Nature’s Grandeur

Flying Person is an experimental ambient artist inspired by the grandeur of mountains and the intensity of extreme weather. With a minimalist approach, he crafts largely beatless compositions that integrate field recordings and space sounds, often captured during recording sessions in places such as the Himalayas, Kilimanjaro or Caucasus. Committed to collaboration, Flying Person also provides evocative soundscapes for poetry readings and works alongside visual artists, enriching their projects with his auditory vision. His debut album, Too Early a Flight, is inspired by two separate expeditions to Kilimanjaro, reimagining the trek to Uhuru Peak and back through music. Utilizing field recordings from the surrounding jungles, conversations with locals and even radio static the album offers an auditory reflection of the experience.

Laura James is a British Photographer drawn to beauty in nature, the human form and seeing the unique details in objects. She has a deep fascination with the natural world, with a lot of her imagery surrounding the elements of water, flowers and natural environments. She sees photography as a method to reflect back to others what she finds mesmerising in the world.

Laura: All of these images were captured in Australia, where I used to live. I spent a lot of solitary time at vast beaches, lakes and in the forest to find an inner stillness and connect with the earth on a deeper level. Having lived in London for many years I was craving a connection with nature. I listened to Flying Persons music and images of trees and plants came to my mind, and a sense of stillness I had experienced in these wild spaces.

Flying Person: Outside of music, I work as a mountain guide, which I consider my ‘day job.’ Spending so much time in the mountains, from the Himalayas to the Pamir and Caucasus, constantly influences my music in various ways. For instance, I mostly rely on musical instruments that I can easily carry in my backpack while trekking. I often find myself spending my evenings in a tent at base camp, programming a portable synth instead of reading a book or scrolling through photos.

Do you like making music on the road or is this something to do at the studio?

Flying Person: I really enjoy making music while I’m on the road, especially during my time in the mountains. I always bring a portable setup so I can record sounds from both the environment—things like wind, water, rain, falling on the roof of the tent. A lot of my musical ideas actually come during really bad storms or harsh weather, when the environment is at its most intense. Those moments often become the core inspiration for me. This being said, most of the actual composing happens back in the studio, where I take those sounds and build on them. But it’s the experiences and situations I encounter in the mountains, especially during those rough conditions, that really drive the direction of the music. 

How does your environment influence your visual style?

Laura: My environment influences me a lot as I’m drawn to capturing what is immediately around me. Even when I’m living in a city I will seek out the calm places and bodies of water as this is what my soul needs. I always try to see the beauty in everything around me and I hope this is reflected back in my work.