Sound Project Final Edit
Escaping the Grind
By Emily Boucher
Found Sound, Foley, and Feild Recordings
Sound Project Statement + Reflection
Statement:
Picture this: I’m drowning in the corporate grind, surrounded by the constant hum of printers, keyboards clacking like they’re plotting against me, and endless meetings that seem designed to sap your will to live. One day, after yet another meaningless phone call, I decided enough was enough. I quit, packed up, and set off on a whirlwind trip to Asia with my family—leaving the cubicle life behind.
This sound project is the journey from that moment of burnout to the chaotic freedom of travel. It starts with the suffocating noise of office life, then shifts to the sounds of trains, bustling Osaka streets, and vending machines dispensing tiny cans of joy. I even tried my hand at a claw machine—spoiler alert: I lost, big time.
And just when you think I’ve reached blissful peace on a beach in Japan, waves lapping gently, there it is—a ringtone. The unmistakable reminder that work has a way of sneaking back in, even when you think you’ve escaped.
Reflection:
This sound project was inspired by me experience of leaving the corporate world and embracing life’s unpredictability during a two-month trip through Asia with my family. My goal was to create a soundscape that captures the journey from burnout to freedom, while also reflecting the reality that work always lingers. I wanted listeners to move with me through the stress of the office to the excitement of travel, highlighted by the sounds of city streets, vending machines, and my ill-fated attempt at a claw machine.
Most of the sounds are field recordings I took while traveling—long before I even knew what foley was. I was naturally drawn to the small sounds around me: the click of coins, the hum of vending machines, and the mechanical beeps of claw machines. These field recordings shaped the foundation of my project and made the process feel personal and immersive.
To stay organized during the creative process, I broke the project into five scenes and made each one separately in Adobe Audition. Once I was happy with each scene, I exported the media files and pieced them all together. This approach helped me manage the complexity of the soundscape and allowed me to focus on perfecting each part. Ultimately, the project reflects not just my journey, but the sense of discovery and the balance between chaos and calm that comes with exploring new places.
