When the Giant Awakens: Sound, Place & Wellbeing — My Role in Tourism NI’s ASMR Experience

Sound invites us into presence, memory and connection in ways that are both subtle and profound. It’s why I’ve dedicated my creative practice to sound healing, immersive sound experiences and sensory-rich engagement. This year, I was honoured to take part in a beautifully innovative project from Tourism NI — the Giant Awakening ASMR soundscape — and to be featured alongside it on Sky News.

What Is Giant Awakening?

Giant Awakening is Tourism NI’s first ASMR-led audio experience, designed to capture the unique ambient sounds of Northern Ireland’s iconic landscapes, places and cultural moments. The experience blends atmospheric environmental recordings — from the rush of waves at the Giant’s Causeway and the vibrant energy of St George’s Market in Belfast, to the echoes of the Marble Arch Caves and the forest serenades at Glenariff — into a soothing and immersive soundscape that listeners can experience on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. 

The aim of the piece is twofold: to encourage relaxation and wellbeing for listeners, and to offer a fresh sensory gateway into the beauty of Northern Ireland as a tourism destination. 

My Contribution and Perspective

I was invited to contribute to this project as a sound artist and therapeutic sound practitioner, and it was deeply rewarding to see elements of my work included in this collaborative piece. My original instrumental sounds and singing voice are part of the experience, and my broader practice helped inspire aspects of the creative direction behind Giant Awakening. 

It’s important to clarify that Giant Awakening was produced by Tourism NI in partnership with companies such as Redcap Productions and Felbryn Studios, and features narration by acclaimed voice artist Alana Kerr Collins. My role was one of contribution and artistic collaboration, and I’m grateful to have been part of a project that champions sound as both a creative and emotional experience.

“Sound can connect us deeply to place, memory and wellbeing — and this project brought that alive in a truly immersive way.” — Tessa Ann

Featured on Sky News

The Giant Awakening project was highlighted in a short video on the official Sky News YouTube channel, bringing attention to how sound can be used in unconventional ways to share stories of place and to enhance wellbeing — and helping introduce the idea of sound-focused tourism experiences to a broader audience. This was a meaningful moment for me personally and professionally, and I’m proud to see the work represented in this context. 

Why Sound Matters

Sound isn’t just background ambience — it shapes how we feel the world. It can calm us, anchor us in the present moment, and deepen our relationship to environment and experience. The Giant Awakening project invites listeners to do just that: to pause, to be present, and to appreciate the quiet beauty of place through sound.

This aligns with the values behind everything I do at The Sound Healing Spa — inviting people of all ages and backgrounds to explore sound not only as a sensory journey but as a pathway to connection and wellbeing.

Listen & Explore for Yourself

▶️ Watch the Sky News feature and hear the ASMR experience: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TkR1uLsZscM

Whether you listen for relaxation, curiosity or simply enjoyment, Giant Awakening is a beautiful reminder of the power held in the world of sound.

https://discovernorthernireland.com/blog/read/2025/10/giant-awakening-b356