Sounds of St Helena
Hear the island
Play it once, Sam, for old times’ sake. Play ‘As Time Goes By’{1}{a}
⏱ QUICK READ
There are plenty of opportunities on Saint Helena Island Info to read about and see St Helena. On this page we provide some ways for you to hear it.
This page features recordings of ambient sounds - things just happening - for you to play to give an audio flavour of daily life on St Helena{2}. Most of these sounds also appear on the page where they are relevant, as indicated. A great many other more formal recordings - speeches, radio broadcasts, etc. - also appear on this site; see our page Audio Index for a list of them all.
SEE ALSO: Our page Music discusses the island’s ‘music scene’ and fans of Country Music will want to see our page Country Music.
Contemporary Sounds
Most of the sounds below were recorded for Saint Helena Island Info by 
Burgh House Media Productions from 2019 to 2026.
Below: People Nature Structures Music Live Radio
People
Nature
{4}
Structures
Music
In some cases we use the term ‘music’ rather loosely…☺
See also music from The Big Easy on our page Music.
Live Radio
You can listen live to our island radio stations, via their websites. Go to:
‘Listen Live’ |  |
‘Listen Live’ | |
You cannot listen live to SAMS Radio 2 because it simply relays the BBC World Service, which can be streamed direct from the BBC (www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_world_service).
Other Sounds
These are sundry older recordings of ambient sounds that, like the ones above, conjure up an audio ‘picture’ of St Helena…
Based on the film ‘2001’ and its computer ‘HAL’
Credits:
{a} Ilsa Lund, character in the film Casablanca{b} recorded by the editor of this website from his home in Napoleon Street{c} Pilling Primary School{d} Fantom Island Studios{e} Copyright © 1962 Film Unit, used with permission{f} Radio St Helena/Museum of St Helena, digitised by Burgh House Media Productions{g} St Helena National Trust
Footnotes:
{1} Usually (but incorrectly) rendered as Play it again, Sam.{2} Cynics PLEASE NOTE: We did actually record these sounds in the places indicated. No sound-effect files were used!{3} The thumping sounds are larger objects being washed down by the force of the water.{4} Since the extensive 2025 tree-pruning, most of the birds no longer nest in the Duke of Edinburgh Playground, and hence there is no dawn- or evening ‘chorus’. Hopefully, if the trees are allowed to grow back, they will return.{5} PLEASE NOTE: There are many sources on the Internet purporting to give news and information about St Helena. Some of these are not reliable and you should use them with caution (our social media feeds are, of course, completely safe and reliable!).