We have recorded one full hour at each location to provide an authentic representation of the soundscapes. You can listen to them on this website. They are also available as a playlist on Spotify, so you can bring along the sounds of Skåne in your pocket.
More recordings from additional locations in Skåne will be added over time.
Why did we make it?
Noise pollution is a widespread problem in Europe. The European Environment Agency estimates that at least 20% of Europeans are exposed to road traffic noise levels that harm their health. Furthermore, 22 million people in Europe suffer from chronic high annoyance, and 6.5 million people suffer from chronic high sleep disturbance.
The absence of noise has positive effects on quality of life and mental health. According to the World Health Organization, noise is the second largest environmental cause of health problems, just after the impact of air pollution.
Sweden has 10 times more quiet places than for example Germany, and we see no reason to be shy about bragging about it. Skåne is a great place to experience the peacefulness of the countryside, which is known as quietude. And since Skåne is the southernmost part of Sweden, all is at a convenient distance for Europeans traveling by train.
How to listen to 60 minutes of “nothing”
Sometimes there is a lot of sound in nature, and sometimes there is less. The sounds can be varied or monotonous. Remember not to listen at too high a volume, as the loudness in your headphones will not accurately reflect the natural sounds of these peaceful places.
How we made the recordings
The sounds from these hand-picked places were recorded in Skåne during May, June, August and September 2024. We used two microphones with blimp windshields. The microphones were set up far apart to capture the broadest possible sound. For example, you can sometimes hear a bird chirping in one ear but not in the other.
We have recorded the sound just as it was when we visited the places. Sometimes the weather was sunny and still and sometimes it rained.
We measured the decibel levels at each location on the map for an entire hour and provided the average figure for each. However, keep in mind that these averages alone don't tell the whole story.
The sounds were recorded in 24-bit quality.
Enjoy.
