Monday, June 02, 2014

Seven questions with ... Greg Moorcroft aka eyes cast down



There is something wonderfully spiritual about some forms of ambient music ... I find these forms reach into my soul like no other music. The music may be created to be spiritual and then again it may not ... but, due to its very nature, it is possible to project a spirituality onto it whether it be the deeply meditative of certain longform drones or the wildly joyful of more upbeat, trancey sounds ... this is my 'worship' music now.

One proponent of this form of ambient music is musician Greg Moorcroft aka eyes cast down. His contributions to the Free Floating winter compilations all|is|calm are exceptional. I have recently obtained a promo copy of his latest album - Divinations - and look forward to digging into that.

As is my way, I asked Moorcroft if he'd be interested in answering a few questions for this ol' blog. I'm delighted to say he agreed.

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Greg Moorcroft. I use the artist name eyes cast down. I am a composer, musician, recording artist and live performer. I work primarily - though not exclusively - in the ambient-atmospheric world.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
I’ve just released Album #2, Divinations, on my Kalindi Music label. Album #3, Pastimes of Creation, is very nearly finished, so that’s the priority now.


3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
My main man is Steve Roach, whom I hugely enjoyed interviewing three years ago. His music provides an endlessly-deep well of inspiration.


- Name a place that has inspired you.
I love getting out into nature. The most inspiring place I’ve been to is Cranberry Lake Park in upstate New York, on a camping holiday.


- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
Drumming. I go to a monthly group, which is tons of fun. I really should take my portable recorder next time, because some good grooves often magically appear.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
The word “drive” says it all. I have to make music. I don’t have any choice about it; it’s in my bones. I love it. I would do it for myself alone, if I had to, but being able to share it is better.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
True spirituality, which requires humility; love, which can grow only from that point; the courage to undergo necessary introspection; and a delight in the amazing power of Creation, of which I aspire to be a medium.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
In this sense, “community” means “kindred spirits” who value the music as I do - as critically important, as soul-shaking, ritual, deepcore magic. It’s fantastic that such a community exists; for me, its hub is the Relaxed Machinery community.


7) What is next for what you do?
The next project is either: begin recording Album #5 (which is entirely written), or finish writing Album #6 (which is half written). After those are both recorded, I think it will be time for the Concerto for Ambient Orchestra project. That is going to be … something other.

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Thanks Greg.

The first four tracks of Divinations were all released on Free Floating netlabel - Conceptionall|is|calm 2011all|is|calm 2013, and all|is|calm 2012 - with the final piece, Ensō (a live laptop/softsynth improvisation with Avian and human voices added during postproduction in May 2014) originating from an art show in May 2012.

I'm glad to have all these tracks in one place and recommend you check out the album: Divinations

Sunday, June 01, 2014

What I listened to ... May 2014



The big discovery in May was The Tolkien Ensemble with their 'authorised' renditions of the songs contained with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. For a Tolkien geek like me, this was Christmas.

One thing to note:
No Cousin Silas ... why? because I've been listening exclusively to the pre-mastered tracks from 'The Sound of Silas' via Quicktime on my laptop. I cannot wait to share this album with you.

I also have been doing a lot of 'offline' listening while at home: bands like Sigur Ros, Tiny Leaves, Zenjungle, Snoqualmie Falls, Snowbird, Radiohead, Yes, RustieJon Anderson, and Brian Eno ... have been consumed offline either on LP or CD.

- Tx


June 2014's Wallpaper



The wallpaper for June 2014 was taken during our Easter break, when we went to view the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. Not only does the building contain some stunning artwork, it is beautiful to look at too ... a stunning piece of modern architecture. The wallpaper is attempt at capturing the gist of this Glaswegian landmark.

Usual flavours are available below.

Tx

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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Seven questions with ... Alex aka musician Mogi Grumbles



I'll admit to being a bit of a chancer sometimes ... I figure you have to make your opportunities, without being rude about it, when one is presented.

Case in point is a conversation I had earlier in the week with Mogi Grumbles. My friend SDA is a huge soundtrack fan ... obsessed to the point that's pretty much all he listens to. I love his dedication and geekery, and get a lot from his love of this form of predominately orchestral music. He is on holiday at the moment and, while away, I suggested he check out the music of Mogi Grumbles ... a musician on Moodgadget who has re-scored a couple of my fave films - Tron & Escape from New York - with a more 'now' soundtrack of Ghostly-esque analogue electro.

I sent this recommendation via Twitter ... and Mogi Grumbles replied to say 'thanks'. I hadn't @'d him in or anything ... I wasn't being intrusive ... and, as such, I really appreciated his contact.

So, while we talked briefly, I asked if he'd be up for answering my wee blog interview. I'm delighted to say Mogi Grumbles agreed!

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am Alex aka Mogi Grumbles, I make electronic music ranging from hard electro dance jams to slower more ambient soundtrack stuff.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
Right now I am finishing up another video game soundtrack for http://www.perfectwavegames.com/ on their game "Gravitanks".


3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
Firstly my friends and peers from Moodgadget and Ghostly. I've been blessed to have grown up here in Ann Arbor alongside those guys.

