Presented by the Museum Of Sound in partnership with The Radiophonic Institute, The Sound Of The Year Awards is an annual, worldwide competition which invites people to submit recordings that help us understand more about the world we live in. We caught up with Sejal Pawar, a runner up in this year’s event, about her piece ‘Jingrwai Lawbei (The Whistling Names)’
Hi Sejal. Tell us about what’s happening in your recording, ‘Jingrwai Lawbei (The Whistling Names)’…
“What you’re hearing is a living tradition from Kongthong in Meghalaya, India where every child receives not only an official name but also a unique whistled name called ‘Jingrwai Iawbei’, composed by their mother. More than a performance, it is a way of expressing love, identity and belonging. This recording captures a tradition that continues to live through the people who carry it forward in one of the few villages where it is still practised.”
What were you thinking and feeling while you recorded it?
“This recording makes me feel calm and nostalgic. It reminds me that sound can carry emotion, love, memory and identity in ways words sometimes cannot. Listening to it makes me feel connected to the people behind the tradition. It also reminds me how something as simple as calling someone’s name can hold so much meaning and care.”
What’s your background in recording sound?
“I’m a Film and Video Design student based in Pune and my interest in sound comes through documentary filmmaking. Alongside my academic projects, I’ve created sound stories where we tell narratives entirely through audio. I’m still learning but I see recording as a way of observing and understanding people. To me, listening is just as important as capturing an image and sometimes even more.”
Who, what or where inspires you to record?
“I’m inspired by people, places and stories that often go unnoticed. Whether it’s a community preserving its traditions, an everyday conversation or the sounds of nature, I believe every place has a story waiting to be heard. Recording allows me to slow down, listen carefully and appreciate perspectives that are easy to overlook.”
The best advice you’ve ever been given or would give to a fellow music maker?
“‘Listen before you look.’ That advice changed the way I approach both filmmaking and sound. Listening first teaches patience and presence. It lets me imagine a place before I see it and helps me notice sounds that can’t be recreated. Those quiet honest moments are usually the ones that stay with me the longest.”
If you could only ever record one more thing, what would it be?
“I would record the voices of the people I love along with the sounds of nature. I’m someone who finds it difficult to let go of the people closest to me and I know voices become precious with time. Being able to return to those sounds would bring me comfort and help me hold on to the memories we shared.”
Sejal Pawar’s bio:
Sejal Pawar is a Film and Video Design student based in Pune, India. She is interested in documentary filmmaking, sound and visual storytelling with a focus on people, culture, everyday life and stories that often go unnoticed. She enjoys learning from different communities and uses sound as a way to preserve memory and deepen human connection through observation.
