Tired Circuits :: Crude
Crude is a research and music project that compiles Hazardous Liquid Accident data from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). We specifically focus on eight onshore crude oil pipeline spills, referred to as “involuntary releases,” that affect rivers and lakes, drinking water, groundwater, and wildlife, in 2021-2022.
The PHMSA’s data is presented alongside information about the political spending, regulatory fines, and government contracts of the pipelines’ parent companies to explore the impact and context of these pipeline failures.
Tired Circuits’ Joshua Dumas created custom code to sonify eight PHMSA incident reports, mapping data to aural elements like distortion, pitch, and waveform to build noisy soundscapes. He then composed melodies and rhythms atop those soundscapes while looking at images of the affected towns and waterways.
Recorded and Mixed by Joshua Dumas at Pieholden Suite Sound, Chicago IL; at Dark Swirl, Brooklyn NY; and at Russell Street Recording, Brooklyn NY.
Mastered by Scott Craggs at Old Colony Mastering, Scituate RI.
Eric Barrier was a vital editor, copywriter, and collaborator on the text.