John Levack Drever is a researcher and practitioner engaged in the critical and creative study of sound, listening, and hearing, with particular attention to their cultural, ecological, and phenomenological dimensions across society. He is Creative Director of Otoloci, an ambiance and soundscape consultancy, and leads Working Group 1 for COST Action CA23145, Architectural and Urban Ambiances of European Cities and co-directs the Cambridge branch of LAURA (Leverhulme Trust Aural Diversity Doctoral Research Hub). He is preparing plans to mark the centenary of London Street Noises (1928–2028).

Between 2007 and 2012, John investigated the soundscapes of public toilets, where the widespread use of ‘ecological’ hand dryers had created a hostile environment for many. This work led him to advocate for a new paradigm of hearing, which he termed auraldiversity—shifting from an otological notion of “normal” hearing to a socio-cultural understanding of auraltypical hearing. His inclusive agenda of auraldiversity now shapes thinking across music, sound studies, acoustics, and urban design. First presented at Harvard University in 2015, these ideas have since gained momentum, influencing research (AHRC Network, RMA 2020, Internoise 2022, Urban Sound Symposium 2023), policy (DEFRA, Welsh Government), and industry practice (ReSound, ARUP, Anderson Acoustics). With Prof. Andrew Hugill, he co-directs the Aural Diversity Project and co-edited Aural Diversity (Routledge, 2022).

An avid soundwalker and field recordist,John grounds his practice in acoustic ecology. Following his PhD in composition at Dartington College of Arts, he coordinated Sounding Dartmoor: A Participative Soundscape Study. In 1998, he co-founded the UK and Ireland Soundscape Community, affiliated with the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, and chaired Sound Practice (Dartington, 2001), the UK’s first conference dedicated to soundscapes. He has also contributed a sonic perspective to many urban place studies with the Academy of Urbanism.

John has collaborated with Rachel Gomme, Yvonne McGuinness, Alice Oswald, Alaric Sumner, Tony Thatcher, Lawrence Upton, Tony Whitehead (RSPB), Louise K. Wilson, Suiji Okada, and comedian Mark Kelly, and is a member of Blind Ditch.

Drawn to London from various British towns that no one's ever heard of, Simon, Murray and Luke formed a 3 piece alt/post punk band. Driven by an aversion to everyday life they created the twisted wonky band known as Denise.

Email: keepitdenise@gmail.com

nyt bloomer is experimental beat-maker conor mac hailing from the inishowen peninsula at the tip of ireland, making wonky beats through sound collage, flipping & twisting records, found sound & field recordings

more music here:
nytbloomer.bandcamp.com/

chat/bookings/enquiries:
youcantbreakitrecords [AT] gmail [DOT] com

one half of the orient coming out of the orient nation

「ᵗᵒᵖ ˢᵉᶜʳᵉᵗ !!! 」


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