Southern Isles Sketchbook

New Zealand ambient composer Rudy Adrian celebrates his 13th Spotted Peccary release with Southern Isles Sketchbook, a richly atmospheric album that captures both the immediacy of inspiration and the depth of refined sound design. Inspired by the remote beauty of the South Pacific, the record draws listeners into a world of drifting textures, quiet detail, and immersive sonic environments. Spanning over 70 minutes, the album offers a distinctive balance between spontaneous creation and studio craftsmanship. Half of the record consists of live, late-night improvisations—captured in the moment and preserved for their raw, unrepeatable character—while the other half presents carefully constructed compositions shaped through Adrian’s long-established process. “Sometimes the first version of an idea carries a kind of magic that can’t be recreated,” Adrian reflects. “With this album, I chose to trust those moments.” Created using Yamaha SY77 and Montage synthesizers, sequenced on an Apple Macintosh Plus, Southern Isles Sketchbook continues Adrian’s signature approach while subtly exploring new sonic territory. The album also marks the beginning of an ongoing collaboration with Norwegian landscape and wildlife photographer Lars Nyquist, whose evocative imagery complements the music’s sense of space and stillness, and thoroughly aligns with Adrian’s contribution to the ambient genre.