Shortwave Radio and Historical Migration

The performance-broadcast at Wave Farm Radio WGXC-90.7 FM explored the migrant experience from the early 20th century through the Cold War, using shortwave radio as both medium and metaphor. Shortwave created invisible links between migrants and their homeland—transmitting language, memory, politics, and emotion across distance. Shortwave is the frequency that can transmit beyond the horizon.

What does “home” sound like from afar? How is belonging sustained sonically? Using archival broadcasts, live transmissions, field recordings and sounds crafted from self-built antennas, Shortwave Radio and Historical Migration create a layered, immersive soundscape.

Shortwave radio served as both bridge and battleground: from U.S. programs like Americans All, Immigrants All to Cold War-era broadcasts by Deutsche Welle, Radio Berlin International, and Radio Free Europe. The latter, still active today, broadcasts to places like Ukraine where analog signals remain crucial.

Though often seen as obsolete, shortwave frequencies still carry static, signal, and memory. The performance tuned into those layers—reanimating a spectrum once filled with longing, resistance, and connection.

Shortwave Radio and Historical Migration was developed during summer 26 at Interlude Artist Residency and with research time at Wave Farm in the Study Center Library.

Supported by ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen.