Three years have passed in what feels like an instant since the release of “New Chronologies of Sound”. This paradox between ‘objective’ and ‘subjective’ time, between seconds and moments, lies at the heart of our newest volume in this series: “From Chronos to Kairos” delves deeper into how time can be felt and lived, challenging the dominance of quantitative time, rigorously measured in seconds, weeks, and years, as the more legitimate or ‘real’ measure of life. What does it say about us as a civilisation that we prioritise quantified time while frequently overlooking the profound, qualitative time defined by our experiences, memories, and human connections?

In reclaiming qualitative time, we seek to bring presence and purpose into sharper focus—an antidote to the prevailing fixation on deadlines and productivity, which tends to reduce life to mere units of passing time. If we shift our view to see time as experience rather than as a commodity, we may start to reshape work, social structures, and our very sense of self.

Sound and time are deeply intertwined in shaping our perceptions of place and experience. Across communities, sound plays a vital role in shaping shared space and culture, defining the rhythms of daily life, rituals, and gatherings. Soundscapes ground us in the present moment, while also carrying us across memories, associations, and layered perceptions of time. From the quiet of dawn to the hum of mid-morning, every soundscape holds a pattern, like the breath of wind or the pulse of a city, marking the passage of time in distinct, dynamic ways.

“From Chronos to Kairos” seeks to bring these ideas into a tangible experience. Departing from field recordings captured in the unique soundscape of Aveiro, Portugal, sound artist Jez riley French, along with workshop participants, documented the subtle sounds of the lagoon ecosystem and local life. This collection invites listeners to experience the opportune moment—the “right” moment—not in terms of hours and minutes, but in moments of resonance and discovery. These works feature original contributions from artists such as @c (PT), Coldcut &. Svetti (UK/USA), Felicia Atkinson (FR), Joana de Sá (PT), Kate Carr (UK), KMRU (KE), Nory Kimijima (JP), and Piurso (PT). Together, they celebrate the unique sound heritage of Aveiro, illustrating how subjective time manifests in local soundscapes.

To deepen this engagement, the project included workshops with local communities, encouraging curiosity, collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge about acoustic ecology and sound art. In line with our commitment to open sharing, we’ve made the raw field recordings available for free. You’re absolutely welcome to share, reuse, remix and rethink them, at your very own pace.

We hope that, as you explore these sounds, you find inspiration to reflect on your own relationship with time—transforming it from a mere measure of existence into a rich, mesmerising experience that deepens connections between one another and the world around.

Commissioned by Teatro Aveirense / Aveiro Municipality
Curatorship by Raquel Castro & Hugo Branco
Mastered by Lucas Palmeira
Cover illustration by J.Sasso
Cover design by Nayara Siler
Partners: SONORA | INET-md
Field recordings by Jez riley French and workshop participants Ana Luísa Veloso, Daniela Cardoso, Diana Gaspar, Henrique Fernandes, Hugo Branco, Hugo Vasco Reis, João Moura, Lucas Ramos, Mariana Sardon, Marisa Ponce de León, Pedro Balazeiro, Philippe Trovão, Sara Delgado, Sergio Kafejian.