to be another person on the
internet selling something. So I am only making physical copies of the book (no digital
version available) and I do minimal social media blurbs and no advertising. I will be
doing in person workshops and talks. I’d love to visit anywhere (big or small, near or
far) to meet people, answer questions and share these ideas.
If you know or have a space that might be interested reach out through mumstonalism@gmail.com
I am doing small runs of the book and making it available though direct purchase or in select
stores. I’m trying to preserve the value of this labour of love and maximise interpersonal
communication.
Option 1
You can order it directly from a friendly human at mumstonalism@gmail.com , all you need to
convey is where it will be posted to. If it is within Australia it will be $30 AUD including
free postage. If it is elsewhere in the world, postage will be calculated. Either way the
friendly human (lets call them Charlie) will write back with bank details for payment and
special instructions for international bank transfer (secure and without extra fees).
Charlie will also let you know the postage figure if outside Australia.
Option 2
You can also order it directly from the bandcamp site. It will cost a little bit more because
of extra fees ($36.50 including postage within Australia, international $30 plus postage).
Option 3
I am in the process of arranging distribution into stores around the world. I want to support
bricks and mortar or wooden retail (actually any construction material is ok). I want to
support community engagement and value what physical stores offer. I will update what stores
and where as it comes together. Its worth checking out whether a local store might be a cheaper
mailing option than from the other options if you can’t make it into store.