The Sound Session Podcast: The Intoxicating & Enchanting Power Of Audio

There is a torrent of wish casting about video in podcasting. The ascent and insertion of YouTube into podcasting has proven that video people have always perceived audio podcasting as an underachiever. To YouTube, audio-only podcasting is only appropriate for the visually impaired. They continually ask, "Why wouldn't any listeners want to see their podcast host and guest?"

Despite the video arrogance of YouTube, audio podcasting is much like a Russian nesting doll. As you open boxes, you find more benefits and perks from audio podcasting than you thought possible.  

Thankfully, a new indie podcast from The Sound Boutique called The Sound Session delves into the creative and critical role sound plays in our lives. This new podcast casts a wide sonic net, ranging from music and podcasting to storytelling, technology, and culture.

Hosted by audio producer and composer Gareth Davies, each episode features conversations with artists, audio professionals, and thinkers who are shaping the future of sound across media. Whether you're creating with sound or simply fascinated by its possibilities, The Sound Session offers ideas, insight, and inspiration for anyone working in the sonic space.

The podcast, which began in late June, starts with a trailer that asks questions that hit at the core of audio's effectiveness as a sensory device. In the trailer, Gareth Davies asks a series of existential questions about audio: "What happens when sound is the story? When a world comes alive, and you're in it. When does the silence hit harder than a visual jump cut, and a voice alone can make you cry?"

Davies continues: "What can sounds do that words and visuals can't? How does sound shape the world, and how can we shape sound?"

In the first episode, appropriately titled -- What can sound do that words or visuals can't? -- Davies interviews guest audio drama director Ella Watts.  She starts by describing her favorite sound, which is a violin bow drawn across a sword. Her favorite sound in nature is the dropping chunks of ice on frozen lakes. Classically, she loves the sound of the ocean, waves crashing on the shore.

This episode delves into the enchanting world of audio storytelling, exploring how sound can create emotional depth and immerse listeners in ways that leave visuals behind.

Host Gareth Davies summarizes the episode this way: "I chat with audio drama director and producer Ella Watts, who shares her insights on the unique power of sound to evoke empathy and imagination. We discuss how audio can dissolve boundaries of perception and bias, allowing for a more intimate connection with characters, regardless of their backgrounds. As we journey through Ella's creative process, we uncover how sound can shape narratives and stir emotions, proving that in the realm of storytelling, sound is not just an accompaniment - it's the heart of the experience."

In the episode, Watts says, "Sound is a medium that invites the listeners to suspend their belief in a way that is more intimate and extreme than individuals."

Watts notes, "There is an intoxicating and enchanting power of audio to bring listeners along for the ride." 

 In the second episode, released on July 3rd, Davies sits down with Dr. Neil Bruce, a composer, sound designer, and lecturer in sound design at the School of Digital Arts in Manchester, to delve into the world of immersive sound.  Host and guest explore how immersive audio transcends the typical buzzwords, emphasizing the importance of paying deeper attention to our sonic environments. Neil Bruce shares insights on how spatial audio can enhance narrative experiences, while also discussing its challenges and the emotional resonance that sound can evoke.

As a host, Gareth Davies hits all the right notes, with a voice that can polish even the roughest surface, and an inquisitive tone that can incite curiosity in any listener. The first two episodes average about 25 minutes, with crisp editing and a smooth flow.

The Sound Boutique smartly doesn't miss a chance to monetize, selling its services, such as podcast music, at the ad breaks. The self-made ads are crisp and to the point, favoring fact over hyperbole. 

Gareth Davies has an excellent Substack called Podcasting People, and he recommends going to thesoundsession.uk to listen, subscribe, or even send in your favorite sound.

The Sound Session isn't simply a clarion call to arms for audio podcasters. The show explores the impact of sound on us from both scientific and artistic perspectives.