I received the equipment that Kate used to create her multidisciplinary art. In honor of Kate and those who knew her, I have decided to publish a step-by-step guide to using the loops, microphones, and mixers that once belonged to her. I will continue to seek other ways to honor Kate. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to know this remarkable artist, but perhaps now I will come to know her through the artistic legacy she left behind.

Thank you, Matthieu, and thank you to the members of Bred in the Bone Theatre Company

Kate Radford was “multi-award winning artist, poet, and performer. Rooted in using words and sounds as a seismic catalyst for shifting cultural narratives that have prophesied women’s lives, and transferring psychic shadows into light. Influences include mythology, philosophy on literature and word, somatic practices, ritual practice and land practice in combination with technology and contemporary art.”

She took her own life in 2021. She was only 32 years old. 

Process Music...

Not only for those who have unexpectedly lost someone close.

These Are Purely Improvisations

Inner energy
Sonic Stillness - improv
Arabian Night
Instant Composition
Breaking
Voices
Evoke Memories...
Ahead U-turn
Tradition to Modernity
Journey...
Night Soundtrack
Nowhere
It's Just A Road
Ups & Downs
Longing
35. September 18th, 2024 Wrocław

I recommend using headphones

Eintwined

Two flutes and a simple frame drum. Dissonances are intentional.

Floods are everywhere around Wroclaw. River levels are high and the wave is coming soon. Tonight on the 18th there will be a peak of the flood wave. It will last for several days. The mayor assures that everything will be fine, but a big test is coming.

34. September 17th, 2024 Wrocław
The Water Is Coming

It is September 2024. Floods have struck areas around Wroclaw. Several towns have already been flooded, and river levels remain dangerously high. A flood wave is approaching, and it is expected to peak in two days. The wave will last for several days. The mayor assures everyone that things will be fine, but a significant challenge lies ahead.

I haven’t published in a long time—life, art, and many things have kept me busy.

33. July 7th, 2024 Wrocław/Tarnów
Sonic Stillness - improv

This was supposed to be a musical rehearsal of long notes. Nothing more, just extended sounds. But I got carried away.

Another month has passed since the last publication. During this time I have been practicing, working, traveling and playing concerts. It is easier and faster for me to record on my digital recorder rather than connect everything to a computer, set it up and so on. I chose one of the recordings I made in Wrocław, cut it in half and into a little more. I adjusted it a little, did a simple mastering and this is the result.

32. May 31st, 2024 Wrocław
Improvisation on Birbyne

I feel like I’m back in Wrocław.

I started by warming up with the instruments, equipment, and space. This time, I received a second Sennheiser e835 dynamic microphone, different from the first one. It belonged to Kate, and Matthieu brought it over. I thought it might help strengthen the sound of my birbyne. The two carefully positioned dynamic microphones created a completely different effect—the sound was much richer and fuller. Finally, my birbyne could be clearly heard!

I didn’t record separate audio for this session. There were just too many things to juggle—haha! The video, along with its accompanying audio, was already challenging enough!

31. May 21th, 2024 Wrocław/Tarnów
Inspiring Failure

Wow, it’s been almost a month since my last recording. I’ve been practicing, but I’ve had no inspiration. I’ve tried to record, but nothing interesting came. So today I decided to present my failure. Earlier in Wrocław I recorded loops on a synthesizer, and while in Tarnów I decided to record whatever came. Luckily I had my Bulgarian kaval.

30. April 15th, 2024 Tarnów
Echoes of Sorrow

This improvised impression is about back pain, which affected me a lot but has now fortunately been overshadowed.

29. April 15th, 2024 Wrocław / Tarnów
Transylvanian Fluier

This is the improv I made some time a go. I created simple background music and started to tune in to it and the magic happened.

It is a Transylvanian flute, where the reed/whistle is located in the opposite direction (opposite to the other holes). Thanks to this, playing on windy days, in the mountains where the wind interferes with normal flutes (recorder) will not disturb the player. I use the traditional Transylvanian way with the lower lip technique. This way the sound is nicely distorted and has a specific sound. The lip also bends the pitch and the tuning becomes more difficult. I love this way of playing because I feel in tune with the instrument.

28. April 8th, 2024 Tarnów
The Window Sill’s Secret

This is a synthetic window sill, or rather, a remnant of one. It has oblong chambers inside with holes that have a rectangular cross-section. You have to focus deeply and sense it for the sound to begin flowing. Once it does, focus, concentration, and projection can alter the sound. This happens because the rectangular tube is almost 3 meters long, and even the subtlest changes affect the sound.

