Austin Powers Sound Effects

Tom Middleton; Elevating Elevator Music (interview)

“Soundscaping describes a holistic and deeply researched approach to installation and appropriate scheduling of bespoke sound design and music composition to augment, enhance and embellish the consumer/guest emotional and sensory Hotel experience in line with the brand’s values.”

Almost two decades after he established himself as one of dance culture’s most experimental yet accessible music producers Tom Middleton has just landed a job at New York uber-chic boutique hotel Yotel.

As Music Director he’ll be hosting a monthly ‘ Sound Of The Cosmos’ party at Yotel’s Funktion One equipped club and terrace while it’s as ‘sound architect’ that he’s been ‘soundscaping’, crafting music for all Yotel’s public spaces.

Riding up and down the Times Square hotel’s escalators relentlessly and hanging round the toilets incessantly he’s clearly taken his role seriously, expounding further on what soundscaping actually is.  “It’s about employing consumer psychology, strategy, psycho acoustics and subliminal Neuro Sonic Programming techniques to communicate brand messages ,” he enthuses.

“There’s an opportunity to tailor the soundscape of the specific zones within the Hotel to suit the daily/weekly and seasonal schedules ,” he continues.

“ From the moment a guest enters Yotel there is an opportunity to use sound design and music to make the transitions from the stresses of travel to comfort and relaxation to drinking, dining, dancing and socializing.”

“Every zone and space has deeply researched and considered sound and music programming to inspire, excite, de-stress, relax, amuse, provoke or allow clarity to think, talk and connect,” he says.

Making his name initially off the back of his ambient experimental alter ego of Global Communication he went on to work with fellow sound explorers Ulrich Schnauss and Aphex Twi n simultaneously picking up crossover work remixing the likes of Kylie, Prince and Duran Duran. Nowadays he lists ‘ Recording Artist, Producer, Remixer, DJ, Sound Design, TV & Film Soundtracks, Product Design Consultant, Music Compiler and Event Curator’ on his website, reflecting his multi-tasking achievements and aspirations ( http://www.tommiddleton.

Windows XP home edition, the missing manual

Windows XP Pro, the missing manual

Windows 7: The Missing Manual

Windows Me, the missing manual

Sound for picture, film sound through the 1990s