First Light

This excerpt from a longer recording focusses on First Light rather than Dawn (Second Light and Sunrise), although it includes the beginnings of the latter. It ought to be listened to with good quality headphones (preferably open-backed, with flat frequency response), or good quality speakers, at a mid-range volume. One of the things that particularly interests me, and that I especially enjoy, about this early spring First Light forest soundscape (and other similar early spring forest Dawn recordings that I made during this road trip to Tasmania) is precisely its very gradual, slow, minimal, and spacious development. This sounds nothing like an overly-busy tropical rainforest. The hush of 'silence' never completely disappears.

In this rich, dense, moist, cool-temperature southern forest of Tasmania, at the time that this excerpt begins, it is still fairly dark to the human eye. One of the earliest of First Light calls is (as usual) that of the Black Currawong (Strepera fuliginosa), a species of Currawong that is found only in Tasmania. Its call is quite unique, very unlike any mainland Currawong, and I grew to adore it, and to recognise it as the main Tasmanian forest sentinel of dawn. However, there is another very vocal and persistent early caller, here: the Yellow Wattlebird (Anthocaera paradoxa), also found only in Tasmania.

Early on, we also hear the final few night calls of Ninox novaeseelandiae leucopsis, which I would prefer to refer to as the 'Tasmanian Boobook', rather than its more common and familiar name, 'Morepork'. Both names are, of course, onomatopoeic labels provided by Europeans. But the name 'Morepork' suggests, to me, an image of radically displaced Europeans in an unfamiliar landscape, craving pork meat, and hearing this beautiful owl call as though it were expressing their own cravings: 'More pork!" (Interestingly, DNA evidence has suggested that Ninox novaeseelandiae is more closely related to the New Zealand Boobook (also commonly known in NZ as the 'Morepork') than to the mainland Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook).)

Gradually, the 'Dawn Chorus' stirs and unfurls into a more richly-populated wakefulness. Thankfully, the introduced and now feral Superb Lyrebirds, which have seriously infested this region, seem to be late risers that enjoy sleeping in: somewhat later in the original recording, they pretty much take over most of the forest soundscape.

Recorded with meditative respect upon the land of the Nuenonne tribe of the Palawa people.

2023.09.23 First Light. Huon Valley. Early Spring.

'Windy dawn quietude' might sound like a contradiction, but the recording earns the label 'Quietude' thanks to the complete absence of any anthropogenic noise. To be sure, the wind soughing through Mountain Ash forest and soft tree ferns dominates the soundscape, but the Eastern Smooth Froglets and the small birds of dawn nevertheless make their presence clearly heard. This excerpt from a longer recording, made in Great Otway National Park, Victoria, begins at Second Light.

Good quality headphones (preferably with a 'flat frequency response', and open-backed) are recommended, especially as this is a binaural recording. The original 96/32 recording has been converted to 48/24, but is otherwise entirely unprocessed.

Recorded on the land of the indigenous Gadubanud (Katabanut) peoples.

2023.09.07 Windy Dawn Quietude beside the Smooth Froglet Pool. Early Spring.

"Look with the eyes of the Ancestors. Listen with the ears of the Ancestors."

This is the complete composition - for those who are inwardly unbusy and unhurried. It comprises selections from a sequence of recordings made consecutively at six different locations and times within the Tapanappa region: from night time, before first light, through dawn, and into early morning. It includes the beginnings of a powerful thunderstorm that brought with it heavy rain, just after dawn, in the midst of thick mist; and the early morning after the storm and rain have receded over the ocean, as the mist slowly clears.

Listening with good quality headphones (with as near to a flat frequency response as possible, and preferably open-backed, in a quiet environment) is highly recommended, particularly as this is a binaural recording.

The recording session was accomplished, respectfully, with a sense of both awe, peacefulness, and joy, upon the land of the Ramindjeri people, and is dedicated to them.

@Bandcamp

2024.01.07 To the Ancestors. Night to Morning. Tapanappa. Summer. (Long Version)

"Look with the eyes of the Ancestors. Listen with the ears of the Ancestors."

This is a much abridged version for the longer composition - for those who are outwardly relatively busy and hurried. It comprises briefer selections from only three of the six locations and times included in the complete, longer version: night above the coastline, first light at the base of a valley, and the onset of a thunderstorm, from a position above the valley.

