About
I'm a hobbyist field recordist, with a particular penchant for "ghost towns," that is, sites that were previously inhabited or used for industrial purposes but are no longer in use. I have a particularly soft spot for abandoned military sites as well, having grown up in Alameda, California (the site of a large naval base that is no longer actively in use by the navy). My expeditions have taken me to rural parts of Washington, Oregon, and California, oftentimes encountering inquisitive, tense, or unwelcoming individuals in those locations. This aspect of my expeditions is equally as enriching and interesting from a sociological standpoint as the recordings and photos that result from the treks. As such, I have included some of the stories surrounding the visits. Some of my attempts to locate a site have been unsuccessful, due to a lack of geo coordinates and scant information about the location online. I have an open mind when going on expeditions, knowing very well that I may not find what I'm looking for, but anticipating the adventure of traveling somewhere new and exploring the emotional energy of spaces that are often forgotten, unloved, or impoverished.
Just a little bit about me and my background: I'm a graduate student of library and information sciences, and I aspire to become an audio archivist. This project is an effort to explore that role from the standpoint of a personal collection of recordings. Additionally, I am a DJ of experimental music, a vinyl enthusiast and collector, and junior music scholar. Additionally, I am the proprietor of the index, Many Many Women, a project that seeks to increase visibility of female musicians and composers. Feel free to check out my Soundcloud for mixes I've made and my personal Tumblr for art, music, and words that influence me.
-Megan Mitchell