P.S.
My work on-site is finished. I’m heading to Bratislava for the ‘SACRUM’ performance, then returning home to Wroclaw 🙂

27. March 24th, 2024 Tarnów
Emerging Tranquility

The creation of Emerging Tranquility came as a welcome relief. While managing the effects of immunosuppressive drugs, I found myself more at ease during this improvisation. Reflecting on last weekend’s piece, Soulful Solace, I originally planned to address the unclarity at its start. However, as I worked with the piano and explored the “Sitar Soundtrack Pad,” a new musical path began to emerge. What began as a simple adjustment transformed into a serene, meditative composition. The music flowed effortlessly, offering a sense of calm and clarity—a true journey towards tranquility, both musically and personally.

26. March 16th, 2024 Tarnów
Dissonant Healing

I’m not sure if these sounds hold any listening value. Improvising them was my way of coping with the storm of energy tearing through me. I leaned into dissonance, letting it mirror the imbalance caused by the immunosuppressant.

I took two days off work because I didn’t feel right. On the third day, still under the drug’s effects, it twisted my mind and body, causing aches in places I didn’t know could hurt. Playing any instrument softens the edges—it’s the only thing that helps. So I had to play.

These musical fragments are glimpses. I’m unsure if they’re listenable or enjoyable. I’ll decide later if they stay or vanish.

25. March 7th, 2024 Tarnów
A Muffled...

Still in the small… town… the construction site… blue tape creating through my skills perfect line of life… dividing? connecting? Line that on the cardiac monitor shows no life. Makes me live even more in the moment… makes me be nowhere but there…the wall from which I can bounce back but if I literally do that, I will fall bad… The very tall walk. My legs are strong of wood lifts me up with ladder – this is the construction soloist.

24. March 6th, 2024 Tarnów
Doubt It...

This one word – “doubt” – explains everything.
These are purely improvisations…

23. March 2nd, 2024 Tarnów
Obscure

Saturday, after a week of the unknown—
a lonely togetherness, where body and mind drift.
Can I still play?
An instrument in my hands, yet no sound reaches—
joy, but not from creation.

In the moment—
it’s never easy when the world begs you
to choose a side, a falsehood,
splitting us all apart.

But then—
I pause,
listen to the silence within,
and from it, this arose.

22. February 26th, 2024
Unraveling

I’ve been practicing but haven’t recorded anything yet—nothing felt ready. Today, however, something emerged from my improvisation rehearsal, and this is just a small portion of it. I might add more later, or who knows what inspiration will bring.

21. February 14th, 2024
For this experience, I invite you to listen with closed eyes and headphones, letting the sound envelop you fully.
La Llorona by Ditte Berkeley

This time, I’m sharing a piece where I felt compelled to add a touch of color—a spontaneous impulse that transformed the song. It is a Spanish piece, beautifully sung in the rehearsal space by the incredible artist and singer, Ditte Berkeley. She captured it on her mobile phone, a raw and intimate moment.

What you’ll hear is the version with my added color, followed by the untouched, original recording. It’s pure impulse, a creation born from feeling.

Enjoy the journey.

20. January 31, 2024 - Tarnów

Working 9 hours a day at the construction site, in my free time I am preparing for a performance that will take place in Bratislava in about 5 days. I took the Bulgarian Kaval, which is an instrument you have to practice on due to the lack of a mouthpiece. First I used my phone with a simple drone. Then I made a simple, synthetic sound background and played Kaval. There was a feeling not of practice but of concentration on sounds and the timbre of sound… and so the practice turned into meditation

19. January 28, 2024 - An Imaginary Place

It heat me so strong. I had to speak to get out of my system. I am not a poet.. But this time i had to speak.

18. January 21, 2024 - Tarnów

Return to Tarnów. I’m trying to work on Arabic rhythms and scala for a change. I tried this for several days. Immerse yourself in Arabic rhythm and scale. I couldn’t record my own drums (too loud), so I had to use one free Looperman. I prepared loops and melodies and improvised what you can hear on this basis.

