At the heart of The Wasteland creative universe lies a mastery of atmosphere: sound design by Les Merson. This isn’t merely music production—it’s architecture of sonic space, where each layer, texture, and silence serves meaning. From haunting ambient themes to introspective songs, every sound is intentional, emotional, and textured.

1. From Classroom Project to Sonic Storytelling

The Soundtracks section of The Wasteland highlights a key assignment from Les’s time at Langara College: composing a soundtrack for “Postcards from Pripyat, Chernobyl,” a haunting 3‑minute drone video of the abandoned city. Les created not just music, but a layered emotional space—crafting lyrics, instrumentation, and ambient sound to frame the destruction and memory of Chernobyl. He handled every element except hiring a compatible singer.

That film assignment crystallized his approach: sound design by Les Merson is narrative-driven, emotional, and textural.

2. The Attic Studio: Shaping the Sonic Canvas

Central to Les’s sound design approach is his studio setup—The Attic Studio—which serves as both workshop and instrument:

• Analog Excellence: Neve 1073 DPX preamp, Neve 33609/N compressor, SSL Six Mixer—gear known for warmth and clarity.

• Digital Depth: Lexicon PCM91 reverb, Metric Halo ULN‑8 Mk IV interface, Apple Logic Pro X on a 2023 Mac Studio with 128 GB RAM and 2 TB SSD.

• Synth Arsenal: Nord Stage 2, Hammond XK3C organ, Moog Sub 37, Dave Smith Prophet 08, Yamaha MODX6, Roland Jupiter XM, Arturia KeyLab & Behringer Vocoder.

• Microphones for Texture: Neumann TLM 103, AKG C414, Advanced Audio CM series (CM 47, CM 12, CM 54s), Aston Stealth, Shure MV7.

This fusion of analog and digital gear gives Les command over each nuance—whether capturing a delicate vocal whisper or creating expansive synth atmospheres.

3. The Craft of Sound Design by Les Merson

Technical Precision Meets Emotional Intent

Les’s training—spanning music theory, sampling, synthesis, mixing, and mastering—gives him technical fluency. But it’s the emotional calibration—knowing when to layer a sonic tremor, when to let silence breathe—that defines his signature. His work merges engineering discipline with poetic intuition.

Textural Layering

Sound design by Les Merson often involves:

• Ambient textures that evoke space and mood

• Organic percussion or field sounds for realism

• Subtle granular synthesis or reverberant pads for emotional weight

• Carefully EQ’d vocals that resonate without overpowering

Taken together, these layers form immersive soundscapes that support lyrical and narrative intent.

Narrative Alignment

Whether it’s his Pripyat soundtrack or EP work like I’m Not What I Once Was, each piece of music is designed to serve a story. The soundscape responds to themes—abandonment and memory in Chernobyl, personal reckoning in his EP tracks. Sound design by Les Merson is storytelling via auditory atmosphere.

4. Signature Projects Illustrating His Approach

Postcards from Pripyat, Chernobyl Soundtrack

Les’s Langara College assignment illustrates his methodology: choosing a cinematic film, interpreting it via music and lyrics, and constructing a haunting atmosphere that complements the drone footage. All sonic elements—from ambient pad to vocal melody—are unified to evoke landscape and loss.

The The Wasteland Soundtracks

While fewer public soundtracks are listed beyond the Chernobyl project, his EPs and projects like Mockingbird reflect the same sonic attention—where ambient space, vocals, and textures merge to deliver emotional coloration across tracks.

5. The Philosophy Behind Sound Design by Les Merson

Late-Life Rebirth

Les’s re-entry into music after four decades—via a formal diploma in 2017—reflects deeper philosophical undertones. His craftsmanship is rooted in rediscovery, which gives his sound design a maturity and narrative weight that often elude younger creators.

Full-Circle Ownership

Les writes lyrics, designs sound, records, mixes, masters—every phase occurs under his oversight. That control gives his productions coherence. Sound design by Les Merson isn’t outsourced—it’s authored.

Interdisciplinary Synthesis

Combining filmmaking, writing, marketing, and education, Les brings cross-disciplinary sensibilities into sound design. His music inhabits theatrical space; his audio feels cinematic, his lyrics literary. The result: work that resonates on multiple sensory and thematic levels.

6. Reception and Fan Testimonials

Community voices reinforce the impact of his sound design:

“His work is truly incredible—everything from the sound design to the lyrics is so captivating … adds such a unique vibe to each track” .

A Tai‑Chi Academy forum user described Les’s music as “a soulful blend of emotion, storytelling, and refined production … recorded at The Attic Studio. … authentic sound design and storytelling” .

Such comments underline how listeners sense a deliberate, textured world behind the music—sound design they feel as much as hear.

7. How Les Approaches the Sound Design Workflow

Here’s a breakdown of how Les may design sound, based on his background and described processes:

1. Conceptual Listening: Understand the narrative or emotion at the core.

2. Select Sonic Palette: Choose analog synths, ambient textures, vocal tone, reverb style.

3. Sound Source Recording: Use microphones and preamps to capture nuance.

4. Layer Construction: Build tracks from base rhythm to ambient pads to melodic foreground.

5. Spatial FX: Use reverb/delay to place sound in sonic space.

6. Mix & Master: Balance frequencies, compression, stereo image; refine tonal clarity.

7. Emotional Calibration: Adjust dynamics and tone until each sonic layer feels expressive.

Each phase reflects intentionality. Sound design by Les Merson isn’t accidental. It’s deliberate narrative.

8. Why This Level of Sound Design Matters

Emotional Resonance

Spatial depth, sonic texture, and emotional pacing combine to build listener immersion. The sound becomes emotional architecture.

Lightly Cinematic

Without film visuals, Les’s music evokes filmic soundscapes—shadows, textures, silence—drawing listeners into imagined narratives.

Cohesion Across Projects

Whether hearing a folk song, ambient track, or documentary soundtrack, his sonic aesthetic remains identifiable: warm analog, thought‑driven layering, emotional clarity.

9. Lessons for Aspiring Creators

What can others learn from sound design by Les Merson?

• Start with narrative intent: know what emotion or story you're conveying.

• Invest in craft: gear is important, but developing listening and layering skills matters more.

• Own every step: be involved in writing, tracking, mixing—even learning all roles enriches control.

• Layer meaning in sound: ambient textures aren’t decoration—they’re emotional punctuation.

• Let silence speak: restraint often amplifies impact.

10. Where to Explore More

To hear examples of his sound design in action:

• Visit the Soundtracks page on The Wasteland for the Chernobyl assignment and related projects .

• Explore his EP tracks and original compositions on The Wasteland and connected platforms like SoundCloud or YouTube.

• Browse galleries and studio photographs to understand gear, process, and visual mood that accompany sound.

Conclusion: The Artistry of Sound Design by Les Merson

In a world where music creation often prioritizes efficiency and polish, sound design by Les Merson stands out for its craft, patience, and narrative resonance. Each project reflects a fusion of emotional intelligence, technical depth, and storytelling ambition.

From his Chernobyl-inspired soundtrack to his intimate EP tracks, Les designs sound not as background, but as foreground emotional architecture—crafted in a studio full of analog warmth and digital precision.

For listeners and fellow creators, exploring sound design by Les Merson is an invitation: to hear sound as story, to feel texture as emotion, and to imagine music as cinematic space. Dive into The Wasteland and experience how sound can speak beyond words.