An Electromagnetic Exploration of London Buses

BUSmusic is a four-part electromagnetic sound work documenting London's public transport infrastructure between 2013 and 2016. Using electromagnetic field pickups positioned against bus windows, the series captures the electrical emissions of hybrid electric motors as they navigate the city's routes.

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Each piece transforms a single bus journey into multi-layered composition through temporal manipulation and processing. The electromagnetic signatures of routine commutes—motor pulses, electrical systems, power distribution—become source material for exploring the hidden sonic world of urban transportation.

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Recorded across three years during JnfH's time in London, the series culminates with Route 21 southbound, captured during the final bus journey before relocating from the capital in summer 2016.

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1. Route 1 Southbound - Waterloo to New Kent Road [2015]

2. Route 141 Northbound - Moorgate to Wood Green [2013]

3. Route 139 Eastbound - Baker Street to Waterloo [2016]

4. Route 21 Southbound - Moorgate to Old Kent Road [2016]

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Methodology: Electromagnetic field pickups capture motor emissions during actual bus journeys. Single-source recordings are then subjected to multiple layers of processing at varying speeds, revealing harmonic and rhythmic content inherent in the electromagnetic signatures.

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