Sem Zeeman

For “Combe du Laus [44.45655° N, 6.36523° O]” I used four microphones to design the field recording soundscape. Two unidirectional condenser microphones in X/Y setup by @zoomsoundlab , a geophone by @lom.label and an hydrophone by @_organic_audio_ . All microphones contributed to this soundscape, a testament to resilience and the potential for restoration and coexistence. The recordings were made near Route d'Ubaye in France, on September 17th 2023. 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #france

Located at Combe du Laus, a small mountain stream flowing into Lac de Serre-Ponçon — the largest reservoir in Europe. The reservoir serves to control flooding, generate hydroelectric power, and irrigate agriculture in the surrounding valleys. Although Combe du Laus provides only a small amount of water to the reservoir, it plays a significant role in the ecosystem of the surrounding forests today, such as the state forest Forêt Domaniale de la Blanche. This protected natural zone is home to a wide range of flora, such as coniferous and deciduous trees, rare plants, and it shelters a variety of fauna such as deer, foxes, wild boars, hares, and diverse birds and insects. Yet this level of vitality and balance in the ecosystem has not always been so prominent. In the mid-18th century, overgrazing and deforestation caused severe erosion and flooding. Large-scale reforestation followed, with thousands of trees planted and numerous stone dams and drainage systems built to stabilize the soil. A century later, the construction of the reservoir in the 1950s–60s led to habitat loss, and eventually the area was granted protected status, allowing the vitality and balance to be restored. Today, it continues to safeguard biodiversity and mitigate climate change — though rising temperatures and droughts now threaten the ecosystem again. 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to “Combe du Laus [44.45655° N, 6.36523° O]” on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #france

My sixth soundscape is now online — “Combe du Laus [44.45655° N, 6.36523° O]” 🏞️ In “Combe du Laus [44.45655° N, 6.36523° O]” an ongoing cycle of threat and renewal is reflected through a day-cycle of sound. The piece begins with Combe du Laus’ flowing water and birdsong under a bright sun, shifts to stridulation of awakening crickets at dusk, and transitions to nocturnal animals and resonances from the night, wherein biophony from squirrels and owls is gradually dominated by geophony from heavy rain and thunderstorms, causing a stronger flow rate in Combe du Laus’ stream. This auditory complementarity and duality between day versus night, and sun versus rain represents the turbulent ecological history of Combe du Laus and Forêt Domaniale de la Blanche. While human activity remains a source of risk, Combe du Laus also stands as a testament to resilience and the potential for restoration and coexistence. It’s widely available on platforms such as Bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube. It has also been published on the @audio.spaces app. 💿 A longer version of this auditive narrative, as well as the full release, will follow in the coming posts. 🗓 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #france

For “High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]” I used five microphones to design the field recording soundscape. Two unidirectional condenser microphones in X/Y setup by @zoomsoundlab , a geophone by @lom.label , a contact microphone by @_organic_audio_ and an electromagnetic receiver by @somasynths . 🎙 All microphones contributed to this soundscape, which reveals a complex web of interconnectedness, where human progress comes with new challenges and threats. The recordings were made near a substation of the transmission system operator of the national high-voltage grid in the Netherlands, in Naaldwijk, on July 16th, 2023. 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #netherlands #anthropophony #geophony #infrasound #noise #electromagnetic #EMF #substation #pylon #electricity #experimental #infrastructure #security

Located near an high-voltage substation and several electricity pylons, which form the backbone of the regional electricity supply. At this site the tangible and invisible elements of our modern society converge. Specialized microphones and receivers reveal both audible and inaudible frequencies, including infrasound and electromagnetic signals. Without this equipment, these signals would go unnoticed. The noisey characteristics of the electromagnetic frequencies represent the invisible nowadays digital threat that surrounds our society. While at the same time wind is, literally rattling at the gates of the substation, causing rumbling geophonic infrasound — symbolizing the growing vulnerability and fragility of our infrastructure. However, the vulnerability is not only limited to our digital world, due to the increasing demand for energy and the use of electronic devices which leads to the rise of electromagnetic radiation. The auditory interplay between chirping crickets and crackling voltages from the pylon’s wires, represents the increase of this radiation in our environment. 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to “High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]” on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #netherlands #anthropophony #geophony #infrasound #noise #electromagnetic #EMF #substation #pylon #electricity #experimental #infrastructure #security

My fifth soundscape just released — “High-Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]” 🗼 In a world where the demand for energy and digital connectivity continues to grow unabated, so does the vulnerability of our infrastructure. In the era of digitalisation and technologies — traditional warfare is slowly being replaced by digital, invisible warfare through binary numbers. “High Voltage Substation [51.98311° N, 4.22508° O]” reveals a complex web of interconnectedness, where human progress comes with new challenges and threats. The pursuit of progress brings not only opportunities, but also responsibilities to safeguard the delicate societal balance between technology, nature, and human well-being. It’s widely available on platforms such as Bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube. It has also been published on the @audio.spaces app. 💿 A longer version of this auditive narrative, as well as the full release, will follow in the coming posts. 🗓 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #netherlands #anthropophony #geophony #infrasound #noise #electromagnetic #EMF #substation #pylon #electricity #experimental #infrastructure #security