17. January 14, 2024 - Wrocław

I came to Wrocław for a few days and this morning I felt that I had to play an instrument. I came across a Romanian shepherd’s flute. I started playing and immediately realized that it would be nice to have music as a background. Fortunately, I had a laptop and an audio recorder that could act as an audio interface, so I set up the recording equipment, layered some ground sounds and wind instruments, and started improvising on the Romanian flute.
My mood improved very quickly and this was created – it’s more of an expression than a composition.
I hope these sounds soothe your soul.

" ". January 8, 2024 - Tarnów
Musicality of technical equipment.

While I was working, I noticed this piece of pipe and immediately knew it would produce a good sound. I now have it ready to use in my next creation.

16.2. January 7, 2024 - Tarnów

Instant Composition is when you compose at the moment. That happened on 04 Jan 2024.  This composition is part of it but reedited. 

Honestly it was to long even after reedition so I did another edit and now is even shorter 🙂

It is exploring my mood after not so grate days. I have been effected by my weekly medicine (I have to take it for my health) Sometimes it hits me strong… this time it did and it kept me days.

After it was too long I split it for two parts. This is the second part of Ups & Downs #16

16.1. January 4, 2024 - Tarnów

It’s Instant Composition. I made it by exploring my mood after not so grate day. I have been effected by my weekly medicine (I have to take it for my health) 

After it was too long I split it for two parts. The second part is 16.2 Not Know.

If you walk? If you cook? Maybe watching landscape…Then maybe it will be good to listen to.

15. January 1, 2024 - Tarnów

Happy New Year.
Long time no see.
I have been working hard in construction. Besides, it was a Christmas and New Year celebration. I am still trying to find my musical space in between construction work that I do for get in building practice and getting familiar with the room where I can make music (the same room is my bedroom 2 x 6 meters) This creation is fare from what I wish to create but I said to myself enough is enough lets create, practice and record and polish it a bit and gave to the listening. I am really trying to know your feelings and reactions to what I am doing. I am the one who create my own website and I didnt find yet how to place the comment box. I will do it, I hope soon.

Instruments:
Transverse bamboo flute, Bulgarian kaval, Lithuanian Birbyne,  looper rc-505, Ableton live

14. December 10, 2023 - Wrocław

I listen to the time loops I recently created and inspiration comes. I clean up existing loops by recording them again. I added the hi-hat as a rhythmic base and started improvising…

Tomorrow I travel to another part of Poland. Tarnów, Kraków

Instruments:
Travel African kora, transverse bamboo flute, Bulgarian kaval, looper rc-505…

13. December 7, 2023 - Wrocław

I finally managed to improvise yesterday and today. It’s not easy after a long time. Fingers feel a little heavy. Blowing the instrument, not that. Creativity is sleepy. Yesterday, as a result of improvisation, I created simple loops on the African Travel Kora. Today I added a bamboo transverse flute to the mix as an exercise, warm-up, rehearsal.

I returned to Wrocław for a few days to coordinate a few things. I will return to Tarnów and Krakow next Sunday. There is some renovation and construction work on the horizon for the entire winter, so I will follow the flow. I will make sure that I have time and space within myself and real space to continue exploring gear and music. I would like to start giving concerts as soon as possible – of course.

Instruments:
Travel African kora, transverse bamboo flute, looper rc-505 and my old good macbook pro.

12. November 30, 2023 - Tarnów

Nowhere, but so much here.

After sanding, scrubbing, gluing and painting walls it’s time to warm up. Here I don’t feel comfortable using all my instruments, rather speaking I don’t feel comfortable using louder instruments. This is just a warm-up. We’ll see what happens. For now, I have received two more renovation and painting jobs.

Instruments:
Travel African Kora, sample sound from the keyboard, Looper rc-505 and my old good MacBook pro.

11. November 24, 2023 - Tarnów

After work I switched on Ableton Live and connected the keyboard. “That’s all I had”.
I was looking for some tunes, melodies and midi instruments. There were things coming and going. Whenever I wanted to record the loop (on Ableton this time) ; nothing really worked. It was night so I only have use the “headphones instruments”. At some point I realized the recording was on without my intention. That was odd.  I didn’t even know for how long it was going so I finished my playing in the manner to preserve the loop. There it was a kind of meditating motive! It wasn’t my hand that started the recording, so I thought it was something that needed to be exploited. It was already after 22:00. I was tired and only wanted to rehearse. I add after finding an interesting sound that was close to the vocal chorus. I record something on top using the pitch bend to make it weird. And yes it is weird.

