Sound Art/Research/Recordings

I'm currently working on my dissertation through an artist practice-led doctorate program in London, England. My research focuses on sound art, alternative musical instrument interfaces, and the impact of gender in these fields.

Doctorate ongoing (expected 2028): U of Hertfordshire, Sound Art

MFA: Sound Arts 2019

Thesis: A Study in Contrasts: Prepared Instruments and Audio-Visual Composition

Studied with Marina Rosenfeld, Morton Subotnick

B.A. Art History 2002

Artist Statement

Landeau is a guitarist and sound artist whose work is brashly experimental and multidisciplinary, spanning the gamut from unorthodox solo guitar compositions to whimsical bespoke “instruments” that combine cheap electronics, mundane objects, and electroconductive materials (fabric, paint, etc.). 

A primary theme of Sara’s work is the role of contrast in music—how, for example, noise and melody or loudness and softness might interact in a given piece and across various genres.  Also, her music explores long-standing yet decidedly unstable notions of what defines a feminine sound (quiet, slow, soothing, etc.) or a masculine sound (loud, fast, distorted, etc.); and how these stereotypes of texture and timbre are ripe for subversion (or at least a sustained examination).

The instruments Sara builds are visually arresting creations made from fabric, wire, electroconductive thread and paint, tea towels, and a host of other diverse, easily sourced materials. These homemade synthesizers are potent vehicles for presenting contrast among ideas of gendered sound, such as delicate interfaces/components (doilies, flowers, and other objects coded as “feminine”) that produce harsh, dissonant sounds (metal pipes, amp feedback). They also showcase Sara’s wit and collective/D.I.Y. spirit—anyone can play these instruments to some degree, and they’re typically presented in a venue that encourages audience participation. 

Sara’s guitar compositions expand the instrument’s limitations with pedals and prepared guitars, among other deviations from the basic instrument; and sometimes incorporate such unlikely instruments as dog toys, hair spray, and a sewing machine—which resonate in ways no standard musical device ever could. The hairspray, for example, is associated with Sara’s youth, and the defiant punk look that was part of her identity. Some of the contrasts that mark her compositions include pairing classic fingerpicking with the acute use of pedals or playing intricate figures against immersive soundscapes. . 

Sara Landeau has forged a distinctive musical vision, built on a foundation of technical skill, broad experience, and sheer ingenuity; which has led to her uniquely eclectic and ever-expanding achievements.

Email: info@saralandeau.com