Soumik Datta’s ‘Melodies in Slow Motion’ turns nature’s sounds into climate warning

Chennai: Do cicadas sing? What sound does a crab make when it walks? Soumik Datta’s show Melodies in Slow Motion in Chennai asks audiences to slow down, listen to Nature, and breathe. The performance brings heightened awareness to the creaks, ticks, and subtle rhythms of the natural world.

Through music and sound design, Datta explores what climate change sounds like, translating ecological shifts into an immersive listening experience. Melodies in Slow Motion uses field recordings and live instrumentation to amplify sounds often missed in daily life — from insects to coastal life.

By slowing them down and reframing them, the show highlights how environmental stress is altering natural soundscapes. The Chennai performance positions sound as a tool for climate awareness, urging audiences to pay attention before these melodies disappear.