Releasing Friday 29 May, Earthworks, by composers Garling Wu and Jessie Leov, is an album of organic textures, delicate granular gestures, and surreal sonic spaces.

A collaboration spanning multiple continents, time zones, and years, Earthworks was composed remotely, responding to Garling and Jessie’s changing environments as nomadic artists; from the metropolis of London, to rural landscapes of Japan, to ancient glaciers in Aotearoa New Zealand. During their travels, they gathered field recordings and samples, improvisations, voice memos, photographs, and words – sending these ‘musical letters’ to each other across vast distances.

Through contemplation of rapidly changing climates, Leov and Wu present their view of a fragile yet beautiful world.

Produced and mixed by Garling Wu, and mastered by Clovis McEvoy. Artwork by Sayo Watano.

Vocals and piano by Jessie Leov, spoken word by Garling Wu, cello by Martin Roberts, additional piano by Madeleine Xiao.

Retreat and additional recording by Finn McLellan at Kenneth Myers Centre (Auckland, NZ) and vocals for 'All That Remains recorded by Robbie Sissons at Studio 7010 (Nelson, NZ).

Supported by Creative New Zealand.

Find the release on Bandcamp on 29 May.

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Earthworks is a cross-disciplinary collaboration from Aotearoa New Zealand-born artists Garling Wu and Jessie Leov, drawing on their experience across sound art, audiovisual music, contemporary classical composition, songwriting, and popular music.

Between them, they are recipients of the APRA Professional Development Award, Creative New Zealand Early Career Fund, Music Australia Export Development Fund, and the Uxbridge Creative Fellowship. Their previous work has been performed and exhibited in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, Romania, England, and the United States.

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