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Fredrika Gullfot
I participated in a week-long residency at Schhh in August 2025. The purpose was experimentation and collaboration between participants, culminating in a mini festival on the last day which was open to the public. We were two resident composers, housed in spacious single rooms in the residency’s guest apartment. The place is particularly well suited for experimentation and exploration of ideas, with a vast and eclectic collection of sound equipment and electronics from the past thirty-forty years up to today. This is no ordinary studio, but rather a temple of creativity that breathes and lives music, art, sound and electronics. The place feels like stepping right into the Swedish history of sound art and EAM. Ann and Sten Olof went out of their way to ensure we could realize our creative ideas, generously sharing both their equipment and network. Also, the place is located in the scenic Österlen region, one of the most beautiful areas in Sweden. The open sea is just a short bike ride away.
Charles Harding
I had a great time participating in the Schhh residency and, although I have some recommendations that would be really helpful for inspiration, I also encourage you to explore things that are new and strange!
- I recommend you utilize the bus system to see some of the surrounding areas. It’s about 25 minutes on the bus to get to Simrishamn, a beautiful coastal town that is great for exploring sound, picking up some groceries, or enjoying some charcuterie at Björn Olsson. I also recommend checking out Ales Stenar, a stone circle located nearby. It’s a really inspiring historical site that gives a good view of the sea and has a few places where you can buy gifts and smoked fish. Also make sure to check out the museum in Ystad. It has an excellent collection of contemporary artworks that could be quite inspiring for your project.
- Use the equipment and environment the space has to offer as much as you can. I find that every residency I attend has its own set of perks and flavours that can influence the creative process in significant ways. One of the strengths of Schhhis that it comes with a wonderful collection of electronic music equipment that may not be so easily accessed in other places. There are a variety of speakers, synthesizers, effects processors, and more, allowing for explorations of many new sounds. If you’re into field recording, the surrounding area can reveal its own selection of unique sounds that can be documented and processed, holding the flavour of the space in the work that is produced. The effect of the environment on the creative process is, in my opinion, one of the most powerful parts of a residency experience.
- Go for walks! Skåne countryside is just gorgeous and I encourage folks to take it in as much as possible! Just pick a direction. Walks are really great for a creative reset and will also flavour your new works with the sensory experience of the place. You can absorb the wind, the clouds, the baltic sea, the sprawling fields, the birds, and subconsciously or consciously, sift it back into your creative process, passing along a distilled sensory experience for others to encounter. I find this a very powerful aspect of expressive work, especially works that deal in sound.
I hope these recommendations are helpful in your residency experience and I hope you have a wonderful time participating in the creation of new things! All the best! Love Charlie.
Jorn Ebner
The residency exceeded my expectations with regards to personal support and the generally friendly / homely environment. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, other than being able to experiment with multi-speaker environments. I was able to do that: get to know some ins and outs of multi-channel presentations / installations working from one sounds source.
I focused on transforming a multi-sample performance piece from 2024 into a multi-speaker installation set-up. In parallel, I recorded landscape sounds in the local area
The bedroom had a good size; the kitchen was fitted with all necessary amenities, the bath has a great shower. I particularly loved the wintergarden to sit in in the mornings or whenever I wanted to eat or rest.
As my main concern was to work, leisure wasn’t my first agenda. However, I found time to experience the local environment and towns in the area. I enjoyed events organized my the hosts to introduce us to the local audience and arts related professionals.
Working with Ann Rosén and Sten-Olof Hellström was an exciting experience that added to the development of my work at Schhh. Both on a professional and on a personal level, the mutual respect and interest in our respective practices contributed to the working environment and general atmosphere in Östra Hoby. The residency at this beautiful location gave me dedicated time and space to further experiment with budding artistic ideas and provide insights into technical solutions, that will enhance future projects.
Iryna Novikova
I took part in the open competition because the “Schhh” residency collaborates with musicians representing the genre and direction in which I work, and the conditions of the residency allowed me to conceptually and technically immerse myself in working on the project I submitted.
Question : Were there any surprises, positive or negative?
Exceptionally positive.
Such as welcoming access to the vegetable garden with decals of tomato and herb varieties, the availability of nearby farm shops with fresh fruits and vegetables, and a cozy post-concert dinner with guests and representatives of the artistic community. I hope to stay in touch with the organizers and the community related to the Residency.
I had everything I needed to create a composition and present my work at the final concert was organized perfectlThe residence provided everything for comfortable work on the project.Autonomous housing with constant access to the studio, a workplace, a kitchen and other living conditions.