Ultima, NMD and hcmf// launch programme on music and sustainability

Ultima, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (hcmf//) and Nordic Music Days are thrilled to announce the artists selected for the Sustainable Composition & Creative Sound Practices programme. The year-long programme supports emerging sound artists in exploring eco-conscious approaches to sound and composition, with sustainability as a core focus.

Three artists have been selected to take part: Natalie Hyacinth, Frazer Merrick, and Luis Fernando Amaya. Through mentorship, digital residencies, workshops and new creation they will investigate the following topics:

• Green audio technologies and materials
• Environmental awareness through music
• Sustainable choice-making within creative processes
• Acoustic practices and policies when working in public spaces
• Collaborative strategies, participatory practices, and engagement with local communities

The project kicks off at Nordic Music Days 2024 on 30 October 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.

For updates on the artists' journeys and projects, stay tuned to Ultima's social media channels and subscribe to our newsletter!