OIST Sonic Lab

Listening to the world around us

OIST Sonic Lab

Listening to the world around us

DJ Nick Luscombe with mic and headphones, from behind.

What is OIST Sonic Lab?

OIST Sonic Lab explores and unravels new connections and potentials of sound and well-being through a series of soundscape studies, designs and installations with scientists and researchers, acousticians and musicians.

The project is co-ordinated by Izumi Fukunaga, with Nick Luscombe as Artistic Director. Shun Kasahara from Sony CSL is working in algorithm development and data collection and we also have Paul Bavister from the Bartlett School of Architecture / UCL as an advisor.

Podcast

The OIST Sonic Lab podcast explores themes and topics related to our ongoing research into sound and well-being, featuring people who share our ambitions and interests.

We will speak with scientists, artists, philosophers, and experts around the world who think or research about sounds and our relationships with them. We will also detail the ideas behind our OIST Sonic Lab projects and share our findings.

Through this regular series, we will highlight the variety of approaches to auditory exploration, which we hope will help us develop new networks and ways of thinking.

Podcast episode 1 - Okinawa Sound Portrait
In this first edition, OIST Sonic Lab Artistic Director, Nick Luscombe, introduces the lab's first project - an audio/visual work based on the sights and sounds of Okinawa.
Listen to episode 1
Podcast episode 2 - Uchinaaguchi
In this episode, we explore how language is key to creating strong and happy communities. Nick Luscombe speaks with Misato Matsuda and Chiaki Chibana, OIST members who are passionate about promoting Uchinaaguchi across Okinawa. ちち くぃみそーれー
Listen to episode 2
Uchinaaguchi
Podcast episode 3 — Professor Patrick Heinrich on Uchinaaguchi and well-being
Professor Heinrich is an expert in the field of Sociolinguistics, Japanese Studies and Language Endangerment and his recent paper presents data showing that speakers of a Uchinaaguchi in Yomitan village, Okinawa, report higher rates of well-being.
Listen to episode 3
Podcast episode 4 - Sound and Well-being
In this episode, OIST Sonic Lab Artistic Director Nick Luscombe hosts a panel discussion recorded in front of a live audience at CIC Tokyo.
Listen to episode 4
Podcast episode 5 - Okinawa Sound Portrait
This episode of the podcast features the first Sonic Lab production, played back in full. Created for the Hyatt Regency Seragaki Island in Okinawa, it featured only sounds from Okinawa and around the concept of 24 hours on the island.
Listen to episode 5