Over 100 individuals flocked to San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on Saturday, 12 September, to partake in a uniquely spirited event titled the “Guttural Scream at the Sea.” This unconventional competition invited participants to let out their best screams, embracing the opportunity to vent in an expressive and communal manner.
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The event took place at Vista Del Mar and featured a series of individual challenges, where competitors aimed to impress judges on the basis of volume, duration, and overall style. Once the individual performances concluded, everyone united for a collective scream, a dazzling sound resonating over the waves.
The standout performer of the day was Olivia Gugliemotto, whose boisterous scream registered an impressive 121.9 decibels. To give some perspective, this is comparable to the volume of thunder or an emergency siren, significantly louder than a typical conversation, which is around 60 decibels. Gugliemotto’s victory earned her a small megaphone, an appropriate trophy for her vocal prowess.
Speaking to SFGATE after her triumph, Gugliemotto described her screaming background. “I have screamed at the ocean before, and I grew up screaming at Lake Erie, so I have a lot of practice,” she shared. When discussing the emotions that fuelled her winning shout, she elaborated that it encapsulated many frustrations. “The world in general, I live far away from my family. That makes me sad. Capitalism, the environment, genocide, a lot of things,” she explained, highlighting the event as a form of cathartic release.
Kyana Van Houten, the second-place finisher, showcased her talent with a scream lasting 6.78 seconds and achieving a volume of 114.3 decibels, alongside securing the event’s highest style score. Van Houten, an executive director at a local arts non-profit, initially contemplated the sound of her scream but found that spontaneity took over during her performance. “I was thinking of going high to low, but I didn’t really get to the low part,” she admitted. “When they say ‘Go,’ your brain shuts off and your body takes over.”
The gathering was orchestrated by Danielle Egan, a local entrepreneur, who co-founded a startup called Outernet. Egan, motivated by a desire for people to connect with each other and the natural world without the distractions of technology, articulated her vision. “I felt like I needed a really good scream, and I think it’d be more fun with other people,” she remarked, suggesting that the many stresses of modern life provided ample reason to gather and scream together.
To prepare for the shouting competition, participants engaged in vocal warm-ups, fostering a sense of community before taking individual turns. Egan observed that the variety of performances resulted in different styles, with some screams being more guttural while others injected a lyrical quality. “I think people put a lot of personality into the screams,” she noted, illustrating the diverse expressions found throughout the competition.
Following the intense individual rounds, the atmosphere lightened as all participants came together for a grand group scream, culminating the event on a high note. After the shrieks subsided, attendees shared snacks and reflected on the unique experience they had just shared by the ocean.
The Guttural Scream at the Sea event stood as a testament to the power of collective expression and the importance of finding outlets for the myriad emotions that accompany contemporary life. Participants not only found joy in letting out their screams but also in connecting with one another amidst the coastal backdrop, creating memories that will linger long after the echoes of their voices have faded away.