How Monchegorsk sounds

MURMANSK OBLAST, Russia

Working with sound identity of the place and recording the album

Working with Monchegorsk makes us creating lots of digital media content that craves for the background music. We have tried some options like using free-to-use music or AI generated one. Both didn't bring us what we wanted to: it lacked connectivity with what we has manifested — making use of locality. Then we had idea to create something our own, so we asked two independent musicians from the nearby Murmansk town "Summer garden". Anton, the project leader, was supportive and inspired with the idea. He came to Monchegorsk and spend a few days there, recording sounds of Monchegorsk.

Client: Monchegorsk Development Agency

Work:
Producing album release

2022

OST — How Monchegorsk Sounds

Main idea of the album is the audio connection between the industrial and nature town. You can listen to gurgling springs, the passing-by motor boat, the wind. Dreamy and romantic mood comes from the synths, being recorded on a cassette tape.

Excerpt from the description of the album

Field recording

Anton Smirnov went to Monchegorsk with his faithful SO, Katya Paramonova. They have moved around the town according to the pre-arranged route, not to get overwhelmed and stick to the brand concept of connecting industrial and natural vibes of a town.

Field recordings in Monchegorsk

All goes according to the plan

Release

We ended up with five ambient tracks, that use samples recorded here and there in Monchegorsk, mixed and musically complemented. Part of these tracks now rightfully and widely used in Monchegorsk social media content, videos and as a background music for events. Besides, the album was printed for a limited edition and acted as a merch.

"Almost" vinil merch

Result was enjoyable for both sides: we got that rare example of working with the sound identity of the place and content that could've been used in digital content. Awesome guys from Murmansk got an inspiring idea of working with local territory that attracts people and sounds useful enought to be repeated more with other towns. We're still thinking that it was just scratching the very surface of the deep lake of possibilities with audio research of places.