Listening with good quality headphones (with as near to a flat frequency response as possible, and preferably open-backed, in a quiet environment) is highly recommended, particularly as this is a binaural recording.

The recording session was accomplished, respectfully, with a sense of both awe, peacefulness, and joy, upon the land of the Ramindjeri people, and is dedicated to them.

2024.01.07 To the Ancestors. Night to Morning. Tapanappa. Summer. (Short Version)

"Look with the eyes of the Ancestors. Listen with the ears of the Ancestors."

This is a radically abridged version of the shorter version of the longer composition - for those who are outwardly extremely busy and hurried. It comprises even briefer selections than the short version does from only three of the six locations and times included in the complete, longer version: night above the coastline, first light at the base of a valley, and the onset of a thunderstorm, from a position above the valley. Hopefully, it might serve as an enticement and encouragement to one day find the time, space, and state of mind to listen to the longer, complete version.

Listening with good quality headphones (with as near to a flat frequency response as possible, and preferably open-backed, in a quiet environment) is highly recommended, particularly as this is a binaural recording.

The recording session was accomplished, respectfully, with a sense of both awe, peacefulness, and joy, upon the land of the Ramindjeri people, and is dedicated to them.

2024.01.07 To the Ancestors. Night To Morning. Tapanappa. Summer. (Very Short Version)

Solo Slice *Prod. Janami*

Around 5am in an ancient woodland called Melcombe Park. A beautiful place you can listen to an English springtime awaken. Go to the Dorset Gap at first light in early May, climb up onto the ridge of open downland and look north across the woodland canopy, and wait.

Melcombe Park May 2019 (2).WAV

A First Light soundscape recorded at Platypus Waterholes, part of Rocky River, in Flinders Chase National Park, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Indigenous people inhabited the island up until about 4000 years ago. For reasons that are still not currently understood, they more or less abruptly abandoned the island and returned to the mainland, at that time.

This unedited recording falls naturally into four parts:

Part 1: Before First Light (from 00:00:00 to 00:15:33)
Part 2: Earliest First Light (from 00:15:33 to 00:36:27)
Part 3: The Crescent Honeyeater (from 00:36:27 to 00:57:03)
Part 4: Second Light and Sunrise (from 00:57:03 to 01:13:21 (where this selection from the original overnight to morning recording ends))

The first part of the recording is immediately prior to First Light, and features crickets, frogs, flying beetles, and Boobook Owls, leading into First Light and the awakening of the diurnal birds, with a Superb Fairy Wren announcing the first call and, soon after, a variety of other birds, including, among others, Golden Whistlers, Grey Fantails, Common Bronzewings, Grey Shrike-thrushes, and, predominant in the third part of the recording (because nearest to the unattended microphones), a Crescent Honeyeater, with a variety of song calls.

Although this location is heavily visited by tourists from late morning to  early evening, the Waterholes are at all times designated 'Quiet Zones', a requirement conscientiously respected by visitors. During the night and the early hours of First Light, however, there are no humans around, and this human-free environment is what this recording has captured. The recording rig was set up the previous evening, before twilight, and left running overnight to ensure no disturbance to the Waterholes environment. The location is about seven kilometres from a coastline of rugged cliffs, which is the source of the background roar audible throughout this recording. 

It is also worth keeping in mind that much of Flinders Chase National Park, including this area, was heavily burnt out by the unusually severe bushfires - ignited by lightning - that raged across much of Kangaroo Island through the summer of 2019-2020. So, what we hear, here, is also evidence of the natural resurgence of native plants and wildlife, a mere four years after those devastating bushfires.

Recommended: listening with good quality headphones (preferably open-backed) or monitors, with a flat frequency response, at a moderate volume, in a quiet environment.

Location of the recorded waterhole: -35.939441, 136.729893.

2024.12.11 Second Dawn at Platypus Waterholes. Early Summer.

Subdued; sparse; a slow, unhurried tempo; sometimes wind, sometimes calm; always, the low, far roar of the ocean shore; life, almost five years after unusually fierce bushfire. A quiet, simple, yet distinctive embroidery of small birds; a sweet descending scale in a Shrikethrush's song. Deep listening in a quiet place or moment: good for clearing, calming, relaxing, resting, healing, or even sleeping.

