Story and origins:

A phenomenon called autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) has made a huge splash on YouTube.  It uses binaural sounds to trigger a low-grade euphoria in the viewer.  YouTube ASMRtists’ try to stimulate their viewer’s aural senses by using a number of perfectly innocent methods; like rustling paper or whispering softly.

Emma (Youtube name WhispersRed ASMR) is a ‘silver button’ Youtube artist, with over 400,000 subscribers to her popular ASMR channel.

Her subscribers crave the films she makes as the sounds and ‘role play scenarios’ she sets up are distinctive, mesmerising, soothing and relaxing.

Working with YouTube ASMR artist WhispersRed, this film explores the extraordinary power of 360 binaural sound in an immersive environment.

Inspiration was taken from the ASMR YouTube community where 2D videos invite viewers to suspend their belief in hypnotic scenes where YouTube artists role play directly for the viewer and give them personal attention.

The film was an artistic endeavour to explore the interaction between the viewer and the ASMR artist as she delivers a sound healing experience involving a sequence of sound interactions from singing bowls to tuning forks to intimate moments involving other theatrical techniques used in ASMR videos that attract a huge cult following on YouTube.

The property of sound to instantly return the listener to the present moment, and to be grounded within their body was explored.

Insights:

Often in Virtual Reality the body is disconnected from the experience being consumed by the eyes and brain. This film was an artistic exploration into the properties of sound to create a corporeal experience and to keep the viewer within their physical body during the immersive experience.

Partnerships:

YouTube Artist WhispersRed, Visyon360 Barcelona, Spain

This lovely feeling has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child I was sensitive,  introverted and definitely a daydreamer. Over time the tingles became a soothing tool, something dear to me and a form of escapism. From daydreaming in class to falling asleep listening to sounds from downstairs, it was a personal experience and I felt very lucky to have it.

It kept me calm when the whole world around me wasn’t. I did over time try to explain it to others in my life but was often met with blank looks even halfway through the first sentence. It was always very hard to explain and after time I stopped. Later though I found that my younger Brother experiences it. He named it ‘The Golden Feeling’ a perfect description.

 Emma ‘Whispersred’ ASMR Artist