Composing with Tape: A Week of Experimental Analog Music Creation

TWO FREE PLACES AVAILABLE.

Join sound artist and composer Paul Cousins for a week-long exploration of reel-to-reel tape machines and the creative possibilities of analog recording. Set against the inspiring backdrop of the Helford River, this immersive residency invites participants to delve into the tactile, hands-on world of tape manipulation, looping, and sound design.

During this workshop, we’ll use reel-to-reel tape machines as both musical instruments and tools for composition. Paul will guide us through the fundamentals of tape recording, splicing, and looping, as well as advanced experimental techniques of tape delay and manipulation. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with layering, degradation, and texture, discovering how the physicality of tape can inspire entirely new approaches to sound. By focusing on creating outside of the DAW and working directly with objects instead of screens, we’ll embrace a process that celebrates the heart and soul of analog equipment.

Our creative journey will include collaborative sessions where we’ll craft unique tape-based compositions, drawing inspiration from the natural elements around us. Field recording outings will offer an opportunity to capture environmental sounds, which we’ll manipulate and integrate into our works. Participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments or sound sources (compact and portable), and Paul will provide several reel-to-reel machines and custom tools for experimentation.

Throughout the week, we’ll reflect on the innovative techniques pioneered by artists such as Steve Reich, Delia Derbyshire, Brian Eno, and Éliane Radigue, exploring how analog tape can connect us to a slower, more deliberate process of creation. By the end of the residency, you will gain hands-on experience with tape-based composition and discover new methods of sound design. You'll leave with a collaborative collection of tape-driven works, including personal tape loops that serve as mementos of the creative journey and the beginnings of a shared tape loop archive.

This workshop is open to anyone curious about the creative potential of analog tape, from seasoned sound artists to those new to tape machines. Discover the beauty of imperfection, the magic of physical sound, and the joy of composing with tape.