Case study: Sounding Connections by Cameron Naylor

Artist: Cameron Naylor
Residency Duration: Late 2022 – Early 2023
Region Focus: North West England

Overview

In late 2022, Regen welcomed sound and digital media artist Cameron Naylor as its second Regen Art Lab artist-in-residence. The result was Sounding Connections—a 30-minute interactive, non-linear audio work that invites listeners to explore the emotional and social layers of the energy transition through sound.

Part soundscape, part documentary, part radiophonic installation.

🎧 Listen to the soundboard here:
Sounding Connections Web Experience →

Concept & Themes

Rooted in themes of energy democracy, community power, and connection, the work weaves interviews with community energy leaders and ambient recordings from energy infrastructure—capturing voices, substations, wind turbines, footsteps, and emotional resonance.

It challenges the typical top-down framing of energy, instead inviting audiences to explore the messy, hopeful, human dimensions of transition.

“Soundscape art is very cool… It’d be great to see more in this space.”
— Ray Arrell, Regen

Approach & Methodology

• Conducted 8 interviews with energy practitioners in the North West region
• Collected 6+ hours of dialogue and environmental field recordings
• Composed a richly layered, immersive audio experience with a bespoke web interface
• Integrated live performance elements, including a sample-pad rendition at the Green Phoenix Festival

Cameron’s practice blends careful listening with creative composition—revealing the emotion, insight, and community spirit embedded in climate work.

Impact

• 30+ attendees at the online premiere, including cultural organisations and DNOs
• A live performance of the work at The Exeter Phoenix was popular engaged new audiences
• Participants called the work “fascinating”, “deeply moving”, and “thought-provoking”
• The project increased Regen’s confidence in commissioning audio-based engagement
• Inspired new ideas for how to combine storytelling, infrastructure, and artistic interpretation

“Amazing work—so cool! Thank you so much Cameron and Sophie.”
— Tim Minshall, Repowering London

Read more: Behind the Scenes of Sounding Connections (Regen article)

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"Being an artist in residence at Regen Art Lab was an incredible experience. I was afforded the time and resources to thoroughly explore the world of community energy supported by the Regen team, and with their support and feedback I believe we created a very engaging multi-layered piece.

If I were to give any advice is that even if you are a complete beginner to the energy sector you should collaborate with someone like Regen! Regen offered the time, resources, and access to bring me from square one to being informed about the current landscape of the sector. The space to think, learn, and create like this is very rare and incredibly valuable for all artists, and helped me develop my practice immensely." Cameron Naylor

You ca find out more about Cameron Naylor's work here: www.cameronnaylor.com

Legacy & Future Potential

• The Sounding Connections soundboard remains live and publicly accessible
• The project helped shape Regen’s understanding of audio as a medium for public energy storytelling
• It is a model for future residencies using place-based sound to unlock emotional engagement with infrastructure
• Cameron has continued to develop installations and sound design opportunities for film, radio, and theatre, and is continuing his research into the themes that emerged from this project

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