Circuit 01: The Sound of Silence, by Gregory Warner

Audio Flux presents "The Sound of Silence," a three-minute creative audio work by Gregory Warner that explores the intersection of hearing loss and mindfulness. The narrative centers on Warner's wife, Sana Krasikov, who began hearing a "ghostly tone" during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Initially interpreted as a meditative gift or a "dome" of mental insulation from high-stress surroundings, the sound was later medically diagnosed as tinnitus. Dr. Jim Henry explains that this phenomenon occurs when the brain overcompensates for damaged inner ear hair cells by "upping its activity," effectively creating a phantom sound. The piece frames tinnitus as the brain’s refusal to let go of lost frequencies, yet Krasikov continues to embrace the tones as a signal of attained mental quiet. This exploration of "loss as a gift" was produced under specific constraints, including a three-minute time limit and the integration of personal archival tape.