The sound of flowers...

So, there’s this idea that if you play music to plants, the sound vibrations make them flourish, but what if we could also hear the music of the plants themselves?

You can. Here. A sonic and visual creation from the creative minds of Palmerston North synth musician James Lissette and Whanganui synth ​musician Rob Tyler – supported by a few moving images from me as I wander about foraging beauty... 

Video Credit | ​David Lupton @haunuidozine 
Music Credits | Sound of plants: Rob Tyler @mortalthree | Sampling and mixing: James Lissette @jamlissette 

How did we make this?

I headed out and took some video of plants near to me, Rob captured and supplied the sound of plants near to him and James layered the two together and added other elements of nature to it. I shot the flowers in my small, suburban, Palmerston North garden. I looked at how the gentle, morning breeze swayed the flowers – they went from being near-still to moving as the breeze picked up – and I wanted to see what this looked like on video. Not being a videographer, I was curious about how you start adding movement to still image compositions - spreading out both time and story and still have it make sense!

James and Rob add their thoughts on our creative process below:

“I hear the sounds of the world in colour and musical form. My reaction to the video was found in Rob’s music. I blended in the bird song and the wind that I could hear. Living things all sing a song.”
~James Lisette

“Taking specialist hardware that measures and translates the bio- feedback / bio-emissions, or plant consciousness as I have become to know it, into a voltage that I can then use to spread, mix and mingle within the eco-system of modular synthesis to...alter sound... modulate parameters...allow events and entice reactions.

Giving the plant...a voice...a language, one that is universal...that of sound. I, through many hours of experimentation, meditation, an open-minded approach, have become to know a direct correlation between my energetic presence, both in physical proximity, (direct and indirect) and thought. Conscious connection and communication, and that of the plants response - as they truly do speak. Thought provoking... and indeed, awe inspiring!”
~Rob Tyler

​Thanks to these two epic local musos - my backyard plants have come alive in digital form. #BeFlorageous my friends! Where can you forage beauty this summer? Lie back and see if you can hear the plants sing.
And... if you need some foraging inspiration - look below...
​
David Lupton