2024.12.07 First Dawn at Platypus Waterholes. Early Summer.

reso+delay

xavier wulf - still will

First Light is the cinematic opener to my debut EP Moments Between — a journey that begins in stillness and gradually builds into motion.

This track blends emotional liquid drum & bass with sweeping atmospheres and layered melodic tension, capturing that moment of clarity just after the chaos fades. It’s designed to set the tone — whether you're opening a set, zoning into your thoughts, or just chasing that deep, immersive sound.

Mastered and ready for the world. Hope it resonates.

➤ Artist: Zerog
➤ BPM: 174
➤ Key: G♯ Minor
➤ Genre: Liquid Drum & Bass

💬 Drop a comment or share if this hit the right frequency.
📩 For release inquiries: zerog@zerogaudio.com

Zerog – First Light

[Verse 1]
A quiet tremble shakes the sky
Below, the Earth begins to die
But we are not the ones who wait
We rise before it’s far too late

The skies were never meant to cage
A restless heart, an unborn age
We gather stardust in our hands
And trade the dust for promised lands

[Pre-Chorus]
No map can show the way ahead
But forward is the path we tread

[Chorus]
We are the fire that leaves the flame
The ones who go, yet still remain
Our stories float beyond the blue
A billion dreams, and each is true

Lift your eyes, there’s more to see
Than what the world would let us be
So hold on tight
This is the first light

[Verse 2]
No more cities built on fear
No more silence we must hear
Out there are seeds we’ve yet to sow
In soil no soul has come to know

[Pre-Chorus]
With every breath, a second chance
To carve our name across the dance

[Chorus]
We are the fire that leaves the flame
The ones who go, yet still remain
Our stories float beyond the blue
A billion dreams, and each is true

Lift your eyes, there’s more to see
Than what the world would let us be
So hold on tight
This is the first light

[Bridge]
Let the past fall soft behind
A shadow in the starry mind
We carry love, we carry loss
But still we climb, no matter cost

[Final Chorus]
We are the fire that leaves the flame
We are the fire that leaves the flame
The ones who go, yet still remain
Our stories float beyond the blue
A billion dreams, and each is true

Lift your eyes, we’ve just begun
To chase the dawn, to greet the sun
So hold on tight
This is the first light
Yeah, this is the first light

First Light (ft. Eli.Noir)

Chris and Tim come at you this week talking about the low player count for Fortnite during the Star Wars event, a New Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, and YouTube fighting back against Disney. They also talk about the new perks program that is being offered by Disney+ and Hulu and how it may affect their retention  and new subscriber count.

Disney+ and Hulu Now Offering Subscriber Perks

Owner of AuraLord Records
Music Over Misery

Have you ever binge watched a show because you were worried that someone would ruin it for you? In today's world with everything in entertainment the Fear of Missing Out(FOMO) has caused people to try and watch things as fast as possible and not enjoyed things as they should. We break down different things in Entertainment from Television,Movies,Gaming, and even tech. Check with us weekly to see what we have in store.

Zerog is a liquid drum & bass producer known for crafting emotionally charged, cinematic soundscapes that live in the space between stillness and momentum. Drawing inspiration from artists like Calibre, LSB, and Hybrid Minds, his work explores the contrast between clarity and chaos — where soulful melodies float above deep reese basslines, ambient textures, and intricate percussion.

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, Zerog’s music bridges introspection and impact. His productions often open with long ambient intros, evolve with precision, and carry a visual quality that feels as immersive as film. Recent tracks like Crave U and the forthcoming Moments Between EP reflect his evolving sonic identity — one rooted in emotional storytelling and modern sound design.

With a growing catalog of unreleased work and a defined artistic direction, Zerog is currently seeking label support to expand his reach. His music speaks to both seasoned DnB listeners and new audiences looking for depth, warmth, and atmosphere in every drop.

𝔈𝔵𝔭𝔩𝔬𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤, 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔞𝔟𝔩𝔢, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔱𝔥𝔢 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔢𝔯, 𝔞𝔰 𝔞𝔫 𝔈𝔳𝔢𝔫𝔱, 𝔞 𝔐𝔬𝔡𝔢, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞 𝔇𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔣 𝔅𝔢𝔦𝔫𝔤.

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