Culture Recordings is an innovative poetry/spoken word record label run by Robin Peters, Liam Relph and Sam Jackson. Culture seek out poets and sound artists as audio art collaborators, adding production, artwork and direction into the mix.

In 2021 they launched the Soundscape Poetry Project, turning page poems into mixed-media masterpieces. I was lucky enough to work with Culture Recordings on two poems: a sci-fi micronightmare called The Ear Fields and a frantic Steinian glitch track, Lorum Ipsum. The final tracks, expertly enhanced, mixed and heightened by the Culture crew, were released on green gatefold vinyl (swoon), accompanied by stunning art books documenting the project and profiling the artists involved.

The LP featured the brilliant Safiya Kinshasa, Rachel Boast, Malaika Kegode and Jakabol, and Tim Turnbull. It was a hell of a cast to join.

Culture's mission is "to create an experience and environment where artists are valued for their talent and dedication, rather than merely credited for their work." Working with these dedicated folks and seeing their creativity, skill and sharp instincts in action was a fantastic experience. Here's to more genre-bending, dizzying sensory splashes like these.

Check out the Soundscape Poetry Project. And if you're a poet or storyteller with a flair for audio, submit to their open call for artists.