An experimental exploration into non-verbal communication to convey complex emotional states, specifically in this session – focusing on the visceral experiences of disgust, fear, and surprise.
In terms of my method, I positioned a contact microphone around my neck to record the small vibrations and resonances caused by my throat and vocalisation. I recorded in two different ways – one with my throat and one on the back of my neck to see if the recording would be different and it was – using the back of my neck provided a more muffled sound so i continued to do that.
I recorded many takes – utilising my personal narratives documenting my experiences with each emotion, trying with different voice styles and cadences to genuinely portray and identify subtleties within the core of each emotional state.
Despite the lack of linguistic articulation, I discovered that the recordings conveyed a tremendous spectrum of emotional subtleties, from visceral disdain to dread. I felt that tiny differences in tone, timbre, and cadence acted as powerful carriers of emotional depth, overcoming language barriers to elicit a visceral reaction in the listener.
My objective is to challenge established concepts of communication by demonstrating tone’s potential to transmit complex emotional states without the use of conventional forms of language or articulation. Furthermore, it emphasises sound’s transformational capacity as a vehicle for portraying the depth and complexity of human experience, encouraging greater investigation into the interaction of sound, emotion, and personal narrative.