Sean Ali

São Miguel Island presents recordings of ambient sounds found throughout various locations on Ilha de São Miguel in the Azores recorded between July 29th and August 6th, 2023. Tracks are presented as-is: unedited, unmixed, unmastered. Please adjust speaker/headphone volume accordingly.

released November 10, 2024

Sean Ali: field recordings

Listen/purchase: Field Recording Series Volume III: São Miguel Island by Sean Ali

One unseasonably warm day in February (it was something like 75 degrees Fahrenheit, if memory serves), I took my mandolin to the banks of the Little Miami that runs through John Bryan State Park in Ohio. I was visiting from NY. I go back as frequently as I can, since I was born and grew up in the Dayton, OH area and still have many family members who live there. It marked a time in my life where I was deeply searching for connections to nature, to shed some of the existential malaise that had marked my musical aesthetics up to that point, and to focus on peacefulness of mind and health of body. Even so, there were feelings of uneasiness that were on my mind at the time. On this particular trip, I wanted to spend time with my maternal grandmother, whose health had begun failing. She passed away less than a month and a half later. Furthermore, the pleasant weather that I was enjoying so much on the day of this recording was underscored by climate change anxiety, of how the nature that I was trying to connect with to heal is under threat. “John Bryan” is my mediation in times of crisis that I humbly offer to anyone inclined to listen.
credits

released September 25, 2024

Sean Ali: mandolin, voice (whispered poem)

Recorded at John Bryan State Park in Yellow Springs, OH on February 23rd, 2023.

Listen/purchase: John Bryan by Sean Ali

Oakland Lake
Self-Release, 2024

On February 22nd, 2024 after getting a haircut, I took a walk at Oakland Lake in Queens and stumbled upon some amazing bird sounds. Fortunately, I had both my audio recorder and my bass harmonica with me. This mini-album, Oakland Lake, presents two tracks. The first track captures the ambient sounds at the lake. The second track is a continuation of the same sounds but with some long tones from my trusty bass harmonica. The recordings are presented without any editing, mixing, or mastering. In so doing, I feel it better encapsulates the unreality of that moment. However, it may mean you need to adjust your speaker/headphone volume accordingly (apologies).

released August 13, 2024

Sean Ali: field recording, bass harmonica

Recorded in the afternoon on February 22nd, 2024 at Oakland Lake in Alley Pond Park in Queens, NY.

Listen/purchase: Oakland Lake by Sean Ali