07: Cheery Chirps

Listen out for these sounds in Cheery Chirps:

This is an idea I’ve been messing around with since you first asked, just noodling when I’m playing with the girls. So I recorded as a live session, one take with a mic in the room. I added a recording of the girls under it just to emulate how I’ve been working at it and to reflect how my days are spent playing with them. It was really fun to do, thanks.

Michael Lewis

The sound of the Kookaburra makes me happy because it sounds like a monkey laughing, an insane sound for a wee bird to make really. I didn’t really know much about the before we came (and I still don’t) but I love their jaunty squat tuftiness, and the fact that for being such an wild bird icon they are very ubiqitous and bring a feeling of being amongst nature into the hart of urban environments.

Sam Evans

It is ‘opening my studio door’ after I haven’t been able to be there for two months.

Roel Knappstein

Also, this is a set of recordings I made in the Pacific Northwest a few years ago that I love – it’s an accidental aeolian harp that was made out of some fishing line that was strung up on a dock. It was super windy and it was making a completely amazing noise! I was so excited by it, and I still love listening to it. 

Yann Seznec (with Kristina Seznec)

I am fortunate to live close to nature and forests in particular. A 4 hour drive takes me to the amazingly lush BR hills forest range with tigers, elephants, bears and a super rich bio diverse ecosystem. Being in the forest makes me incredibly happy each time. I could stay with the sights and sounds forever. I had to share this piece of heaven with you.

Babitha George

Track named by Ruben Cheong Bee and Samuel Cheong Bee.
Written and produced by Tommy Perman.

Get the album

Email your happy message to: happy@positiveinteractions.space – you will then receive an auto-respond email with a link to download. If it doesn’t arrive please check your junk / spam folder. I will try to respond to your happy messages personally if I can. Thank you!

14: Dancing With Cows

Listen out for these sounds in Dancing With Cows:

Recording sent by Sandy Carson, Austin, Texas

I recently received an unexpected and rather lovely gift of a kalimba. The little thing sits on my desk where I work and occasionally throughout the day, while I’m thinking, or taking a break, or procrastinating, I’ll have a little play on it. It has such a sweet sound that even my mistakes (of which there are many) are pretty and it’s really reminded me how joyful and immersive and meditative playing music can be. If everyone had a kalimba on their desk I think the world would be a happier place. 

Rachel Simpson

The cow is a holy animal for some Hindu communities in India (and also the cause for a lot of unrest and polarisation). This is a man singing as he brings around a richly decorated cow seeking alms (food and money often). He came around our studio often and this was a very familiar sound before the pandemic. It is a sound I miss hearing these days.

Babitha George

Stone “bells” on the Glen Finglas sculpture trail

Jonnie Common

This is from a forest outside Bangalore in BR Hills. The Soliga tribe lives here and the drums you hear are them drumming at night to keep wild elephants away.

Babitha George

Here’s a wee thing I made today in my head bubble. Hope it suits, can’t remember if you needed a certain length.
That was fun! So nice to have a play and make something with no parameters, must do that more often, I’d probably get quite a lot done that way.

Emily Scott

Track named by Babitha George.
Written and produced by Tommy Perman.

Get the album

Email your happy message to: happy@positiveinteractions.space – you will then receive an auto-respond email with a link to download. If it doesn’t arrive please check your junk / spam folder. I will try to respond to your happy messages personally if I can. Thank you!