Isle of Sound is a series of seven soundscapes that celebrate sonic diversity in Thanet, with a unique soundscape created for each of Thanet’s 7 Thanet train stations: Birchington-on-Sea, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park, Margate, Minster, Ramsgate and Westgate-on-Sea. The soundscapes feature sounds from Thanet in 2021, preserving them for future generations.

Sounds were suggested and recorded by community groups and individuals, with over 100 people from across the Isle attending online workshops with Emily to develop and record sounds to contribute to the project. People were asked to think about: (1) What sounds remind you of home? (2) What sounds can be heard out of your window? (3) Which sounds are important to you and why? (4) Which sounds irritate you? (5) Which sounds might disappear in the future and should be saved for future generations?

A variety of inclusive and accessible submission methods and resources were developed including: WhatsApp and social media submission with instructions, suitable Apps (and settings) for recording on Android and Apple devices, field recording tips and videos, and listening exercises. To view resources and submission methods developed for this project: https://emilypeasgood.com/crp-artwork/

800 recordings were submitted and every sound (bar 1!) features in the work. The resulting work is a long form composition at 2 hours and 20 minutes long. In each station a selection of sounds from that area can be heard. And when all 7 station soundscapes are heard simultaneously, a new composition is formed. A sample stereo mix of the work can be heard below.

Materials: audio recordings and sound effects created by members of the public in each station location and SSA ‘Thanet’ jingle by Peasgood. Created with: Zoom H5, mobile telephones, Logic Pro, RX5 audio editor and custom speakers and amplifiers.

Commissioner: Isle of Sound is the first artwork created for the new Creative Isle Community Rail Partnership, a new initiative by Turner Contemporary in collaboration with Thanet District Council and support from Southeastern. The CICRP aims to work with local communities and artists, to engage with their local stations and the rail network through developing creative interventions at the stations. The partnership cover’s the line and all seven stations on the route in Thanet – Birchington-on-Sea, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park, Margate, Minster, Ramsgate and Westgate-on-Sea.

Team: Lead artist, composer, sound designer and field recordist: Emily Peasgood. Engineered by Geoffrey Papin. Speakers by Trevor Missen of Missen Acoustic.

Participants (individuals): Amanda Jarvis, Amanda Wish Turner, Angela Wooi, Charlie Key, Chloe Hunt, Clive Austen, Daisy Blackwell, Elke Heckel, Garry Saunders, Gary Wright, Geoffrey Papin, Gregory Bessant, Holly McCullough, Jamie Moore, Ken Blight,Lindsey Holness, Liz Hayward, Maria Parkins, Michel Cubillos, Nick Page, Nicola Wood, Nik Mitchell, Philip Knowles, Ryan Day, Samantha Bessant, Shahla Rushworth, Shirley Jones, Sophie Lee, Theresa Smith, Tony Child, Trinitee Gibson, Valerie Tyler, Will Cespedes-Stewart, Zach Love and anonymous contributors.

Participants (community groups and schools): Broadstairs College, the Benedictine Nuns at Minster Abbey, Holy Trinity Church of England School in Dumpton, Kent Association for the Blind, Kensei Taiko Drumming in Birchington-on-Sea, Newington Chill Club in Ramsgate and Thanet Coast Project.