PLACES by Matthew O'Callaghan

I first started this project as a way to meditate. I've always been a fan of the practice but I always felt like I couldn't take time out of my day to sit down and meditate. I associated meditation with silence, being in a space alone where nothing could distract me, something that doesn't exist. I first tried it one night during a friend's birthday party. At the time, this felt like possibly the worst place for me to meditate, I was surrounded by people yelling in the room next door and cars passing on the street.

Strangely enough, I found myself more at peace in this moment than any other. The sounds around me didn't distract me, instead they took on an ambient role, calming me down and allowing me to listen. Instead of distracting me from meditation, they distracted me from all the noise coming from my mind, allowing me to meditate.

The idea for this album came to me on that balcony: a collection of recordings that showcase the sounds, though unconventional, I've used to meditate. As I recorded more I found new things to take away from each set of sounds. Silence often seems very distant, like the whole world is making noise 24/7, yet even in the busiest places it only takes a few moments to find silence. The reverse can be said for quiet places too. While you might not hear anything around you, that creates space for your mind to fill with thoughts.