For “Ru du Pierreux [50.38536° N, 5.78953° O]” I used five microphones to record and design the field recording soundscape. Two unidirectional condenser microphones in X/Y setup by @zoomsoundlab , a geophone by @lom.label , a contact microphone by @_organic_audio_ and an ultrasonic receiver by Magenta Electronics Ltd.🎙 All microphones contributed to this soundscape, which serves as a sonic homage to a once vibrant river, now quietly reclaimed by the forest. The recordings are made in Rahier, Stoumont in Belgium on July 13th 2023. “Ru du Pierreux [50.38536° N, 5.78953° O]” is released on August 16th 2025. 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #belgium #ecology #acousticecology #nature #river #insects #birds #bats

Located by a former vibrant river, now called Ru du Pierreux. Once rich with trout and the sound of flowing water, today in summer only a small stream remains. The place reflects both the vulnerability and resilience of our ecosystems. Birdsong, fluttering wings, crackling insects, rustling leaves, buzzing flies, and bat echolocation weave a complex soundscape that shows how life still persists. The name “stone stream” refers to the dried riverbed, where only rocks and organic material remain. Locals even call it “the ugly street,” a sad contrast to its rich past. The soft rippling of the little water left is a reminder of transience, with rising temperatures and irregular rainfall causing drought and scarcity. Yet the area thrives with old trees and plants. Dense foliage filters the sunlight, creating a moist, sheltered habitat for countless species. Swarms of flies, territorial birds, and undisturbed vegetation form a rare refuge free from air and noise pollution. Here, nature continues its cycles of pollination, spore formation, and reproduction. This piece serves as a sonic homage to a once vibrant river, now quietly reclaimed by the forest. It captures the history and adaptability of nature, reminding us of its fragility and strength. 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to “Ru du Pierreux [50.38536° N, 5.78953° O]” on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #belgium #ecology #acousticecology #nature #river #insects #birds #bats

Another soundscape just released — “Ru du Pierreux [50.38536° N, 5.78953° O]” 🌱 Located by what was once a vibrant, flowing river — called the Ru du Pierreux. The river used to teem with life, with trout swimming through its clear waters. The sounds of flowing water and splashing fish, symbols of its vitality, have long disappeared. Today, in summer, only a small stream remains. This sonic homage to a once-vibrant river, traces its rich history and the adaptability of nature, reminding us of both the vulnerability and resilience of our ecosystems. It’s widely available on platforms such as Bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube. 💿 A longer version of this auditive narrative, as well as the full release, will follow in the coming posts. 🗓 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #belgium #ecology #acousticecology #nature #river #insects #birds #bats

For “A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]” I used five microphones to design the field recording soundscape. Two unidirectional condenser microphones in X/Y setup by @zoomsoundlab , a geophone by @lom.label , a contact microphone by @_organic_audio_ and a electromagnetic receiver by @somasynths . 🎙 All microphones contributed to this narrative of the metropolitan area formed by a collection of sources both auditive and non-auditive for human. Also, recordings are partly manipulated by equalisation and time-based effects to create a soundscape from noise pollution by the fast pace of humanity. The recordings are made near the Brandersbrug in Schiedam, The Netherlands on March 30th 2023. “A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]” is released on May 30, 2025 #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #rotterdam #schiedam #rijksweg #A20 #rushhour

While the fast pace of humanity causes hot asphalt and infrasound moving through the construction, underneath a slower pace is causing more innocent bouncing echo’s. Impulse responses from the overpass echo’s are used to create a somewhat terrifying reverb scape, slowly building up. Dynamic impacts from the bouncing road surface above irregularly causing reflections scattering around the overpass’ concrete. These metallic-like hits are caused by vehicles passing the overpass.

The never ending sound waves once in a while get dominated by several other sound sources. Car horns translate the frustration from within, while trying to balance it out by amplified FM frequencies. Though this more pleasing part of the electromagnetic spectrum gets interfered by nasal higher frequencies from passing metros and trains. These pitched-down electromagnetic signals forming cold resonant harmonics.

These massive amounts of weight rolling over the railway also results in ground shaking infrasound allover the area. Rumbling frequencies vibrates through the concrete pillars underneath the overpass. Moments later fireworks suddenly feeds the already existing sonic tangle, followed by emergency signals which appear not less distinctive without the optical parts.
 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to "A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]" on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #rotterdam #schiedam #rijksweg #A20 #rushhour

After my soundscape releases “A Soundwalk Through Budapest [47.499553° N, 19.054739° O]” and “Noorderhoofd [51,98021° N, 4,11153° O]” I recently released a new soundscape — “A20/ E25 [51.92393° N, 4.40872° O]”. 🛣️ Located at the European Route E25, connecting North- and South Europe, where just a fraction of it is located in the Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area as the Rijksweg 20 or A20. This motorway supported by several overpasses through South Holland, which one of them recorded during rush hour, forms the base of this piece — Brandersbrug in Schiedam. It’s widely available on platforms such as Bandcamp, Spotify, Soundcloud and YouTube. It has also been published on the @audio.spaces app. 💿 A longer version of this auditive narrative, as well as the full release, will follow in the coming posts. 🗓 🔗 Click the link in my bio to listen to the full piece on your favourite platform! #fieldrecording #soundscape #soundart #ambient #rotterdam #schiedam #rijksweg #A20 #rushhour