Between 2018 and 2022, New Voices empowered composers at pivotal moments in their careers. To mark its legacy, we’re thrilled to share a new film highlighting the transformative impact of the programme, told through the inspiring story of composer Alice Boyd and her groundbreaking project, From the Understory.
At Sound and Music, we champion the creation and discovery of new sounds that shape the world we live in. As the UK’s charity for new music and sound, we’ve spent over 15 years supporting more than 300 musicians and composers through our initiatives, commissions and transformative artist development programmes.
One such example is New Voices. From 2018 and 2022, we supported 47 composers through a series of 18-month programmes that offered mentoring, coaching, and financial grants to help them bring their visions to life. Each composer’s journey was unique, producing a rich tapestry of works across a wide range of genres, reflecting many of the most exciting elements of new music today. The positive, artist-led impact of this fed directly into the development of In Motion, our new flagship artist development programme.
To celebrate the legacy of New Voices, we created a new film, shining a light on the transformative power of the programme through the story of composer Alice Boyd, film and edited by James Stier.
Alice Boyd: From the Understory (A film by Sound and Music)
Alice Boyd is a London and Bristol-based composer, sound artist and audio producer. Her work primarily explores our interconnectedness with the natural world, often using the voice, ambient electronic textures and novel field recording techniques, which unveil the hidden sounds of our environments.
In 2020, Alice joined Sound and Music’s New Voices programme, marking a pivotal moment in her creative career. We documented Alice’s journey as she prepared for her artist residency and performance at the Eden Project, home to the world’s largest indoor rainforest.
Using hand-made Arduino technology, she captured the subtle changes in conductivity of plants as they photosynthesised, translating these signals into pitch, frequency, and ultimately melody. This innovative approach not only formed the foundation of her Eden Project performance but also inspired her debut EP, From The Understory, produced with support from Sound and Music’s New Voices programme, PRS Foundation’s Women Make Music grant, The Eden Project and Arts Council England.
The EP, released in April 2023, offers a sonic exploration of the plants in the Rainforest Biome, blending technology and art to reflect the intricacies of the natural world (Watch Alice’s live session of her EP, From The Understory).
Alice describes her experience on New Voices as “transformational”, offering her the space and mentorship to shift from theatre-based work to self-led projects during a challenging time for the arts. With sustained support from Sound and Music’s Creative Programme Leaders, mentors and industry experts, she explored the full spectrum of the creative process—from research and composition to live performance.
Her story is one of innovation and resilience—a truly inspiring voice in contemporary music.
Honouring the Legacy of New Voices and Beyond
As we continue to nurture new talent through programmes like In Motion, we also celebrate the legacy of New Voices and beyond through our Alumni Spotlight series. Each month, we showcase the incredible achievements of composers and sound artists who have been part of Sound and Music’s programmes, celebrating the innovation, resilience, and diversity that define their work.
You can stay up to date with news about alumni, programmes, opportunities and events by signing up to our newsletter.
The New Voices programme was made possible thanks to public funding by Arts Council England, the generous support of partners, including Garfield Weston, Vaughan Williams Foundation, The London Community Foundation Cockayne Grant, Esmée Fairbairn Trust and the Garrick Club Charitable Trust, and PRS Foundation as a Talent Development Partner.
Watch the film: Alice Boyd – From the Understory
Read Alice Boyd’s Alumni Spotlight
Follow Alice on Instagram
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