What is? (2001) continues my research into the use of vocal material in acousmatic music begun in Serpentina. The source material is a collection of interviews from composers and concert-goers responding to the question ‘What is contemporary music?’ and was commissioned by the Paragon Ensemble, Scotland. The recorded material was recorded on different ‘lo-fi’ and ‘hi-fi’ mediums, including dictaphone, cassette walkman, mini-disc, and DAT to enhance the variety and character of the interviewees voices and responses to the question. Like Postcard from Mostar it was important for some text content to be heard and understood; however I was keen not to present a narrative and detract from the compositional character of stutters, ‘erms’ and half attempted sentences.