On a day of extreme winds I decided to hike up Saana, a well known mountain nested at the border of Finland, Sweden and Norway in the subarctic tundra of Sápmi. The experience fighting the wind while hiking left me tired and at moments delusional. At some point I decided to record the wind at my head to remember the physical force of how it felt.

Recorded during the Bioart Society 'Field_Notes' project September 2023 in Kilpisjärvi Finland.

Saana - Extreme Winds - Binaural

This rooted listening session took place close to the tree line in subarctic Finland during the Bioart Society Field_Notes project in September 2023. This recording is for Teemu who was there with me to witness this expressive willow tree.

Rooted Listening is a new project I started this summer focused on the experience of listening to trees, bushes and grasses at root level. For more info and to contribute, please check the Rooted Listening open call: https://forms.gle/keeXprWkp8GeD7eL7

Rooted Listening - Willow Tree

Happy Birthday

A read-aloud of my blog post after visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda.

This piece isn’t polished. It’s not comfortable. It’s part field note, part reckoning.

I don’t believe in trigger warnings, but I’m giving one. This blog recording includes graphic descriptions of genocide, including violence against children and women.

I recorded this for those who prefer to listen rather than read.

Kigali Genocide Memorial, Rwanda - Field Notes +

John Grzinich has researched, composed and performed with sound for over 30 years using methods of field recording, kinetic sculptures, electro-acoustic creation, filmmaking, improvisation, group workshops and exercises in listening. His compositions have been published on international labels such as: and/OAR, SIRR, Mystery Sea, Staalplaat, Semperflorens, Erewhon, Intransitive, Cut, Elevator Bath, CMR, Orogenetics, Pale Disc and others.

Visual artist working with sculpture, drawing and sound

New tracks tagged #field notes