Secondly the biggest names that have influenced the last couple albums have been John Carpenter, Boards of Canada, Umberto, all the Italians do it better stuff and the Drokk album. Before that, Daft Punk, Justice, the rest of the Ed Bangers and a lot of the older guys too. Underworld, Orbital, stuff like that.

- Name place that has inspired you.
My studio is pretty inspirational to be in when it's all cleaned up, but one of my favorite places to work at back in the day was at a pub. Me and a couple friends would go grab a pint or two and bring our laptops and have a "beat off." It was like a friendly competition to push the other guy into writing some music.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
-As much as I hate to say it, new gear has always been a source of inspiration. Or old gear for that matter... I just like keeping it fresh. I do have some staples that I'll never get rid of, the SH 101, the Moog, but I do really like finding new sounds from unfamiliar hardware or software. Getting into the individuality of a particular synth is intoxicating to me. Every synth is completely unique.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
I've always been driven by the fun of it all. It's incredibly fun to make music. So I try and keep it fun all the time. If I had to rely on music to be my main source of income it would stress me out too much and I think it would really kill my motivation to have fun and be creative.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
I don't really have any values in my music, it's fairly simple in that regard. There is a range of emotional tones I.E. this song is a "sad" song vs. this is a "happy" song. I get a lot of feedback from programmers saying they really enjoy my music while they code. Something about the instrumentals and the driving beats probably helps them stay productive.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
It's a pretty big deal to me. From my immediate peers that I've known personally to the people I've met through the world wide web. All I require is at least one person to say "good job" or "thanks" and I'm a happy guy. So I've felt extremely humbled from the Fract OSC fans who've reached out to say that to me.


7) What is next for what you do?
After Gravitanks I've got a couple more "re-scores" I'd like to do. One solo project and the other a collaboration. I don't want to say too much about either one at the moment in fear of jinxing it. But after my little break from Fract OSC - http://fractgame.com/ - it's back to the studio. Looking forward to getting some new equipment to play with!

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Thanks for this!

I've embedded Bandcamp players below to let you hear Mogi Grumbles' music ... I am a particular fan of re-scoring work for Tron & Escape from New York. I have also embedded Tron with the re-score for your viewing pleasure. I hope you get as much from Mogi Grumbles' music as I do.








Mogi Grumbles - End Of Line [Original Tron Re-Score] from Moodgadget on Vimeo.


Friday, May 30, 2014

Loving ... "Dream Sequence" by Snoqualmie Falls



I recently received in the post 2 CDs from Gavin Catling's 'Twice Removed Records' microlabel ... one was the Zenjungle CD that I had purchased and the other was "Dream Sequence" by Snoqualmie Falls.

Snoqualmie Falls are Alicia Merz (Birds of Passage) and Jeff Stonehouse (Listening Mirror / Jffstnhs) ... two deeply interesting and influential artists in their own right who, working together, have created something very special indeed.

Ever since I received "Dream Sequence" I have obsessed over it ... playing it almost on repeat on my hi-fi. It is a 59 minute longform ambient piece that eloquently expresses my current mood as I sit, confined to my house with my second 'secondary infection' as a result of catching whooping cough in December last year.

I am very fortunately to hear a lot of longform music through my work with weareallghosts ... folks like Cousin Silas and Scott Lawlor are making some remarkable music these days ... as is Earlyguard over in Germany.

"Dream Sequence" is most definitely up there with their very best ... but is also separated from them due to the organic nature of Snoqualmie Falls' sound.

It is heavy but not too heavy ... deep but not too deep ... it has movement and a sense of rhythm - an organic ebb and flow - that I find engaging. "Dream Sequence" makes a fitting background to work.

But it is more than that, however ... when studied, when focussed upon it becomes apparent that this is an exemplary piece of music, one where remarkable care and attention has been poured into. The use of 'disembodied' vocals is a stroke of genius that I find both haunting and inspiring.

All in, "Dream Sequence" by Snoqualmie Falls is a soundscape that needs to be experienced as much as heard ... it needs to be felt ... and, given time and patience, it will reward those who experience it. It has rewarded me.



Loving ... "Credo" by Kjartan Sveinsson



Every-so-often I hear something so utterly breathtaking ... that I stop, do nothing and simply soak it up.

On November 16, 2010, Kjartan Sveinsson (formerly of Sigur Ros) performed in The Whitelight Festival, along with Jonsi & Alex and The Hilliard Ensemble. Kjartan composed Sonnets of his own, as well as the world premiere of his new piece entitled Credo. Credo is Latin for "I believe".

Credo is truly beautiful and I defy anyone not to be moved by it.

Thanks to Mark for the original share.

Tx

Seven questions with ... Gowaart aka Yadyn


Photograph by Sarah Badisco

I am currently off my work with a bronchial infection ... I have lowered immunity as a result of my whooping cough and now have an infection that has narrowed my airways and gives me asthma-like symptoms. As such, I've been told to rest by my Doctor and my boss at work. Whilst I am able to read, listen to music and watch films, I've not been able to write. It is, therefore, brilliant that a number of willing creatives have been able to fill the gab by doing the majority of the writing for me.

