In Alaska by Saapato

In Alaska, the latest effort from Saapato and first for AKP Recordings, is a sweeping study of abundance, grandeur, intrusion, and the weight of what may soon be lost. Weaving panoramic hydrophone recordings with supple synth melodies and textures, In Alaska renders seven site specific compositions that feel as vast as the land they came from.

Created during a residency with Alaska State Park Service in August of 2023, Saapato spent the days exploring and capturing field recordings around Juneau, the nights composing. “A lot of my process is following a thread of feeling and letting that guide me,” shares Saapato. “I would sit listening to the field recordings and improvising over them while looking out over the channel where the moon hung above the water. I wanted the music to breathe as widely as the landscape while maintaining the ongoing interruptions of cruise ships, helicopters, and tourists.”

By allowing the music to mirror the immensity of the land the compositions emerged less fragile than previous work, more expansive, and almost symphonic in scope. The work is driven by circumstance, entropy, evolving textures, and morphing sonic landscapes. It layers field recordings of whales, water, wind, birds, fish, and boats with synthesizers pulled through a whole mess of guitar pedals. Dreamy passages are juxtaposed with recordings of sightseeing helicopters, whale watching boats, and massive cruise ships. Despite the weight of humanity the compositions remain buoyant, expanding and contracting with the landscape.

A modern addition into the strong lineage of environmental/new age records helmed by torchbearers Steve Halpern, Steve Roach, Don Slepian, and Bearns & Dexter, In Alaska conceptually falls in line with the larger body of work Saapato has been chiseling away at for the past few years; highlighting changing forms, deconstruction, decomposition, resynthesizing, and collage while reimagining space and time.

“The Alaskan soundscapes revealed extremes; a celebration of abundance and a warning of its fragility. Holding these simultaneously I've never felt more in awe of nature and disgusted with humanity’s impact."


Written, recorded and mixed by Saapato
Mastered by Ben Etter

Thanks to the Alaska State Park Service for giving me the opportunity to create this sonic artifact in one of the most beautiful places I have ever witnessed.
Thanks to Ari for joining me on the journey, documenting the trip on video, and for her endless support of my work.
Thanks to Kevin for taking us out on his boat, The C-Frog to explore places that are truly remote and wild.
Thanks to Scott and Peter for their belief in this project and releasing the album.
Thanks to Connor, Gil, and Jesse for their feedback and creative partnership.
And thanks to you for listening.

AKP043

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