A LIFE IN SOUND

This series aims to take listeners on an epic and intimate journey through the natural world, all through the medium of sound and at the same time we want to enable a rare glimpse into the life of a man who recorded everything you’re about to hear, one sound at a time.

Martyn Stewart has spent his lifetime on a mission: to record the natural sounds of our planet. It’s a story that will take us from a council estate in Birmingham England and ultimately take him to every corner of the planet. From Belize to the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, from Denali to the Galapagos, to some of the most inhospitable locations geographically and politically. He will be attacked by lions and crocodiles, arrested in Japan for filming the annual dolphin slaughter and then find himself in long periods of isolation, in remote corners of the world waiting for 30 seconds of a that perfect sound. This is ultimately a love story – dedicated to our natural world and to the people who spend their lives aiming to give it a voice.

Contributors

Host

Amanda Hill

Amanda is recognized as a significant change agent and brand builder within the global media industry; spearheading brands into new markets, media and platforms. She is now singularly focussed on championing transformative and purpose-led ideas that inspire a new level of action to solve the major issues facing our Planet and Society.

Amanda worked primarily in media for the past 17 years, founded BBC Earth and led its development into a global brand reaching >1bn around the world, after which, she became the first global CMO and responsible for developing the BBC brand strategy internationally. Amanda latterly served as Global CMO for A&E Networks. She is also an adjunct lecturer in Marketing at Lewis & Clark, is on the Board of Catlin Gabel, the Wildstar Academy and The Listening Planet Foundation. She was previously on the board of the Royal Academy of Music and The London Philharmonic Orchestra.

https://www.thelisteningplanet.com/amandahill

Host

Martyn Stewart

From his first recording of a Eurasian blackbird as a boy, Martyn’s motivation has been singular: to use sound as a megaphone for vulnerable places and animals. For over 50 years, Martyn has travelled the world, microphone and recorder in hand (and insect repellent nearby) - recording in over 60 countries and capturing over 30,000 hours of nature sounds and soundscapes, more than 90,000 individual sounds and as many intimate stories from the natural world. His work has been featured in hundreds of documentaries, films, live experiences and, more recently, in albums, music and animation. By releasing a free collection of his most prized recordings to the public, he is optimistic those listening will feel closer to foreign species and environments, and feel motivated to act. “I think we have to become the voice of the voiceless. If we can get these beautiful sound recordings out and let people in the world listen to them, maybe we can start protecting what we've got left.."

https://www.thelisteningplanet.com/martynsstory

Guests

Guest

Louis VI

London born & raised, ancestrally from Dominica, France & UK but globally-collaborating & trotting psychedelic alternative Hip Hop/Jazz producer & rapper Louis VI is becoming known for being a nature geek & Climate Activism, as much as his uniquely diverse & exciting music which reflects all of the experimental intricacies of Jazz & Hip Hop.

Following his debut critically acclaimed album ‘SUGAR LIKE SALT’, Louis did a string of sold out headline shows. As someone that does it all as a producer, rapper, vocalist & instrumentalist + his background in Jazz, to rhythmically influence his Hip Hop production he’s be able to craft his own uniquely Louis sound.

He’s worked with top calibre musicians across the genres including Mick Jenkins, Frank Ocean, Jelani Blackman, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Bluestaeb, Nightmares On Wax, Blue Lab Beats, Poppy Ajudha, OthaSoul & more…

https://www.instagram.com/itslouisvi

Guest

ONR, Robert Shields

ONR is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer born Robert Shields, hailing from Dumfriesshire in South Scotland.

His distinctive compositions, vocals and exceptional musical capability have captured the imagination of some of the world’s biggest acts and most respected musicians; including legendary guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers, Phantogram, Jake Bugg, Doc McKinney (The Weeknd), Spike Stent (U2, Madonna, Ed Sheeran), Sander Van Doorn and many others. He released his breakout track ‘Must Stop’ in 2021 to huge international acclaim, becoming the Billboard #1 Most Added track on alternative radio in the US, and racking up over 20m streams.

Having had huge early support from BBC Introducing, Shields then signed to the LA label Music Is Fun, touring extensively across Europe, the US and Australia, and supporting acts such as Bastille and Lewis Capaldi.

Guest

Peter Hall

Peter’s music has regularly been used for TV, film and advertising throughout his career, and this has now become his primary creative focus. He was the commissioned composer of the BBC’s ‘Our Wild Adventures’ theme in 2021, and he has gained feature credits for the likes of Universal Pictures, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Apple, EA Sports and Playstation. Peter also hosts a 2 hour radio show called Widescreen on SWUFM/RinseFM, which explores his life’s passion for emotive sounds, and covers everything from modern classical and film scores to orchestral inspired beats.

https://www.thatpeterhall.com/

Guest

Peter Raeburn

Peter Raeburn is a multi-award-winning composer, music producer, and songwriter, and is the Founder and Creative Director of Soundtree Music.

Peter's acclaimed feature film soundtracks include 'Force of Nature,' 'Sexy Beast,' 'Under the Skin,' and AACTA-nominated 'The Dry'. He recently scored Thea Hvistendahl's 'Handling the Undead,' which premiered at Sundance, winning the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Original Music and earning a nomination for an Amanda Award for Best Score.

He was also musical director and producer on the highly influential record 'Township Sessions' by The Mothers.

Peter has released four solo records to date, with his highly anticipated latest album 'We Are Biophonica,' set to release on Platoon in August 2024. He also produced and co-wrote Anoushka Shankar's critically acclaimed album 'How Dark It Is Before Dawn'.

https://www.soundtreemusic.com/