Sunshine Diaries by Francesca Ter-Berg

Sunshine Diaries is a series of ambient sonic experiments that interweaves field recordings and found sounds with cello. Written and produced by Francesca Ter-Berg, it was recorded solely through a Fender Reverb Deluxe, using only the fx available on the amp itself (an amp that was kindly leant to her by a generous studio neighbour Henry Gabbot in Fire Eye Land, Margate, during the bitingly cold winter of 2021, deep in to the pandemic time warp, the UKs 2nd lockdown, where she was allowed to go to her studio as her place of work).

Originally created as a bespoke soundtrack for an interactive video game named ‘Memory Palace Thanet’ by Umut Gunduz and Anna Skutley, for a Turner Contemporary Digital Commission, Francesca is releasing this body of work under its new name Sunshine Diaries to reflect a moment in time right at the beginning of the pandemic where she wandered around slowly capturing sounds and images in the then slightly unfamiliar surroundings of Margate.


From the commonly heard sound of seagulls (and baby seagulls!) to scratchy tin cans blowing in the wind, sparse night traffic, a chance micro-rave gathering by the seafront, underwater sonic worlds, boats and building work, Sunshine Diaries captures the magic and desolation of the Margate sea scape during an unprecedented period of isolation, searching and curiosity.


Throughout the 14 tracks, named after known Margate locations, plants and moments of congregation, Francesca gently portrays her lockdown wonderings, captured and presented through the manipulation of field recordings collected via various techniques including handheld recorder, boom mics and hydrophones. Combining her sonic findings with wistful melodies Sunshine Diaries evokes a place both other worldly and deeply isolating.


Videos taken during the same time period of Spring 2020 accompany the soundtrack. Watch them here:


Written, recorded and produced by Francesca Ter-Berg
Mastered by Daniel Gouly


#ambient #soundtrack #cello #margate

Francesca is a cellist and composer known for blending improvisation, Klezmer and experimental electronics to create a unique mesmeric sound world. Her debut EP 'In Eynem' (Phantom Limb/ Spirituals) was Bandcamp Experimental Album of the Month. One half of critically acclaimed duo Fran & Flora, she regularly performs live internationally and across the UK solo and in numerous guises.