Melonfield’s Recording Commons supports the circulation of field recordings and experimental sound work. It is part participatory database, part lending network. All publicly available recordings in Melonfield are distorted, while full access to unprocessed files is reserved for commons contributors. In addition to the sonic commons, Melonfield is developing a global borrowing system for free field-recording tools. (Participation does not require any specialized equipment.)

[1] Melonfield understands sound, including the inaudible, as something that both reflects and actively conditions places, networks, relationships, and publics. We approach “the field” (implied in field recording or field research) as any context formed through shared attention.
[2] Melonfield proposes alternatives to the conventions of “neutral” documenting and archiving. We understand that in aggregating material we also make ourselves vulnerable to extractive activity. We are interested in the possibilities of noise, distortion, and sound experimentation as methods of encryption.
[3] Contributions to the commons serve to illustrate how we can attune to our shared environments, within and beyond existing infrastructures for listening. Melonfield is a shared environment in and of itself.
[4] We make no commitment to permanence.
[5] Anything can be co-opted. Melonfield encourages caution in what you record and share.
[6] Anything can be co-opted. Melonfield encourages experimentation in how submissions might anticipate or subvert this.

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