Image: Album artwork, The Clouds are Gathered for the Final Storm (2026)
Congratulations to Ronan Apcar, School of Music graduate (dux), who recently released his debut electronic album titled The Clouds are Gathered for the Final Storm, released by the exploratory Canberra-based collective label Collected Resonances.
Financially supported by the 2024 ANU Love Supreme Grant, the bulk of the album was developed across two residencies in regional New South Wales: The Old School in Mount Wilson, and Bundanon in Illaroo.Established to provide a fellowship opportunity to a recent graduate with a demonstrated track record in music excellence and achievement, the $25,000 prize supports the recipient to embark on a project that develops their artistic practice to an international level.
Stepping away from the piano for the first time in this electronic album of sweeping, immersive original music, Ronan explores themes of transformation, impermanence, and existentialism. Using a synthesiser and drum machine as well as incorporating field recordings and samples (whether of the Australian bush or his own singing), Ronan weaves together a rich soundscape evoking a sense of place, vastness, and etherealness across three pieces born out of improvisations.
Of the album, Ronan says:
“ I find it hard to succinctly describe this album. The three works on this record each have a seriousness to them and some kind of ‘life-under-existential-pressure’ theme to them - like life being confronted by finality, wrestling with what could possibly come next. It’s the culmination of more than a year’s worth of experimentation in an electronic musicmaking practice that’s new to me. I’m nervous to share this with you, but I hope you can find something moving and meaningful in this music.
The Clouds are Gathered for the Final Storm can be streamed and purchased on Bandcamp.
An incredible achievement, well done Ronan!