Earth is a Solar
Powered Jukebox

The amazing world of sound from leading field recording artist Gordon Hempton. The Sound Tracker, listener, speaker and more.

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Gordon Hempton The Sound Tracker®
Ecuador
Men on a Canoe

Gordon Hempton

The Sound Tracker®

Gordon Hempton is an international acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist who has spent more than 40 years capturing the world’s natural soundscapes. His expertise has been sought by prominent organizations such as Apple, Microsoft, Audible, National Geographic, Smithsonian, BBC and NPR. His work has been recognized by The Lindbergh Foundation, Rolex Awards for Enterprise, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Author of two books: One Square Inch of Silence (2010) and Earth is a Solar Powered Jukebox (2014). Hempton speaks widely about the importance of listening.

The Sound Journey

Hempton’s journey into sound recording began after graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in botany and pursuing graduate studies in plant pathology. His early works, produced under The Sound Tracker® label, showcased his dedication to preserving nature’s audio heritage. His recordings from The Nature Conservancy’s Yellow Island Preserve and subsequent projects highlighted the importance of natural soundscapes, attracting significant media attention and public awareness.

Butterflies on my arm Gordon Hempton
One Square Inch of Silence book cover

The Book

One Square Inch of Silence
“Many books help us see the world differently; this one induces us to hear the world clearly.”
Booklist, Starred ReviewRead Now
The Sound Tracker® film movie cover artwork

The Film

Soundtracker
“This is a remarkable journey: a quest for imperiled Nature an artist who never stopped listening.”
Ken BurnsWatch Now
Gordon Hempton Sound Tracker

Environmental Sound Portraits

Hempton’s career includes circling the globe to record dawn’s chorus, resulting in the Emmy Award-winning PBS documentary, Vanishing Dawn Chorus. He has also explored the soundscapes of historic figures like Mark Twain and John Muir, contributing to television documentaries. Hempton continues to publish, design soundscapes, and consult, remaining a passionate advocate for preserving the vanishing sounds of nature. His latest series, Environmental Sound Portraits, marks a significant addition to his illustrious body of work.

“Gordon Hempton is turning up the volume on Earth’s rarest sounds while working to preserve them for future generations.”

Oprah

“There is something about them that makes you want to redefine the words, “truth and beauty.” Listening to them through headphones, with your eyes closed, inspires visions as vivid as outright hallucinations.”

The Weekly

“Pure, unedited nature… a blend of science and poetry.”

Omni

“Your ears are caressed by resonant acoustical poetry.”

The Seattle Times

“Gordon Hempton brings new meaning to the word “purist.” He meticulously scouts out sites for his soundscapes… Hempton is totally in touch with his environment as a listener, and he is committed to bringing what he hears to a wider audience.”

Smithsonian

“Someday Gordon Hempton’s recordings may be heard as the last echo of nature at its most natural.”

Philadelphia Inquirer