DEAFDRONES
DEAFDRONES is a hybrid sound and print project by Deaf Anthropologist (Gaetano Rago), blending ambient and noise compositions with personal writing. Created between 2021–2024, it explores how hearing loss shapes sound perception. The project was released as a digital album and a limited-edition cassette with an accompanying zine.
Technical Details:
Concept and Process:
DEAFDRONES stems from Gaetano’s experience of progressive hearing loss. It reframes sound through the lens of technologically mediated hearing, using ambient, drone, and field recordings to evoke filtered perception. The accompanying zine features essays and visuals that reflect on auditory memory, technology, and shifting sensory boundaries. The work acts as both creative expression and personal archive.
Title Meaning:
The title merges “deafness” with “drone,” referring to both the sonic quality and the endurance of navigating a changing auditory world.
Artistic Context:
The project reflects Gaetano’s broader practice combining anthropology, sound, and disability studies. DEAFDRONES is a key work that sets the stage for future releases like XENOVERSES (2026), and underscores his focus on perception, access, and technology.
Additional Information: