Ecospherical

“Ecospherical” is an ambisonic multichannel installation immersing listeners in natural and hybrid soundscapes of California and the Pacific Northwest. This project is based on extensive field recordings taken with a third-order ambisonic microphone array, documenting diverse ecosystems in the face of a rapidly changing climate. The spherical soundfields captured with this technology are decoded to the 20-channel speaker system of the Qualcomm Institute’s SPAT Lab to acoustically transport listeners to these remote locales teeming with life. In collaboration with UC San Diego performers, instrumental improvisations have been spatialized to become integral parts of these soundscapes, communicating in the natural cadences of their surroundings. Using custom, multichannel convolutions, environment and performance merge to envelop listeners in surreal, textural worlds. This project functions as both an experiment in the creative potential of spatial field recording and an effort in soundscape preservation, with a forthcoming soundscape archive making the raw field recordings available to artists and environmentalists. “Ecospherical” aims to bring awareness to the character and fragility of the ecosystems around us by exploring their unique musicality.

Featuring:
Shayan Kalantar – Piano
Peter Ko – Cello
Kosuke Matsuda – Percussion
Natalia Merlano Gómez – Voice
Karim Moussa – Guitar
Grace Talaski – Clarinet

Bio:

Charles Deluga is an audiovisual artist and systems designer focused on translating signals across sensory domains. His creative practice combines spatial audio, ecoacoustics, synthesis, and signal processing to produce immersive contexts for experiencing the intersection of nature and math. Under the alias Geometric Primitive, he uses oscilloscopes, lasers, and multichannel sound to express geometry as a sentient, primordial presence. Deluga has designed and produced A/V systems for architectural media installations across North America, including the Statue of Liberty Museum and MoMA PS1. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Music at UC San Diego after earning a master’s in Music Technology from New York University.