Michael Gunson

Composed and produced the original score for The Hive, a large-scale audiovisual light installation premiered at World of Winter Festival 2024. The work explored themes of collective consciousness and organic systems through synchronized light and immersive sound design. The composition responded dynamically to the visual architecture of the installation, creating an enveloping, multi-sensory experience for festival audiences.

• Developed a site-specific ambient score using generative techniques and layered textures
• Collaborated with visual artists and lighting designers to ensure sonic-visual cohesion
• Created adaptive sound elements to interact with programmed light sequences and spatial dynamics
• Delivered high-resolution multi-channel audio optimized for outdoor installation environments
• Contributed to one of Australia’s leading public art festivals, engaging thousands of attendees

Designed and led a community-engaged music production workshop focused on field recording and ambient soundscape composition with local First Nations children. The workshop introduced participants to creative sound practices, guiding them through the process of capturing environmental sounds and transforming them into an original collaborative piece. Emphasis was placed on listening, storytelling, and cultural respect through sound.

• Facilitated hands-on sessions in field recording, digital audio editing, and ambient composition
• Supported creative expression through sound-based storytelling, rooted in connection to place
• Provided technical instruction in software and equipment use (e.g., recorders, DAWs, effects)
• Encouraged a collaborative and culturally safe environment for artistic exploration
• Produced a final ambient work incorporating participant recordings, premiered locally

Performed a live debut of Angel Hours, an original EP blending ambient, experimental club, and emotive electronic textures. The set was part of the internationally recognized Positive Education Festival, known for its focus on boundary-pushing electronic music. The performance featured immersive sound design, live arrangement, and real-time manipulation of audio to translate the EP’s emotional narrative into a dynamic live experience.

• Adapted studio compositions for a live performance format using hardware and DAW-based systems
• Executed a solo live set incorporating sampling, synthesis, and spatial audio techniques
• Contributed to the festival’s artistic programming as an emerging international act
• Engaged a diverse audience with a performance rooted in emotional resonance and sonic experimentation
• Developed visual and atmospheric elements to complement the sound and enhance audience immersion

Collaborated with a harpist and electronic producer Lovefear to deliver a genre-blending live performance as part of the Perth Festival. The project fused live harp, ambient textures, and experimental electronic production, showcasing original compositions and improvisational elements. Responsible for designing and performing a live electronic set, integrating hardware and software-based instruments to create an immersive audiovisual experience.

• Co-developed and rehearsed a dynamic live set integrating acoustic and electronic soundscapes
• Operated live synthesis, sampling, and effects processing during performance
• Coordinated with fellow performers to ensure cohesive musical transitions and artistic direction
• Contributed to stage design, lighting cues, and sound reinforcement planning
• Engaged with a diverse festival audience, enhancing visibility of experimental electronic performance