Blindsided by the storm
This piece is centered around preparing for a storm, so I used sounds that would depict weather turbulence. Flooding was the issue, so I added water sounds to create a water-flowing-through-a-storm-drain vibe. Lastly, I added an interesting anecdote from Corey Davis, a state climatologist.
Uprooted
I wanted to find a song that spoke in a metaphorical way. "Make Me a Bed," by Cisco Houston, has nothing and everything to do with a housing crisis. This song brings light-heartedness and also highlights the desperate need for change.
A fractured FEMA
I wanted to capture the feeling of people waiting for FEMA to help. One night while I was downtown, I heard local musician Jacob Therrien's mournful rendition of "A Change Gonna Come." It was packed with soul and emotion.
Lost and found
The journey begins on the open road with cars passing by, then transitions into "Swannanoa Tunnel" by Bascom Lamar Lunsford — a song full of Asheville references that expresses the warmth of home.
Faith following the flood
It was important that I capture both inside and outside a church. The bells that start the track were recorded in downtown Asheville. The song that fades in is "Holy Ground" by Frances Blalock Denton, chosen because of its bluegrass feel.
Connecting communities
I wanted a song that made people think about how they treat others. "Have I helped someone today?" by Frances Blalock Denton, speaks about humanity, self examination and what can be done for those who need us.
Going postal
I wanted to capture the bustling sounds of a post office. The many conversations heard here show that the post office is an extension of the community. Its loss is everybody's loss.
Non-profits' rapid response
This piece focuses on non-profit organizations that formed to help out during the storm. To highlight this through sound, I wanted to travel in three ways: on the ground, on the road and in the air.
When signals saved the day
This was a fun soundscape to design. I wanted something that mimicked flipping through a radio. I added music from Frances Blalock Denton and Elizabeth McCorvey in between static and a click, both recorded from an actual ham radio.
The smallest sufferers
I wanted to keep this sound as natural as possible. It felt wrong to distort or enhance captured sounds because nature has already been tampered with enough. I hope people listening feel they are taking a walk in nature.