Immersive ambient from one of Russia's most exciting young composers.
The next instalment in the Theory Therapy series comes from a particularly special selector, Russia's Sophia Zhuravkova.
Sophia adores nature and it clearly shines through in all of her work. In what seems like a very short space of time, the composer has established herself as one of the most impressive young ambient artists to emerge from Russia in recent years. In 2020, she captivated us with an appearance on Stay in Bed Vol.2—released on DJ Earl Grey's Best Effort Records— put out her debut LP Unseen on Prins Emanuel's excellent Ny Agenda imprint and then gifted us with the expansive Obstacles in October. Like the best ambient producers, her music expertly balances background and foreground. Field recordings—from spoken word and white noise to the soft lapping of waves—intersect with more melodic passages: reverberant drones, diffuse pads and the occasional acoustic instrument.
The same can be said of her Theory Therapy mix. It replicates the experience of being somewhere special—like the stillness of an empty park or a rainy city sunrise after a night out. Sonically, it is both intimate and immersive; synths, dronescapes and haunting vocals pull you into where it was recorded: in the warm confines of her home during a wintry day in Kiev. So put the kettle on and get comfortable; this is music made to be listened to closely.
How are you today?
I am observing and living. It's been a pretty rough wave but I'm happy despite going through some difficult things.
Can you tell us a little bit about the mix? What were you feeling when you made it?
When I started sorting all the tracks together, I wanted to capture the purity of things that no longer belong to you. A beautiful empty space or the thought to plant and grow new trees.
Where did you record the mix?
At my flat in Kyiv where I’m living right now.
What would be the ideal setting to listen to it?
Near a nature reserve or at home.
Are there any tracks you’ve used in the mix that are special or significant to you?
Yes. All the songs remind me of a comfortable and quiet, safe place. A place you may find within yourself or somewhere else. The songs are clear, like a deep exhale.
Theory Therapy mixes are often about calming or relaxing the listener in some way. Is there a particular album, song or mix that you find yourself returning to for a similar reason?
Yes, there are many songs if we are talking about calming down. Sometimes I just listen to the sounds of whales, forests and waves. Women’s voices and acoustic instruments usually calm me down. Now I often listen to Księżyc, Eli Keszler, Kara Lis Coverdale’s ‘X 4EWI’ off her Aftertouches LP and Grouper’s Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill. One song by Kali Malone, 'Cast of Mind', opens my eyes every time. Basically, I prefer minimalistic drone or ambient like ‘Just Lay Down and Forget It’ by Kevin Drumm or Tim Hecker snippets. There was a month where I only listened to Vindkaldr’s Enchantments Of Old Lore. It was my anti-phobia pill. This album makes me deeply trust everything that happens around me. Some of these songs have been following me for a really long time. They mean so much to me.
What do you have planned for 2021?
Oh, I have a lot to do. But the plan is to let it all go. I hope everything will come true. I want to travel every season and I really miss playing live somewhere. I can't say my plans out loud because the universe has plans for me too.
Tracklist:
Kevin Drumm - Cloudy [Editions Mego]
Biosphere - From a Solid to a Liquid [Biophon Records]
Rhucle - Warm Winter Day [rohs! Records / Lontano Series]
Stijn Hwels - Badkamerlicht [Vaagner]
CL Lobbestael - Saturation [A R C H I V E]
Space Afrika - Canu [Ghostly International]
Hirotaka Shirotsubaki - Byakuya [Shakuya Records]
HRNS - (225°, 73%, 57%) (Wim Dehaen Remix) [ACR]
Celer - A Lighter Dimmed Object [No Label]
HTRK - Over the Rainbow [Boomkat Editions]
Jake Muir - Fleeting Touches [sferic]
Ultrafog - Coming Through the Haze [Solitude Solutions]
Michiru Aoyama - Drawing [Bullflat3.8]