Found Sound Nation

Found Sound Nation (FSN) is an eclectic group of artists who have a strong sense of social engagement. Working with people across the globe, FSN uses the expressive power of music, audio, and video production to give voice to underrepresented communities, unlock the creative potential of at-risk youth, and build bridges between communities separated by cultures, economic disparities, and geography. The work of FSN emphasizes a mobile, accessible, collaborative way of recording and producing professional quality music, a technique developed by combining the innovative art music traditions of Bang on a Can with traditions of musique concréte, hip hop, and contemporary composition. Our method is highly adaptable to different environments; it draws its strength from working and recording in different spaces, drawing upon the musicians from the local scene, and the sounds of the local atmosphere.

Since its inception in 2009, Found Sound Nation has led site-specific projects in New York City, India, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Italy, Switzerland and Haiti and recently received an award from the U.S. Department of State to produce OneBeat, an international music exchange which will bring together innovative musicians from around the world to compose, produce and perform original music. The Found Sound Nation crew are active teaching artists with the Weill Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, were awarded the 2011 PopTech Social Innovation Fellows Award, and recently lead the Social Entrepreneurship Panel at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University.