By Derek Schlennstedt
A fascinating album that explores the sounds of Laos is being produced by Healesville’s very own Peter Wadham.
After travelling to the remote country in Southeast Asia, Peter said he experienced a journey that has influenced him to create an album focusing on Laos and its diverse singing culture.
One song Peter says was recorded in Laos inside a cave, and it produced an incredible feeling where the singer’s voice would reverberate through the cave.
“I was taken on a small tour with people, and the tour guide himself started singing in the cave, his voice was so pure and reverberated in the cave; it was so rich and it overwhelmed me, and I asked if I could come back and record him.
With 20 years’ experience as a composer and producer, Peter has developed his own style of music-making he calls ‘organic electronic’.
Instead of using synthesizers, he records all his sounds through a microphone, and then carefully blends them into rhythms and melodies to make a whole piece.
For this album, Peter is attempting to capture the feel of Laos, and includes various nature sounds he recorded while in Laos.
The album is only one hour in length, but has taken Peter nearly 2000 hours to create.
“I love the Earth, and love creating music that’s different. I want to give people a new experience, a new way to feel connection with the Earth.“ Peter said.
To help produce the album, Peter has called for a crowdfunding campaign.
When the album is released, a percentage of royalties will be given to the Laotian singers and their communities, and Peter has already been able to send some funds back to Laos to help one of the singers pay for his children’s schooling.
