My residency at Maynard Abercych as part of the AFON project gave me the opportunity for a deep and meaningful engagement with the local landscape. The gentle and considerate approach of the organisers gave space for the creative ideas to breathe and evolve organically over the 5-day residency period. 2 Penrhiw was a peaceful and inspiring working and living space and I felt supported in every aspect of my stay. I composed a new sound piece during my residency using site specific field recordings, hydrorecordings (underwater recordings), natural materials found on the river banks, and also used electrodes to record the biodata of plant life on the rivers which I then translated into MIDI data to use as musical notation to determine some of the melodic patterns in the work.

I was interested in exploring the relationships between the local rivers (the Cych and Dylais) and Celtic mythology, specifically their connection to Annwn (the Otherworld in the Mabinogi). Inspired by Pauline Oliveros' deep listening theories, I did a lot of on location working, spending prolonged periods outside engaging with the natural soundscapes in and around the local rivers, and also Ffynone waterfall, which is supposedly the gateway to Annwn (the Otherworld). My research led me to two early medieval poems from Llyfr Taliesin (The Book of Taliesin) written in Middle Welsh which reference Annwn, Cad Goddeu (Middle Welsh: Kat Godeu, English: The Battle of the Trees) and Priddeu Annwn (English: The Spoils of Annwn). I was also very inspired by the first branch of the Mabinogi where Pwyll Pendefig Dyfed (a prominent figure in Welsh mythology) discovers Annwn. For the public sharing, I developed an audiovisual installation incorporating landscape footage which I'd filmed at Ffynone, text excerpts of Cad Goddeu, and sound composed of site-specific environmental audio recordings, hydro recordings and recorded bio data translated into notation, as well as original sound design and composition.

I feel the piece worked really well in the cottage and the small space we'd created for the installation allowed for a really intimate engagement with the work which felt appropriate. It was really helpful to get feedback from the audience who attended the sharing and I made some really interesting connections with people which was a really positive part of my stay. Simon and Sterling created a really warm and welcoming environment for both me as the artist and the audience attending to feel comfortable and relaxed which inspired lots of natural and interesting conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay - Maynard Abercych is a nurturing and inspiring space which sparked lots of ideas and creativity and I am already looking forward to working there again in future.