The Highland s adventure
As part of a recent journey through the breathtaking Scottish Highlands, I set out to gather field recordings, collect video, and compose music inspired by the untamed beauty of the land.
Highland Sketches
A Sound Sketchbook
A living archive of live improvisations and musical sketches—each one a spontaneous exploration, raw and unfiltered. Like an artist’s sketchbook filled with studies for a larger canvas, these recordings serve as the seeds for fully realized compositions. Over time, each sketch will evolve, shaping a broader musical landscape drawn from the spirit of the moment it was born in.
Performed live on a restored pier reaching toward the Summer Isles, this musical sketch is an improvised response to place and memory. The pier—once a vital link to the island—now echoes with new life, just as the island itself begins to awaken and return. This improv reflects the landscape's quiet transformation, honoring its history while sketching its future in sound.
For this improvisation, I stood at the front of the cave, where the acoustics were at their most resonant. I'm playing a triple Native American flute, aiming to connect with a space the goes back to the ice age — a piece that might have been played thousands of years ago, in harmony with the spirit of the land. I had slight mic issues that day so the Audio isn't perfect, but I just like the combination of sound and images
This improvisation was recorded live on the high cliffs of Handa Island, a remote and striking nature reserve off the northwest coast of Scotland. Managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Handa is home to dramatic sea cliffs, sweeping views, and thriving colonies of seabirds — including puffins, guillemots, and razorbills. Sitting there, surrounded by wind, waves, and birds in flight, I let the raw energy of the sea and the freedom of the birds guide the music. The piece was entirely improvised, shaped in real time by the spirit of the place.
This piece is an improvisation on bass flute, performed beneath one of the magical, ancient pines of the Black Wood of Rannoch — a forest steeped in mystery and timelessness. I’ve added gentle accompaniment to help surface the echoes of those who have walked these woods before us — the ancient voices of people, stories, and spirits held quietly in the trees. Let this music take you there — to a still, sacred place where the forest breathes.
In this particular improvisation, I attempted a duet with the stream beside me, listening closely and responding to its rhythms, textures, and voice. It's a conversation between human and nature — fleeting, intimate, and shaped by the moment.
This particular sketch unfolded beside the magnificent Clashnessie Waterfall. It began as a moment of listening — and without any pre-planning, a musical idea emerged and evolved into a complete piece. The music had never existed before that day; it was born in response to the rhythms, textures, and presence of the falls.
Bardentarbet Bothy offered a warm welcome — a glowing fire, cozy chairs, and the comforting aroma of coffee on the stove. In that quiet, reflective space, this improvised melody emerged almost fully formed. I've added a touch of accompaniment, but the heart of it remains as it was — a musical impression of the stillness and warmth I felt in that moment. The feeling reminds me of hygge — a Danish word with no perfect English translation, but one that speaks of coziness, comfort, and a deep sense of well-being. I hope this piece brings a little of that feeling to you, wherever you are.
This song has long been close to my heart — a tune that carries the spirit of the land: wistful, wild, and full of quiet beauty. Through music, field recordings, and imagery, I’ve tried to capture not just the sights, but the soul of the Highlands — the wind over lochs, the hush of ancient forests, the warmth of bothies, and the timeless pull of the mountains.