Aisha Vaughan is an experimental artist whose emotionally stirring, electro-acoustic compositions channel the landscapes, lore and timeless aura of the Elan Valley in Wales, where she lives and works.
On Garden Of Falling Light, Aisha combines synths, samples and field recordings with live harp and her own angelic, wordless singing to create a record as intimate as it is soothing, an ethereal place where the listener can reflect and find solace.
Woodland Calm
Anxiety Release
Celtic Relaxation
Sources artists on influences, creative roots, inspirations, rituals and their releases on the label.
Photography by: Max Blomfield
Words by: Jamie Collins-Adams & Will Lynch
Shimmering moss-coated stones and dominant sessile oak trees make the backing for the gentle sound of bird call and bubbling streams in The Elan Valley, Wales. Between the mists of the mythical landscape, wanderers may also spot experimental artist Aisha Vaughan singing as she records and practices. Something about these locations evokes a sublime inspiration for the musician, who lives in the valley: “If there’s a space that looks like it could be in a painting or from a fantasy book or a fairy tale, I’m drawn to it.” ⬤
“The longer you sit in a forest, surrounded by trees, moss and birds the more you realise ‘this is kind of mad.” The world just came into being, and we are alive consciously to perceive it.”
This magical connection to the Welsh landscape arguably began from an early age, with mountains and green stretches rolling past during long car rides soundtracked by the tape player resonance: “I have really strong memories of my mum playing tapes in the car, Pink Floyd and The Beatles, and being completely fascinated by experiencing this thing that was invisible. Everybody can hear the same thing, but you can’t touch it. It’s just like, vibration.” ⬤
Within the UK, Wales has a distinctive musical heritage that places a lot of emphasis on voice, Aisha”s primary instrument: “We grew up with a lot of male, mixed voice and all types of choirs, as well as speaking Welsh.” Finding the right outdoor settings to express this voice is also part of the creative process, with location scouting taking place across rivers, forests and mountains: “There is a kind of Celtic rainforest here which is super mossy and green, in a way that”s quite specific to this area of Wales. there’s not many places left in the UK that are truly wild.” ⬤
Hiking to these spots usually takes an hour or so, before setting up equipment.“I think I’m looking for a space that reminds me just how incredible nature is.” It's, a process that is almost existential, tapping into themes that are felt, if not named, on herthe EP for Sources. ⬤
Aisha hopes that the new record can be used “as some sort of aid to feelings of loneliness and sadness and anxiety. There’s not a day that goes by without new horrors and a lot of us feel so powerless.” There’s a strong purpose here, and a story from the past. Having faced trauma at a young age, Aisha experienced deep depression into her mid-20s: “Music in the end was the key to getting through it, and I’ve been sober since I was 25.” Speaking in detail about this, the artist notes: “to some degree I am inevitably in the ‘wellness’ space in terms of music because if you strip back the layers, I’m essentially making soft, comforting music to comfort myself, as well as others. It’s important to talk about that.” ⬤
Urging us into worlds beyond our own, Aisha’s process helps lift us up, too. With songs born out of windswept mountainside singing, she invites us to connect via the same magic from her mum’s tape player all those years ago. Shared moments and feelings of safety in knowing there is something comfortingly unknown, beyond all the mess we humans make here. And sometimes music can take us there. ⬤
Aisha Vaughan is a Welsh experimental artist, harpist, and producer whose music captures the landscapes, lore, and languages of her homeland. Rooted in the natural world, her sound explores the delicate balance between the human voice and the living environment that inspires it.
Living and working in the Elan Valley at the headwaters of the River Wye, Vaughan draws deeply from her surroundings - moss-covered forests, open skies, and flowing waters - to shape her creative process. Each piece becomes a sonic reflection of place, stillness, and transformation.
Her compositions blend live harp, layered vocals, field recordings, and subtle electronic textures, resulting in music that feels both ancient and timeless. Ethereal and immersive, her sound invites listeners into a world where nature breathes through every note.
Through her work, Vaughan continues to build a bridge between myth and modernity, inviting quiet reflection and connection with the land that defines her art.