Sonic artist inspired by the environment, Shona has worked with a range of mediums to explore sound creation. With a specific interest in field recording Shona has used many of her projects throughout her time at university to explore different soundscapes, including work with underwater sound and her dissertation on the acoustic aspects of Scottish winter habitats.

With a specialisation in her final year in interactive sound environments, her work within the ECA Graduate Art Show 2025 reflects this, with her video game audio project featuring alongside her interactive sound installation created especially for this event: Rainforest Reimagined. 

Rainforest Reimagined

As sound libraries play an important role in capturing the soundscapes of the past, this digitalisation of environments, where the real world instances are dwindling, poses the question of how we appreciate the world around us. Using a blend of synthesised ambient sounds and specific species sounds (sourced from the BBC sound effects library); this piece reflects on the decreasing natural environment as urban expansion affects rainforests. While the natural species are expected to adjust to these changes, it is far too possible for several of said species to go extinct, yet furthering humanity's disconnect with the natural world. The interaction with this soundscape reflects the human impact of the rainforest landscapes. This piece was produced by the SYNTHESISTERS; including all female members of the graduating class of Acoustics and Music Technology BSc (Hons): Shona Briers, Coco Ramponi and Stevie Sheehan.  

Themes: Deforestation, Digitalisation 

INTERACTION GUIDE:
The location of your hands to control the sound environment. Moving up and down and left to right, will control the animal sounds heard, which will accompany the rainforest ambience. These different areas of sound are indicated by the coloured dots that make up the visuals component of the installation.

Dissertation: Scottish Winter Soundscapes

Recordings taken within Fife across December 2024/ January 2025 including: Coniferous Plantation Forest, Deciduous Forest, Grassland and Bogland. 

These recordings were used as part of a survey where participants were asked how strongly they felt the soundscape was: pleasant/unpleasant, calm/chaotic, eventful/uneventful and exciting/monotonous. 

The soundscape that was most preferred due to it's attributes being the most calm and pleasant was Coniferous Plantation - listen to see if you'd agree!  

Interactive Sound Environments Project: Final View

Using the visuals from the Unity Asset Store - Sun Temple by Sandro T, this game is created with the sound environment primarily driving the narrative. 

It explores digital games as a way of presenting historical narrative and is inspired by real-life causes for civilisation collapse and city abandonment, most notably inspired by the cities of Ani, Turkey and Salamis, Cyprus. 

Sound Recording Project: River Journey

Sonic art piece formed from recordings captured at different locations along a river's journey. Recorded using hydrophones mainly, to capture this soundscape from an unusual angle. 

Recorded in 2022, this is one of the first pieces submitted as part of the work towards earning BSc Acoustics and Music Technology, showing how underwater recordings have been a source of inspiration for many years.

Ambient Drone Piece: Flow
Audio Programming Project: Ambient Drone Piece

A drone piece created using the C++ programming language, using the Juce framework; requiring a fundamental understanding of oscillators and sound generation. 

It's slow developing flow creates a relaxing but intricate ambience to listen and relax to.

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Environment
Sound & Vision
Narrative
Water
Landscapes
Digital
Acoustics and Music Technology - BSc (Hons)
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