As part of a countrywide arts festival in May, sound artist Jason Singh, along with other creatives, plans to take us on a coastal journey through our senses – by Amy McPherson
What can be revealed if we truly listen? Sound artist, beatboxer and DJ Jason Singh invites us to embark on an immersive coastal journey through sound, uncovering the hidden rhythms of Colwyn Bay, Wales. Titled Cyd-Wrando (Listen Together): A Dialogue Between Land and Sea, his project – a collaboration with TAPE Community Music and Film and local community groups – is part of the Beach of Dreams festival. It transforms the landscape into a living, breathing soundscape, bringing to life the delicate and often unnoticed voices of nature.
At the heart of Jason’s work is an innovative approach to sound design, capturing the subtle signals from plants, animals, and the sea and bay itself. The result is a multilayered auditory experience that reshapes how we engage with the environment.
This unique installation guides visitors along the three-mile coastline of Colwyn Bay, deepening their connection with the sea through sound. By using cutting-edge sound design techniques, Jason captures the essence of the landscape – the whispers of the wind, the rhythm of the waves, the rustling of coastal plants – and transforms them into a compelling, immersive experience. His work reminds us that sound is not just something we hear but something we feel and interact with, creating a sensory experience that resonates deeply with those who engage with it.
Jason Singh’s fascination with sound goes beyond music – it is an exploration of nature’s voice. Through his projects, Jason bridges the gap between technology and the organic world, offering listeners an intimate experience of their surroundings.
‘My aim is to celebrate and raise the awareness of the rich and complex diversity of the region,’ he explains.
The Power of Nature
Having grown up in a village close to the Bristol Channel’s muddy estuaries, photographer Tessa Bunney feels a close affinity with the sea. She has worked alongside marine biologists and environmentalists from the North Sea to the Cumbrian coast, and for her project The Power of Nature:
Kelp, Oysters and Seagrass she is collaborating with environmental group Stronger Shores to create a series of photographs that highlight the hidden ecosystems of the coast.
Believing that some of the most important organisms in an ecosystem are often overlooked, Tessa takes a visual dive into these coastal landscapes and the relationship between these frequently overlooked aspects of the natural world.
‘These images are from a series starting in Loch Ryan, the last remaining wild oyster habitat in Scotland,’ says Tessa. ‘Beach of Dreams has allowed me to find out more about this beautiful coastline and the work being done by Stronger Shores, and also the role that kelp, sea grass and oysters can play in combatting coastal erosion and rising sea levels.’
Collecting Dreams, Shifting Futures
This collaborative story-gathering project will bring together local communities and artists to explore the coastal areas linking three vibrant East Coast locations: Great Yarmouth, Harwich and Orford Ness. It aims to be a celebration of the coastal history and the environment that has shaped these communities through written, drawn and photographed works revealed to the public in digital content and designed silk pennants collected through historic walks and visits.
‘I was not aware of the rich history in Yarmouth,’ said David Ball, a local participant in the project at Great Yarmouth, on his discovery of how much Yarmouth beach has changed over the years through a project-led walk. ‘For me, it showed that, even without climate change, the seashore on the East coast has always been a dynamic environment.’
Tamsin Silvey, Cultural Programme Curator at Historic England adds: ‘Coastal heritage plays an important part in the lives of local communities in three towns with very different histories. Through working with artists, people will have a chance to explore the heritage on their doorsteps, unearth hidden histories and celebrate what makes their towns so special.’
FIND OUT MORE
All of these projects are part of the Beach of Dreams festival, which takes place from 1 May to 1 June 2025. Beach of Dreams is supported by Arts Council England and Historic England and celebrates the landscapes and heritage through artistic commissions and community events that give fresh perspectives and interpretations of the British coast. For more information,
go to beachofdreams.org.
Photography John Edwards, Jason Singh, Stronger Shores, David Henry Thomas, Mark Hannant
