Sustainable Composing & Creative Sound Practices

A one-year programme

The project kicked off at Nordic Music Days on 30 October 2024 as part of the Nordex Music Exchange Programme, and runs until November 2025. All activities and travel within the project will be carried out sustainably, and some of the programme’s lectures and workshops will be open to the public.

Sustainable Composition & Creative Sound Practices is funded by the programme International Touring and Environmental Responsibility – a collaboration between Arts Council England, Danish Arts Foundation/Statens kunstfond Danmark and Arts Council Norway/Kulturrådet.

About the artists

Natalie Hyacinth

Also known as The Black Astral, Natalie Hyacinth is a sound artist and writer exploring climate justice, nature, and Black sonic life. Her work reimagines Black female presence through sound technology, drawing inspiration from Cultural Geography, Philosophy, and Afrofuturism. For this programme, Natalie plans to repurpose discarded technology into new soundscapes, using sound as activism.

Frazer Merrick

Frazer Merrick creates community-focused sonic experiences that bring together field recordings, circuit bending, and instrument building. With an emphasis on sustainability, Frazer aims to transform found objects into sound-making devices—a process he calls 'Musical Mudlarking'. His goal is to create soundscapes that reflect the environmental impact of human activity.

Luis Fernando Amaya

Composer and percussionist Luis Fernando Amaya examines collective memory and humanity’s connection to nature through music. Inspired by ecological themes, he’s developing a new piece based on interviews with environmental and Indigenous rights activists, using sound to amplify their voices and perspectives.

About the mentors

Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman

Anna Näkkäläjärvi-Länsman, also known by her artist name Ánnámáret, is a Sami musician and traditional singer. Anna draws inspiration from Arctic nature and her cultural heritage, blending joik with modern elements, including the traditional Finnish string instrument jouhikko with electronic music. Her album 'Nieguid duovdagat – Dreamscapes' has received acclaim in the world music scene. In 2023, she was selected as a showcase artist at the Worldwide Music Expo (WOMEX).

Kathy Hinde

Kathy Hinde is a British artist and composer renowned for her audiovisual installations and performances that merge sound, sculpture, imagery, and light, often inspired by natural phenomena. Collaborating with fellow artists and researchers, she creates interactive works that explore the relationship between nature and technology.

Brian Bamanya (Afrorack)

Brian Bamanya, known by his stage name Afrorack, is a Ugandan experimental artist. He gained recognition for constructing Africa's first DIY modular synthesizer, the Afrorack, using locally sourced materials. Bamanya combines traditional African rhythms with electronic sounds, which celebrates African underground music. He has performed at notable events, including the Nyege Nyege Festival, CTM Festival, Rewire Festival, Sinsal Festival, and more. His work exemplifies a new wave in African electronic music.