Episode 12: Jonathan Kawchuk - Everything You See Was Once Alive

Everything You See Was Once Alive
A conversation between New Works Calgary Artistic Director rebecca bruton and Nelson-based, Alberta-born composer & jurassic park enthusiast jonathan kawchuk.

Ecomusicology is the study of music at the intersection of culture and the environment. Canadian composer Jonathan Kawchuk’s work as a composer and sound artist stems from this young but vibrant tradition. He is fascinated by how the music and sound we create can interact with, and stem from, the natural world, rather than just mirror the sounds and structures we hear.

Much like a documentary might aim to illustrate facts about a subject, Jonathan’s work aims to document, archive, and translate the emotional atmosphere of natural environments. His goal is to show audiences the sonic and emotional beauty of a place, and to emphasize that these places are worthy of preservation. Northern/alpine environments were integral to his upbringing and have been the focus of his career.

Jonathan’s primary goals as an artist are to create work that is intensely affecting and challenging, yet accessible. He aims for my music to inventively employ new technology in its creation, yet also extol the beauty of the natural world.