🐋 Expedition: The Song of the Whale

A Multi-Disciplinary Search for Connection

Moonraker is proud to serve as the research base for "Serenades At Sea" an extraordinary project blending marine biology, improvisational jazz, and visual art. This expedition will traverse the vital migratory routes of the humpback whale, with key research phases taking place in Cape Verde, the Caribbean, and the Azores.

🎷 The Call and Response: A Duet with Giants

There is a moment on the ocean, when the engine is cut and the wind dies down, where the silence is absolute. It is in this silence that John Pål Inderberg will lift his saxophone.

We aren't just looking for whales; we are inviting them to the surface. Our hope is as simple as it is profound: that the vibrations of the saxophone—carried through the air and conducted through Moonraker’s steel hull—will reach a humpback whale below. We are waiting for that breath of mist on the horizon, for a giant to breach the surface, and for the moment the whale decides to sing along.

Our Mission: Can Art Save the Oceans?

Through high-fidelity audio and film documentation, this project explores whether the intersection of art and science can help us understand the challenges faced by both humans and animals.

The goal is twofold:

  1. Scientific Discovery: Documenting acoustic interactions and marine behavior in real-time.

  2. Human Awakening: Using music and painting to foster empathy for the natural world and the urgent environmental crises of our time.

The Team

To communicate with the giants of the deep, we have brought together two masters of their crafts:

John Pål Inderberg:

Musician

One of Scandinavia’s most influential jazz musicians and a professor of music, John Pål is a master of improvisation. On this voyage, his "stage" is the deck of Moonraker. He isn't just playing at the ocean; he is listening for the rhythmic complexities of the humpback whale, seeking a cross-species musical dialogue that transcends human language.

As a professional biologist, Frode provides the scientific framework for our marine encounters. As an accomplished painter, he translates the raw, emotional power of the Atlantic onto canvas. His work explores the "hidden" challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss through both data and aesthetics.

Biologist & Artist

Frode Aarvik

🎙️ Technical Specs: The Floating Laboratory

To document this dialogue between the saxophone and the sea, Moonraker will be outfitted with specialized acoustic and cinematic equipment. Our goal is high-fidelity documentation that serves both artistic release and scientific inquiry.

Acoustic & Recording Gear

  • Broadband Hydrophones: High-sensitivity underwater microphones capable of capturing the infra- and ultra-sonic frequencies of humpback vocalizations.

  • The "Steel Resonator": Utilizing Moonraker’s 20-ton steel hull as a natural acoustic conductor for live monitoring.

  • Multi-Track Field Recording: Professional-grade digital recording interfaces to ensure no nuance of the "dialogue" is lost to wind or wave noise.

Documentation & Film

  • Cinematic Field Cameras: Outfitted for low-light and high-moisture environments to capture the interaction between musician and mammal.

  • Aerial Reconnaissance (Drone): Used for non-intrusive tracking of whale pods to position Moonraker optimally for acoustic engagement.

  • The Studio Deck: A dedicated space for Frode Aarvik’s plein-air painting, capturing the immediate visual data of the North Atlantic.