Note: intentional disharmony

10. November 17, 2023 - Tarnów

I felt an impulse to play the kora and set it up with the looper, experimenting in a 7/4 beat. It felt awkward at first, but then something clicked, and I started recording some simple loops to create a basic track. Wanting more layers, I tried out an old piano sample I’d found by chance, which fit beautifully at the beginning and end, adding depth and warmth.

Then, almost by intuition, I felt compelled to include a fragment of Kit Radford’s poem Coming of Age. It was as if she were guiding me to add her words. I found the poem online, played it alongside the track, and it just felt right. Following another impulse, I decided to close with the last line of her poem, which sent a shiver down my spine, confirming that this was the right choice.

This was a spontaneous, heartfelt tribute to Kit and her presence in spirit.

Journey...
9. November 14, 2023 - Wroclaw

A kind of traditional music towards modernity. 

Today for the start I practiced with a frame drum and a looper. Then I have loop it and add bamboo flute with Birbyne. I used the Bulgarian Kaval as a solo instrument, and the beatbox came to me, so I added it and an electronic beat as well.

Instruments:  Frame Drum, Bulgarian Kaval, Bamboo Transverse Flute, Lithuanian Birbyne and 

Looper rc-505, mics: Shure sm 58, ADK Vienna Mk 8

8. November 12, 2023 - Wroclaw

Practice with travel kora and  looper. I have found today a reverse playback, so i used it.

Instruments: Travel kora, Looper rc-505

7. November 11, 2023 - Wroclaw

Today I’m listening to yesterday’s moment of creating the loop and I found it quite moving. I found this cool texture effect and added it to it. Here’s the result. 

ps. While recording the description, I held the microphone in my hand, so there is some distortion.

Instruments:
Bulgarian Kaval, Midi Keyboard, Looper rc-505

6. November 10, 2023 - Wroclaw

This time I’m using a midi keyboard and Looper connected to my computer to find loops that use electronic sounds. This is just a fragment of my research.

Instruments:
Bulgarian Kaval, transverse bamboo flute, Birbyne, Midi Keyboard, Looper rc-505

5. November 8, 2023 - Wroclaw
Voices

I started with a spontaneous practice session using a voice looper. My initial plan was just to practice the kora, but I ended up creating some loops. From there, I improvised, incorporating the kora, my voice, and a bamboo flute, and some music naturally emerged.

Instruments:
African travel kora
Transverse bamboo flute

4. November 7, 2023 - Wroclaw
Instant composition - "Echoes of Air"

A friend asked me to compose or improvise music for his short film. I gladly agreed, finding it a great creative opportunity. I watched the film three times to get a feel for it, then gathered my gear: a voice looper (RC-505), a large diaphragm mic (ADK Vienna MK 8), and some wind instruments, just in case.

I chose the Travel Kora as the main instrument, improvising a theme while watching the film. After recording the roughly five-minute piece, I felt it needed the Birbyne, so I layered it over the Kora track. The Kora took the lead, with the Birbyne adding accents. Finally, I added the Bulgarian caval and bamboo flute to enhance the composition further.

3. November 6, 2023 - Wroclaw
Exercise - Loop Station

This time it’s a video. Natural progression.
I recorded looped tracks using the Travel Kora and then play the loops with Kora live and Birbyne live on top. I still see it as practice. Recording it helps me focus on growing and doing it. I see how video is taking away the practice aspect. (It is good to work on it to)

The sound may be different for you than for me. When I record and listen in my headphones (live), I also hear the sounds of the instruments or my voice coming from through my bones or coming through the headphones. My headphones don’t isolate the outside very well. So, please forgive me if something is not clear, unclean or too quiet.

I hope it’s watchable.

All the best… enjoy…

2. November 3, 2023 - Wrocław

Time for Loop Station 

For the last week I have been working on the Boss RC-505 loop station. More realistically, I took it slowly and with a bit of reservation. I had to flip through the manual, watch tutorials, and something finally clicked in me last night (November 3, 2023).
This is how I managed to use sound effects when creating loops.
I created 5 loop tracks, each of them is my voice processed in real time with some effect. Thanks to this, electronic instruments, strange beatboxes and even a choir were created. One of the many beats implemented in the console can be heard in the background.
This is not a piece of music! This is an exercise!

1. November 1st 2023 - Wroclaw

I worked with the Boss RC-30 two-pedal looper. I last worked on this smaller device 5 years ago. However, I managed to recall the basic functions quite quickly and the result was a short recording. Is this a piece of music? Certainly not!