VCUarts Qatar sound designers release single in the UK

‘LF18 / Infinity’ is an electronic soundscape born of a creative exchange between Tsuchiya and Rodenberg, and Mortality Tables label owner and music journalist, Mat Smith. The single uses field recordings by Smith. 

Smith’s recordings were made just as the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in the UK and offer audio bites that capture sounds associated with businesses and performances reopening, such as a busy street getting back to work in Queen’s Village and emotional applause and chatter at the UK’s Royal Albert Hall. Tsuchiya’s vocals and synthesized samples were layered on to the sounds, and further synthesized by Rodenberg. 

‘LF18 / Infinity’ is available for purchase from the Mortality Tables Bandcamp website. All proceeds from the sale of the single go to Friends of the Earth, a charity that works to protect the planet and its environment. 

‘Mortality Tables’ is an electronic music label that supports exchanges and collaborations between artists in the creative process. 

Rodenberg and Tsuchiya shared their experience collaborating on the single: “Taking Mat’s field recordings that captured the emotion of coming out of COVID-19 lockdowns and adding vocals and synth melodies to them was a refreshing and inspiring process. Furthermore, working together to shape the soundscape into something more elaborate really brought out a vivid story. We look forward to more collaborations in the future, and more live performances as well.”

Rodenberg and Tsuchiya often collaborate on audiovisual projects both within and outside VCUarts Qatar. In early May 2024, they performed a full-dome audio-visual project, ‘Mirroring the Sky,’ at the prestigious MUTEK.AE festival of electronic music and digital creativity in Dubai. Mirroring the Sky explores the meditative aspects of light reflection and refraction as discovered in the natural terrains of Qatar. 

VCUarts Qatar’s IMS has everything from an editing suite and virtual reality station to a multi-purpose production studio, vocal recording booth, professional photo studio, and a synthesizer library.     

The IMS is dedicated to extended media education, the research of emerging technologies and creative exploration. The facility also offers various workshops in video production, interactive arts, and sound design for our students, faculty, staff and alumni.