For our production of Selkie: Between Land And Sea, the design team led by director Jessika Malone, wanted to create an immersive experience that would appeal to audiences both young and old. The story is about Elin Jean, half Selkie, half-human, trying to find her place in the world. The show takes place in the Orkney Isles, both above and below water. For my sound design, the world of the Selkies was very musical and magical, while the world of the land was more harsh and unforgiving. The music from the land had to be created, while music underwater was an ever-present part of the world.

I have included sounds from:

• Grandpa telling the story of how Duncan (Elin Jean’s father) cares for the pelt of the Selkie woman he captured. This was to be ominous, sad, and yet forward-moving to add tension to the scene. I composed this using Logic loops.

• Grandpa telling of Elin Jean’s descent into the ocean to find the selkies, along with the underwater ambience that follows the tale. The sequence was meant to be frightening and then turn into a magical, amazing environment.

• The final underwater sequence into the seal cull, which Elin Jean stops by revealing herself to her father. This was to be threatening and build the tension. I elected to use a heartbeat pattern in the tribal drumming to create a sense of animal/human fright.

  • The underwater ambience was edited together by my assistant designer, Rachel Herrman; her work is available to be heard at: http://rnherrm.wix.com/rachelherrmansound.