Mountains
Social experiment and music creation.
Autumn 2022, Trans Carpathian mountains, Ukraine
Photos by Valentyn Paly
Music recorded and produced by Valentyn Paly


Specifically choosing the autumn season with its rain and unique atmosphere, I embarked on a week-long trip to the Carpathian mountains, taking my musical equipment with me. This was done to fully detach from social influences, to find myself in the serenity of the mountains, and freely express my emotions through music. The journey posed a real challenges due to physical and emotional hardships.
I carried a very heavy backpack, climbed steep slopes, and walked long distances. When I reached the first camping spot, I realised that my shoes got completely soaked. To dry them, I had only a small battery-operated stove, which didn't work well because it kept raining. These and many other difficulties made me doubt the purpose of my project. But then I understood that these challenges were exactly what I needed. I realised that self-discovery should not be easy; it's a complex process, much like creating art in such conditions. These circumstances became an integral part of my creative process, for example, you can hear raindrops on the tent's roof, which became part of the music.
Specifically choosing the autumn season with its rain and unique atmosphere, I embarked on a week-long trip to the Carpathian mountains, taking my musical equipment with me. This was done to fully detach from social influences, to find myself in the serenity of the mountains, and freely express my emotions through music. The journey posed a real challenges due to physical and emotional hardships.
I carried a very heavy backpack, climbed steep slopes, and walked long distances. When I reached the first camping spot, I realised that my shoes got completely soaked. To dry them, I had only a small battery-operated stove, which didn't work well because it kept raining. These and many other difficulties made me doubt the purpose of my project. But then I understood that these challenges were exactly what I needed. I realised that self-discovery should not be easy; it's a complex process, much like creating art in such conditions. These circumstances became an integral part of my creative process, for example, you can hear raindrops on the tent's roof, which became part of the music.
Specifically choosing the autumn season with its rain and unique atmosphere, I embarked on a week-long trip to the Carpathian mountains, taking my musical equipment with me. This was done to fully detach from social influences, to find myself in the serenity of the mountains, and freely express my emotions through music. The journey posed a real challenges due to physical and emotional hardships.
I carried a very heavy backpack, climbed steep slopes, and walked long distances. When I reached the first camping spot, I realised that my shoes got completely soaked. To dry them, I had only a small battery-operated stove, which didn't work well because it kept raining. These and many other difficulties made me doubt the purpose of my project. But then I understood that these challenges were exactly what I needed. I realised that self-discovery should not be easy; it's a complex process, much like creating art in such conditions. These circumstances became an integral part of my creative process, for example, you can hear raindrops on the tent's roof, which became part of the music.
Album
In the music album "Mountains", I portrayed four stages of this journey. Starting with the first composition, I conveyed inspiration and reverence for what lies ahead. The second composition represents the moment of facing a complex reality and searching for my own voice amidst the many voices around. The third reflects the continuation of this search, the weariness, and the gradual acceptance of the challenges along the way. The last composition is about feeling the true voice, one that sounds natural, unique, and often imperfect.
All the compositions in the album were recorded using an acoustic guitar, a recorder, and a small sampler for rhythm. I recorded everything using GarageBand on my iPhone to create the initial versions of the songs, and later, I refined them in the studio. The final composition was recorded in one take on a recorder and was not edited afterward. It intentionally lacks a steady beat to reflect my emotions and its imperfection.
In the music album "Mountains", I portrayed four stages of this journey. Starting with the first composition, I conveyed inspiration and reverence for what lies ahead. The second composition represents the moment of facing a complex reality and searching for my own voice amidst the many voices around. The third reflects the continuation of this search, the weariness, and the gradual acceptance of the challenges along the way. The last composition is about feeling the true voice, one that sounds natural, unique, and often imperfect.
All the compositions in the album were recorded using an acoustic guitar, a recorder, and a small sampler for rhythm. I recorded everything using GarageBand on my iPhone to create the initial versions of the songs, and later, I refined them in the studio. The final composition was recorded in one take on a recorder and was not edited afterward. It intentionally lacks a steady beat to reflect my emotions and its imperfection.
Mountains
Social experiment and music creation.
Autumn 2022, Trans Carpathian mountains, Ukraine
Photos by Valentyn Paly
Music recorded and produced by Valentyn Paly