A Forest That Speaks American

Back in 2022, during a visit to my daughter in Québec, I recorded forest soundscapes that would surprise me: not at the time of the recording, but later, after publishing them on myNoise. Listeners from North America began writing to me, saying the sounds brought back vivid memories of childhood, family walks, and summer vacations... This was unexpected, because I already had a lot of forest soundscapes covered on myNoise before these additions. Then I realized something: to bring back a memory, a sound doesn’t have to be close — it has to be exact, like the call of a specific bird. It’s only when the details match, that the subconscious unlocks something long forgotten.

While I was staying at Kripalu, Massachusetts, earlier this year, I hiked in the surrounding forests of the Berkshires: a region of rolling hills and relatively dense woodlands. I was hoping to capture a new North American forest soundscape for the US fans of myNoise. But conditions weren’t ideal. It was cold and windy, with occasional rain. Not great for birds — they tend to stay quiet. And not great for recording either — microphones pick up wind like a constant hiss. Still, that’s what the forest sounded like.

But I got lucky. There was a little valley near Lenox, where I found myself surrounded by birds — as if they had all gathered there. Among them, the sharp calls of Red-winged Blackbirds fascinated me and was so different from what I am used to hear in Europe. You’ll hear them now and then in this soundscape, along with many others I can’t name, but loved listening to. And at night, a different choir took over: spring peepers — tiny frogs whose high-pitched calls form an astonishing wall of sound. They have their own dedicated sliders in this soundscape too.

I used to think of forests as universal — green, and filled with birdsong. But every forest speaks its own language. And sometimes, it speaks yours. A soundscape like this may seem like just another forest to many, but to someone, it will feel like home. That’s what I love about this project: the way sound finds its way back to the listener, often in ways I didn’t foresee. Happy listening!

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