Cheryl E. Leonard

very grateful to The Quietus for publishing this essay- on everyday fascism and the promise and problem of “beauty” as an inadequate but therapeutic response to the ugliness of the present - plus there are some thoughts on disco and Patricia Highsmith- this felt like a risk but I’m glad it’s out

Stand With Minnesota A directory of places to give to as Minnesota defends itself from ICE occupation

So moved by the people of Minnesota who—drawing on LA, Portland, Chicago, DC etc—are writing a shining new chapter in the history of nonviolent resistance.

The rest of us need to be taking notes—and helping them!

www.standwithminnesota.com

‘Make no mistake, this is an occupation’: ICE’s deadly presence casts long shadow over Minneapolis Classrooms have emptied, shops have shut, and the mood is tense – but as the federal operation has ramped up, so has residents’ response

My country is in hell.
#uspol
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

Thank you for your super-thoughtful questions and the opportunity to share more about my Arctic experiences and the process of creating these works!

Cheryl E. Leonard and the Fragile, Wild Arctic Cheryl E. Leonard builds sonic worlds from the far edges of our planet. For decades, her work has translated the Arctic and Antarctic into intricately layered compositions where technical mastery s…

New interview with Cheryl E. Leonard on "near the bear" and building compositions from the High Arctic. We talked about walrus sounds channeled through dried kelp, listening at 79° North, and honoring the most rapidly-warming region on Earth. She's one of the best in the biz.

Morning Sounds Morning Sounds is a free digital series by Brad Rose collecting unedited recordings of waking routines. We're all remaking our routines and revising expectations. Mornings are where that shows up int...

I'm starting a new project today called Morning Sounds - a free digital series collecting unedited recordings of people's waking routines. The seed for this came from a conversation with my friend Colleen, and it's been growing in my head ever since.

Here's the correct link for tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/listening-...

Bonus: we’ll be done in time for you to enjoy sunset at your favorite Point Reyes beach!

Start the new year out with a sea of wondrous sounds! LISTENING WITH POINT REYES, this Saturday Jan 10th, 2-4pm: www.eventbrite.com/.../listenin....

Join sound recordists Ernst Karel and Cheryl E. Leonard and explore a variety of habitats in Point Reyes National Seashore through audio recordings.

Start the new year out with a sea of wondrous sounds! LISTENING WITH POINT REYES, January 10, 2026, 2-4pm. Register now: www.eventbrite.com/e/listening-...

Join Ernst Karel and Cheryl E. Leonard for a listening session in which we explore Point Reyes National Seashore through audio recordings.

The Step-by-Step Plan to Sell Off the Arctic, and What You Can Do About It The Trump administration and Congress have waged an all-out assault on the Arctic. Here are three actions you can take to protect it.

In a series of recent moves, the Trump administration and Congress have waged an all-out assault on the Arctic, aiming to maximize drilling across the entire region.​

Here’s a roadmap of what Congress and the Trump administration are planning, and what you can do to stop it.

The Best Field Recordings on Bandcamp, October 2025 The best sounds captured outside the studio and released in the last month.

Excited that my new Arctic album, "near the bear" is featured in Bandcamp's Best Field Recordings this month. Thank you Matthew Blackwell.

"...a deep interrogation of our place in the world, put into high relief against the brilliant whites and blues of the High Arctic."

A big thank you to Tobias Fischer for the opportunity to respond to such thoughtful questions on listening, sound, and music! 15questions.net/interview/ch...

Agreed!

Thanks Ernst!

near the bear, by cheryl e. leonard 5 track album

f-o-m.bandcamp.com/album/near-t...

"near the bear," is out today! From walrus encounters at 79° N to watching the ocean freeze at -35° C, the album celebrates the High Arctic. Sounds played on natural and human-made objects intertwine with field recordings and site-specific improvisations in five works about Svalbard & Greenland.

Releases September 26th in CD and digital formats.
Part of forms of minutiae's ice sounds series in celebration of the international year of glaciers’ preservation (unesco & wmo, 2025)

My new Arctic album is now available for preorder:
f-o-m.bandcamp.com/album/near-t...! Five compositions inspired by the unique wildlife, environments, and human histories of Svalbard and Greenland. Available from forms of minutiae as a limited-edition CD+booklet or digital download+PDF booklet.

Things I played at the UB radio salon on Sunday

Wish I could be there

Listening with the Wild: Eco-Composer Cheryl Leonard Join us for a sonic journey with composer Cheryl E. Leonard, who crafts immersive soundscapes using field recordings and musical instruments made from shells, bones, rocks,...

Come on over to the Sunnyvale Public Library this Saturday afternoon for sounds, stories, and instruments from my eco-musical adventures. It’s free! sunnyvale.libcal.com/event/147215...

Setup for my performances this Sunday at Headlands Center for the Arts as part of their Summer Open House. I’ll be in the Gym doing a sound installation and two live sets!

Instruments for my set earlier today at the San Francisco Main Library. Thanks to all who came out to listen!

My table at the end of last night’s Sonic Cartography improv gig in Berkeley. Good fun!

Pleased to announce that Euphotic’s latest album (which I played on and mixed) is out today on Confront Recordings: confrontrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/clastic

Recording locations from last weekend’s Nature Sounds Society Workshop: Sierra Valley, Carmen Valley, and Yuba Pass. Early, chilly, good times!

Rob Macfarlane : ‘Sometimes I felt as if the river was writing me’ The writer and poet on reimagining rivers as living beings, the ecological crisis near and far and why copyright laws should protect nature

I spoke with the brilliant @jonathan-watts.bsky.social about the experience of writing "with" rivers; about freshwater and life and power—and about hope as a discipline.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Point Reyes, After the Cattle - Bay Nature When ranchers leave the land, what version of nature takes over? The park and The Nature Conservancy have ambitious restoration plans.

baynature.org/2025/05/15/p...

Yes, there do seem to be several caves around there, and it was Takaka (oops!).