Deborah Shaw (Aurora Engine) is a multi instrumentalist, composer, vocalist and producer living in Edinburgh. Her works blend real instruments, voice, found sounds, effects pedals and electronics.
Recent works she has worked closely with nature especially birdsong and bee sounds collecting , responding and manipulating sounds weaving them into new works ‘Terra’ which will be presented at Soundfest 2022.
Deborah was composer-in-residence at Earth In Common in summer 2022 and worked to creatively document through the medium of composition the cultural and social landscape of the earth today. Research took her to the local apiary recording honey bees, the Water of Leith recording birdsong, local beaches collecting waste and observing the tides and inspired this series of sonic portraits. This work will be presented at Scotland’s Soundfest in October 2022 . As part of this work she developed a series of nature inspired sound art workshops for young people.
Recently her process as a composer has seen her take instruments and develop soundscapes and scores blending traditional and extended instrumental and vocal techniques with electronics. Other recent works include 2 cinematic live-scoring commissions from BFI / Film Hub Scotland in partnership with Cinetopia for 2 silent films ‘Seashell and the Clergyman’ and ‘Meshes of an Afternoon,’(July 2022) and a series of fixed media film scores (Spiral Out Pictures, Cinetopia, Hot Aches Productions).
Deborah was recently awarded funding by Creative Scotland to record and release an album under her artist name ‘Aurora Engine’ due to be released later in 2022. She performs with Warp – a contemporary electronic inspired chamber ensemble and ‘Machine Orchid’ and experimental all female trio blending folk, jazz, electronica and improvisation with musicians Emma Lloyd and Caro Overy.
W: auroraengine.com
I: instagram.com/aurora_engine
T: twitter.com/auroraengine
F: facebook.com/auroraengine
