Lawrence Abu Hamdan's Sonic Investigations Expose Government Cover-Ups

Lawrence Abu Hamdan, the founder of Earshot, an organization specializing in audio forensics, explores government concealment through sound. On March 15, 2025, a silent vigil in Belgrade, Serbia, honoring victims of a railway station disaster was interrupted by a loud, unidentified noise. Protesters suspected it was an LRAD 450XL sonic weapon, which is illegal in Serbia, a claim the Serbian government refuted. Earshot analyzed witness accounts to reconstruct the 'fugitive sound,' leading President Aleksandar Vučić to label the allegations a British conspiracy. Abu Hamdan, who won the 2019 Turner Prize, has upcoming projects including '450XL: The Story of a Fugitive Sound' in Venice and an event at London's Barbican Centre (September 23-26, 2026) featuring various activities. He also investigated the deaths of 15 paramedics in Gaza and examined the calls of six-year-old Hind Rajab, suggesting her cousin was likely shot by the Israeli army. The IDF denied being in the vicinity. Based between London and Lebanon, Abu Hamdan introduced the concept of 'private ear,' advocating for listening as a form of political resistance.