Transmissions
XMTR Festival 26: Mussel Memory
Caitlin Kennedy (UK, 2026)
Caitlin Kennedy (UK, 2026)
10 min
What is life like for the UK's longest lived species? Freshwater pearl mussels can live to 150 years old, grow half the length of your arm and have to hitch a ride to the gills of a salmon as juveniles. But how do they experience the world? And could it help us reverse their decline if we engage in the difficult work of putting ourselves in their shoes. During this workshop we will collectively create short sonic pieces (through field recording, writing and sound design) that muse on the lives of this little known species. You’ll find out about their fascinating lifecycle, drum up ideas as a group, then create 1-2 minute pieces that respond to a life so different from our own.
Produced by Caitlin Kennedy
Part of a workshop at the XMTR festival Audio 2026