Dr Matt Green

The paper concerns Francis Lee’s BAFTA award nominated film God’s Own Country (2017), which is a fictional drama depicting the anguish and ultimate relief of a young farmer in North Yorkshire, UK as he confronts his sexuality, feelings for a new co-worker and relationship with his ailing father. The main focus of the paper is the role of the soundtrack in conveying the mental and physical disposition of the film’s protagonist. Usually, a film’s score is the main vehicle through which the emotion of an event, location or character is expressed. Unusually, in God’s Own Country, there is very little non-diegetic music, it is present in only three scenes. In place of the score is what it usually obscures: ambience. Across the film’s first act, the ambiences of God’s Own Country lack event and are noisy and abrasive. Experienced as music these ambiences suggest a lack of emotion and vibrancy in the life of the film’s lead, Johnny; the suppression of emotions; and the extent of the mental and physical pain Johnny experiences. As the film progresses, the soundtrack eases and brightens to reflect the positive changes to Johnny’s life. Across the paper, film, contemporary music and sound studies theory are applied. In particular, the musical practice of soundscape composition, which upholds the expressive power of ambience, and the terms ‘noise’ and ‘silence’ are considered.

Tolka Nights was a collaborative arts project exploring the Tolka River, Ireland. Tolka Nights culminated in three consecutive multimedia events that took place in September, 2015. Supported by Create, Ireland and funded by OPW, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council, Ireland.

Lead artist for three consecutive multimedia events exploring the river Tolka, Ireland. Supported by Create, Ireland and funded by OPW, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and Meath County Council

Exhibition across one week of three week sound art exhibition series entitled 'Conversations' curated by Louise K Wilson (UoL) and Alan Dunn (LBU).

Tolka Nights was a series of public events that explored the social, historical and ecological significance of the River Tolka, Ireland. Produced by an interdisciplinary team of six artists, the events took place in three distinct sites along the river in September of 2015. This paper outlines the project with particular focus on the aurally-engaged activities of two members of the artist team: Matt Green’s field recording, film-making and sound installation practice and John D’Arcy’s participative choral workshops and performances.

What follows is a description of two activities: a sound recording and composition activity and a mask making exercise. Both activities request the carrying out of deep, reflective listening in and 
to a selected animal’s environment, done with respect to the chosen animals ways 
and means of listening. The possible outcomes of the activities include a greater appreciation of a chosen animal’s ‘way of life’ and how humans impact upon this. A greater interest in the sound spaces we share and the factors affecting such spaces are equally possible outcomes.

A two-year AHRC-funded network exploring some writings of Wirral-born Malcolm Lowry (1909-1957) in relation to increased care for our oceans through a series of podcasts recorded during sailings between Liverpool and Isle of Man, 2021-22.