For this Crafting the Field series #11, we welcome sound artist Christian Mun whose composition is an adaptation of original recordings from the anthropological work “Awajún Nampag” by Enrique Basurto Carvo and the Aents Collective in respect to the Awajún master José Ayui Yampis (Nampag); a specialist in “Anen” chants (Awajún power chants) and the Awajún instrument “tumag” (mouth harp). 

Inspired by these “Anen” chants, Mun creates an immersive soundscape in which he transforms and recreates scenarios throughout the composition as a kind of musical “Spell” where magical aspects intertwine with the deep ritual and cultural context of the Peruvian jungle from where these sounds are spiritually rooted. According to Mun, his work does not intend to essentialize or limit Awajún music to a mere representation or rescue, but to integrate it organically into the global soundscape promoting its belonging and appreciation as an enriching and dynamic voice in the contemporary musical landscape.

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"The piece I portray in this sonoric work utilizes recordings of songs called “Anen” which were accorded to me by Xapiri Ground on behalf of Enrique Basurto Carvo from his project Awajun Nampag, highlighting some sonic attributes influenced by the Awajún culture.

Although the original recordings are the main sound source of the piece, they have been transformed and adapted to enrich the conceptual development of the composition. This modification process not only seeks to make musical traditions visible, but also to explore new forms of musical expression that can resonate with contemporary audiences.

In addition, I have endeavored to recreate different scenarios throughout the composition, each inspired by the "Anen" chants as a kind of musical "Spell." Each scenario captures not only magical aspects, but the deep ritual and cultural context of the Peruvian jungle, where these chants hold deep-rooted meaning. This elemental combination is intended to evoke a sensory and narrative experience that transports the listener to diverse and immersive soundscapes.

For me, in this composition it is fundamental not to essentialize or limit Awajún music to a mere representation or rescue. My goal is to integrate it organically into the global soundscape, promoting its belonging and appreciation as an enriching and dynamic voice in the contemporary musical landscape."

-Christian Mun

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Biography | Christian Mun (Lima, Peru)

Christian Muñoz (@christian.mun) was born in Lima, Peru in 1996. He is a sound artist, producer and saxophonist who began his musical studies at the National Conservatory of Music in 2008. He is dedicated to experimental composition, interdisciplinary collaborative works and audio engineering. This versatility motivates him to continue experimenting in art, where, thanks to the dialogue between different ways of sound creation and collaboration with other disciplines, he seeks to reflect, through research and his music, the cultural diversity that surrounds us.

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A special thanks to our collaborators José Ayui Yumpis and Enrique Basurto Carvo...

This project is in collaboration with José Ayui Yampis; president and cultural manager of the cultural association Awajún Nampag who is a master specialist in herbalism and the use of Amazonian master plants. He is also a master of "Anen" sacred chants and "Tumag" mouth harp from the Awajún nation. We would also like to acknowledge Enrique Basurto Carvo whose social research for his work "Awajún Nampag" and the community of José Ayui Yampis has allowed us a window into this composition for Crafting the Field.

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Check out the full Crafting the Field series on our bandcamp page.

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