Open windows

"The original recording provided for this project appealed to me as it captures some of the silver linings of COVID lockdowns in Australia and around the world. Despite all of the tragedies, lockdowns slowed everyone down and so many people around the world started to reflect on the importance of social and environmental connection in their lives.

"In my own town, our bookshop sold 5 times more bird books than they had previously, people expressed joy in connecting with their neighbours who may have previously been strangers, and in forming a deeper attachment to their local environment. Many people commented to each other on their allotted hour of daily exercise how loud the birds were and wondered if they had always been that loud. Maybe they were singing new songs to fill the frequencies freed up by our enforced quietness? Were they celebrating or mourning our sonic absence? Musicians played on their porches and balconies and helped to fend off feelings of loneliness and isolation