The gayageum is a traditional plucked zither and is one of the most iconic Korean instruments. Often with 12 strings, but upwards of 25, it is an incredibly versatile string instrument. For this sample collection, Sonic Collective and Found Sound Nation teamed up with Kyungso Park, renowned gayageum performer, improviser and composer, to prepare a mix of rhythmic melodies and short gestures, drawing influences from "earth, metal, wood, and silk.” The samples included here were recorded in Kyungso’s studio apartment in Seoul, South Korea.

The guembri is a plucked three-stringed bass lute made from log and camel skin. Marked by low-toned, highly rhythmic melodies, it is central to Gnawa music, a body of spiritual and hypnotic music from Morocco and parts of sub-Saharan Africa. For this sample collection, Found Sound Nation teamed up with prodigious guembri player Mehdi Nassouli to produce an ecstatic and mesmerizing set of melodies and rhythms performed on guembri, karkabas (a set of hand-held metallic castanets), lira (a traditional bamboo flute), awicha (a smaller version of the guembri), and taarija (a Moroccan hand-held drum similar to Darbuka).

'Kazakh Dombra' by Earthone contains professionally played and recorded melodies that are ready to allow you to discover the unique sounds of Dombra.

'Dombra' is originated from the Kazakh and Kyrgyz, it has two-stringed and long-necked instruments played with arpeggios. This instrument is also popular among Turkic communities in Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, as well as Mongolia.

The original Kazakh dombra has frets and is played by strumming with the hand or plucking each string individually, with an occasional tap on the main surface of the instrument. It is very important in the culture of Kazakh and The National Dombra Day is celebrated in Kazakhstan every first Sunday of July.

Bansuri is a side-blown flute made from bamboo, used traditionally in Hindustani classical music. For this sample collection, Sonic Collective & Found Sound Nation teamed up with Bansuri master Tanzeem Haider, from Pakistan to prepare a set of gorgeous and highly loopable melodies, melodic runs, flutter-tongued gestures and individual notes.

Hailing from Lahore, Tanzeem began playing the flute at age 7, practicing anywhere he could, "at home, at school, on the streets”, and after taking a job as a barber, playing even in between customers. Inspired by Pandit Hari Parasad Chourasia, Tanzeem developed a highly imaginative style and a unique full tone. This pack features Tanzeem improvising both traditional and contemporary melodies with a range of techniques across a set of Bansuri of different lengths and tunings.