The idea for this reimagined record formed following a series of events that unearthed the acoustic roots of the material. A mapped “Forest Sound Walk” in Sydenham Woods, curated in collaboration with eco-social design studio Holobiont, encouraged deep listening within nature. Misch performed stripped back versions of the tracks using only her unamplified voice and saxophone with Marysia Osu on harp. Amongst the undergrowth the original album’s inner potential was revealed. This was followed by stage performances, which after a series of unexpected power outages, led to spontaneous acoustic improvisations. “Through playing in forests and adapting to ever shifting environments, I realised that there was this essence I really wanted to try to capture that wasn’t there before. I wanted to reveal something new that happens when you strip away a lot of the production”.
Laura collaborated with engineer and producer Oli Barton-Wood to create a live recorded studio performance with an intimate audience of close friends. The two focused on unearthing a new raw sound, extrapolating woody tones and analogue tape delays. “As an electronic producer I'm used to being able to sculpt sound” says Misch, “but this record was really a process of surrendering to the vulnerability of live recording and being held by others in that process. I said to Oli that I wanted it to feel like the forest. We had the harp with its gut strings, wooden guitars, and the saxophone which is a reed instrument. There was still something low and drone-like missing, so we invited Emma to play cello. I feel like ‘Sample The Earth’ holds its own as a world, that it’s not a sequel to ‘Sample The Sky’ but its own individual entity and as such, a sister.” There was a ritualistic nature to the performance; Laura made a dried teasel forest and lit candles to add to the circle created by the audience, who became the final element.
Laura has performed at venues and festivals such as the Barbican, Berghain, Royal Albert Hall, Roundhouse, Rockwood Music Hall, All Points East, Eurosonic, SXSW, We Out Here and RALLY Festival. In December last year she sold out EartHHackney and released a live concert film. She’s been consistently supported by BBC Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and Worldwide FM, she recently hosted a BBC Sounds ‘Music Life’ episode interviewing Suzanne Ciani, Madame Gandhi and Sian O'Gorman on music, nature and technology. She’s been featured in publications like MOJO, Nowness, The Guardian, Loud And Quiet, Composer, Crack, The Fader, Wonderland Magazine, Clash Magazine, Varsity, NME, The Quietus, Red Bull Music and The Line Of Best Fit.
'Sample The Eath' Tracklist
Sax Rise (Regrown)
Lightyears (Regrown)
Wild Swim (Regrown)
Portals Through To Outer Edges (Regrown)
Widening Circles (Regrown)
City Lungs (Regrown)
Hide To Seek (Regrown)
Listen To The Sky (Regrown)
Birdseye (Regrown)
Laura Misch Online:
