British Council supports international music project capturing sounds of Uzbekistan’s climate-threatened Aral Sea

The British Council has lent its support to an international music initiative that utilizes field recordings from Uzbekistan's Aral Sea, a body of water significantly impacted by climate change, to explore the repercussions of one of the planet's most dramatic environmental transformations.

Once the fourth-largest lake globally and a hub for a thriving fishing industry, the Aral Sea has experienced a roughly 90 percent reduction in its water volume over the past six decades. In Muynak, formerly a bustling port, the sea's recession has left behind an expansive desert landscape and the now-iconic "cemetery of ships."

With assistance from the British Council and in close collaboration with Uzbek artists, Quinn Whalley, a member of the UK electronic duo Paranoid London, journeyed to the region. His aim was to capture the sounds of this altered environment, from the wind sweeping across the exposed seabed to the abandoned vessels that remain.

These recordings will become part of "Two Seas," an ambitious international arts collaboration. This project merges the sounds of the Aral Sea with field recordings from Finland's Bothnian Bay, where melting ice is similarly transforming a distinct environment.

Collectively, the recordings narrate a compelling story about two distinct consequences of environmental change: one sea receding into a desert, and the other gradually losing its frozen character.

"Two Seas" is a collaborative effort between Shambala Festival, Uzbekistan's Stihia Festival, and EarthSonic, the flagship climate program of In Place of War. The resulting work will debut as a specially commissioned live audiovisual performance at Shambala Festival, followed by a global release alongside a documentary film.

The project will culminate in a headline audiovisual performance at Shambala’s Data Mine venue, integrating the new compositions with immersive visuals created by Matt Black (Coldcut/Ninja Tune) and Ben Sheppe (The Observatory).

This collaboration also forms part of a broader international exchange among independent festivals and cultural organizations. The exchange investigates how creative events can address the climate crisis, focusing on sharing expertise in sustainable festival production, community engagement, and artist development. It also aims to develop resilient business models for independent cultural organizations operating in environmentally challenging regions.

Tom Sweet, Senior Music Relationship Manager at the British Council, stated: "It’s been a privilege to help bring together respected Uzbek and UK cultural organisations and support artists from both countries to collaborate, respond to and highlight the environmental impact of man-made actions on the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan. We hope that the partnerships formed during this project continue and inspire further work raising environmental awareness through music and the wider arts."

Odil Mukhamedov, Executive Producer of Stihia, commented: "For Stihia, the Aral Sea - Muynak in particular - has always been more than a place; it is the reason our festival exists. Sharing this landscape with artists from East to West, and transforming its sounds into music, is a powerful reminder that nature connects us all, regardless of borders. We believe cultural collaboration can inspire conversations, empathy and actions that transcend borders."

Sidharth Sharma, Creative Director of Shambala Festival, remarked: "Shambala, EarthSonic and Stihia operate on the front lines of cultural response to a changing world. By bringing these worlds into dialogue, we aren't just making music - we're documenting a changing planet while sharing ideas that can help independent festivals adapt and thrive in the face of climate change."

Following its premiere, the music created through "Two Seas" will be released via EarthSonic’s record label. This will be accompanied by a documentary chronicling the collaboration and bringing the stories of the Aral Sea and Bothnian Bay to audiences worldwide.

Shambala Festival is scheduled to take place from August 27–30, 2026, at Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens in Northamptonshire.