Saisons by Alice Hebborn

Belgian composer Alice Hebborn's debut album, Saisons, is a contemplative journey through sound and nature. It's a deeply personal exploration of humanity’s relationship with the natural world, shaped by Hebborn’s walks in the countryside and her readings on ecofeminism and environmental harmony. Saisons was born out of Hebborn’s move to the countryside in 2021, where her daily immersion in wild landscapes inspired the intricate sonic world of this project. The seven-movement album for piano and electronics does not represent literal seasons, but rather collects impressions of nature as it is today—fluid, unpredictable, and increasingly disrupted by climate change. Pianist Nao Momitani, Hebborn's close collaborator, performs on the album, blending acoustic and electronic textures into a harmonious and organic soundscape.
"Through Saisons, I explore the idea of an ideal where humans live in harmony with nature," Hebborn explains. "I wanted the album to mirror how nature functions: all elements influencing and transforming one another in an interconnected, balanced way." Central to Saisons is Hebborn’s fascination with the micro-details of sound, where every tiny vibration and texture evokes the delicate balance of the natural world. Influenced by readings like Bernie Krause’s The Orchestra of Animals, Hebborn sought to emulate nature’s harmony in sound, creating an interplay between piano and electronics that echoes the fluidity of ecosystems.
Hebborn also draws inspiration from the work of ecofeminist author Starhawk, whose writings on dismantling hierarchical relationships between humans and nature deeply impacted the creation of Saisons. Hebborn elaborates, “In this album, the piano represents the human element, and the electronics represent nature. Throughout the piece, they mutually influence each other without one overshadowing the other. This reflects the world I hope to see created—a world where humans no longer see themselves as separate from nature but as an integral part of it, recognizing the interdependent relationship that binds us to all living beings.”
Saisons is as much a performance piece as it is a recorded work. Having already been performed in contemporary music venues, the live experience unfolds as a continuous 30-minute immersion, with its meditative flow allowing listeners to lose themselves in sound and sensation. The collaborative process with Nao Momitani was integral to the album’s organic feel. Hebborn adds, "Nao and I wanted the music to feel alive, like nature itself. It’s not a rigid composition, but a constantly shifting, breathing piece."
Alice Hebborn has made a name for herself in both the music and theater worlds, with her compositions performed by renowned ensembles such as LAPS Ensemble, Musiques Nouvelles, and Ensemble Fractales. Her debut album marks the next chapter in her creative journey, pushing the boundaries of contemporary music by infusing it with environmental philosophy and sensory intuition.
Saisons is a testament to Hebborn’s deep connection to the world around her and her desire to create music that invites reflection on our place within it. In the words of Pierre Hemptinne for PointCulture: “Hebborn creates a fragile stability, like clear pond water reacting to the slightest wind, the slightest change of light.”

Belgian composer Alice Hebborn’s Saisons is a meditative album exploring humanity's connection to nature. Inspired by wild landscapes and ecofeminism, the seven-movement work for piano and electronics, performed with Nao Momitani, blends acoustic and electronic textures to evoke the delicate balance of ecosystems.