For years now, there has been vigorous debate in the science world, as to whether or not the Northern Lights make any sound, and whether or not human beings can hear them. I’ve seen the Northern Lights on a few occasions, and have never heard them. But I think that if you could hear them, they’d sound like Sandbox, by Obay Alsharani.
Syrian musician Obay Alsharani escaped the horrors of his homeland and settled in Sweden, where he was instantly captivated by the beauty and mystery of the Northern Lights. His debut album, ‘Sandbox,’ showcases this natural phenomenon and the experience of living in the freezing lands of Scandinavia. He uses lo-fi orchestral samples, field recordings, sweeping electronic sounds and stunning visuals to take the audience straight to the heart of the Arctic.
Obay started making music back in Syria in 2013, fusing old samples of Arabic music with dirty hip-hop beats. He gained a loyal following on Soundcloud, releasing tracks under the name Khan El Rouh. Making music allowed him to escape the terrible things that were happening around him and, when he finally fled Damascus and moved to Sweden, he continued to find refuge in beat making. Here, he also fell in love with Minecraft, becoming heavily influenced by the computer game’s ambient soundtrack, composed by C418. This inspiration, combined with that of the incredible nature he found himself in, led to the creation of ‘Sandbox.’
Described by Obay as “calming and sheltering,” the tracks on Sandbox aren’t so much songs or tunes, as they are vast and atmospheric soundscapes. Hypnotic, haunting, meditative and emotive, Obay has created an album that embraces the listener tightly and shows them the true majesty of his beloved new home.
Opening with ‘Cocoon’, the album instantly transports you to another place. This is music best enjoyed with the lights off and your eyes shut. This is music that demands your full attention. The gentle flow of the melody, the crackling rain-like sound of static, and what I can only describe as the sound of wind across the snow meld together to perfectly encapsulate how it feels to be standing within the Arctic Circle. It’s peaceful, inspiring and a little bit alien. ‘Northern Lights’ is the highlight of the album. The soft, drone embodies the gentle dance of the lights in the sky and instantly propelled me back to Iceland, where I last saw the lights for myself. The track is short and simple, but incredibly moving and filled with a sense of longing and nostalgia.
‘Sighs of a Sea Turtle’ brings us subtly from the sky to the sea, continuing Obay’s trademark drones and coupling them with the sounds of the ocean depths. As dreamy and otherworldly as the other tracks on the album, ‘Sighs of a Sea Turtle’ somehow manages to reflect the huge scale of the ocean, in the same way that ‘Love, Fading’ embodies the vastness of the frozen Arctic Tundra. ‘Speak Your Truth’ throws us out into a universe, in which are just tiny dots.
If the other tracks on Sandbox felt out of this world and took us to somewhat unfamiliar territory, ‘Release’ comes along to bring us back to Earth, opening with beautiful field recordings of birdsong. The birds are left more or left to sing this song themselves, accompanied by a simple bell-like melody and white noise: the crackle of an old VCR, perhaps.
Whilst Obay was experimenting with his new Scandinavian Minecraft sound, he was also playing around with visual art, and became fascinated by video feedback art. The effects created using this method are stunning – bright greens and pinks flicker across a black screen, like a digital aurora. The music in and of itself is ethereal, and should be enjoyed in isolation. But the added visual element allows for an entirely different experience – although you may want to avoid them if you have photosensitive epilepsy.
Sandbox is ethereal. So often do people turn to music in times of crisis or hardship, to seek solace and feel safe. This is an album in which solace can be found in spades. Whether you’re stressed out and need to chill, or you’re sad and need comforting, this album will be there for you. The passion Obay has for the work that he does, and the country he lives in, shines through in every track. Listening to his impressive back catalogue proves just how well he manages to paint vivid pictures of his experiences through his music. He tells a story, creating music that you can hear, feel and see. This isn’t just an album of music. This is a fully immersive work of art.
