Up Close #2: the river’s voice, the river’s weight

This episode brings together sounds, voices, and reflections shaped by the rhythms of the river and the human hand that alters its course.

You’ll hear fragments from Resonant Cycles, an album by Sophia Bardoutsou, alongside an interview with Sophia about her singing methodologies and improvisations recorded on the island.

Artist Maud van den Beuken shares excerpts from her performance Carry The River, while writer Maurice Specht reads his essay on the consequences of dredging — a process both necessary and problematic in our reshaping of riverscapes.

Together, these voices invite listeners to reflect on sediment, sound, labor, and the stories we tell about what we remove, where it goes, and who carries its weight.

With the voices of: Sophia Bardoutsou, Maurice Specht, and Maud van den Beuken.

The concept and development were led by Pelumi Adejumo

Directing and editing by Ciska Meister.

The music comes from the album Recordings from Resonant Cycles (2024–2025): Artistic Research Laboratories, composed by Celeste Wright and Sophia Bardoutsou.

Participants & Partners: Tonka Milošević, Sander Zweerts de Jong, Raziel Miranda, Natalia Grubizna, Celeste Wright, Liza Rinkema, Ali Haji, Ishtar Bakhtali, Maud van den Beuken, Andreia Bessa, Anita van Ast, Marzieh Dadvar, and the Formaat community.

Collective Brownout: Laurens Voois, Leander Pot, Aisha Hetzel, Clio Panagiotopoulou, Lea Hegemann, Hanna Ailane, Lio Spinnewijn, and Sophia Bardoutsou.

The recordings were made on Brienenoord Island, capturing the sounds of the wind, birds, and the River Maas.