Case in point is a lovely chap called Gowaart who creates some remarkably beautiful neo-classical soundscapes under the name of Yadayn that centre on his finger-picking approach to playing acoustic guitar. Whilst this technique isn't unique ... I'm thinking John Williams, for example ... his use of it in combination with neo-classical sounds is. At least I think it is. I've been rather taken with his current EP - "Vloed" - which was formed, as the liner notes state...
"...out of the bulk of material written in the last few years five longform compositions for guitars were selected, flooded with notes, littered with arpeggio’s and sparsely populated by meaningful silences."
I really, really liked what I heard ... so, when talking with Gowaart, I am delighted to say he agreed ... this is what he had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am Gowaart, a Belgian guitarist active in a few projects but at the moment predominantly in Yadayn, a solo project completely focused on my guitar playing. The name yadayn means "two hands" in Arabic, and pins down the basic idea of what I try to do: bring music by just using my two hands and a guitar.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
The cool little label Navalorama Records just released my debut album "Vloed", so most of my energy goes into promoting it at the moment. I'm trying to play live as much as possible. At the same time I'm always working on new material, some of it in the same vein as the music on the first album, some of it going in somewhat different directions. I've been working out a few longer songs in which loops play a much larger role and I have a few songs with vocals laying around which I'd like to finish, but I have a very mediocre singing voice so I have to find a way around that (interested singers may contact me any time by the way).


3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
Probably the largest influence on my music has been my father, who is a professional classical guitarist, although he has been playing different, semi-improvised spiritual music for the last decade or so which I find less inspiring. I grew up with his music and the classical music he used to play in the background, so every time I hear one of his old pieces or a piece by, say, Tarrega or Villa-Lobos it immediately brings up childhood memories. It's probably not surprising then that plenty echoes of this music can be found in my own compositions. Other musicians have inspired me too of course. Notable guitarists which I admire are James Blackshaw, Sandy Bull, Robbie Basho and Mark Kozelek. Some composers and bands I find inspiring are John Zorn, Maurice Ravel, Silver Mt. Zion, Do Make Say Think, Grails, Balmorhea and a host of others.

- Name a place that has inspired you.
The bulk of the material on "Vloed" was written while I lived in Ghent as a student, especially when I shared an appartment with my girlfriend for two years. I now live back with my parents in a sleepy town close to Brussels, so in some way the album for me is nostalgia for my student life in Ghent. Another city that has greatly inspired me and seeps through in the music is the overwhelming metropolis Cairo where I also studied for a few months.


- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
When I was on holiday a few years back in Firenze, I stumbled into an old monastery church outside of the city centre. By pure coincidence the monks were having a gregorian service. This was in a sort of crypt where the acoustics were truly remarkable and the sound of their voices completely enveloped me. Although I'm not a religious person anymore, this made a profound musical impression on me. In some ways I try to do the same with my music, pull the listener into a completely overwhelming world of sound.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
I don't really have a romantic idea about the creation of music. What drives me is purely the fact that I have fun in constructing songs and sharing them with people. I guess I'm out for some sort of recognition too, I love getting great comments about my music. So I guess there is some creative surge, but this is not per se linked to my mood at the moment. It's more of a coincidental thing.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
I find this a very difficult question. Instrumental music should not be open about values I think, it should be a vessel for the listener himself who can fill in his own thoughts and feelings.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
The town I live in now has pretty much no music scene to speak of, and I also never really felt part of a music scene in Ghent. Maybe that's why I'm playing solo! I do have a band called Zura Zaj as well though, and I'm really happy about it, although we tend to go extremely slow in developing song material. My family is an important support too. My mother has even sold quite a few CD's for me!


7) What is next for what you do?
As I said I'm promoting this album I have now, trying to play live as much as possible and in the meanwhile I slowly work on new material. Possibly there'll be a new album by mid-2015 on a nice French label that contacted me, but that's still a somewhat vague idea. In September I'll be playing live at the great Incubate Festival in the Netherlands, a gig I'm really looking forward to.

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Thank you Gowaart! I really appreciated your honesty ... and well done to your mum too, mothers are the best PR!

Take a listen to "Vloed" below and allow Gowaart's music to embrace you as it has me ... it really is something special:


Thursday, May 29, 2014

Seven questions with ... Emily Loren Moss Ferrell, founder of the Subterranean Tide Netlabel



I have a lot of respect for Emily Loren Moss Ferrell and her netlabel - Subterranean Tide ... we are on the same wavelength when it comes to experimental music and I really like the space she's created on the ol' interwebs.

She's adding value and creating culture ... and I appreciate her efforts. So much so, I asked if she'd consider answering a few questions. I'm delighted to say she agreed ... this is what she had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Emily Loren Moss Ferrell – a rather long name but I couldn't imagine dropping the Moss after I got married as I am too much influenced by my father. I run Subterranean Tide Netlabel, I'm a mom, a musician's wife, a poet's daughter and I write poetry myself. You will most likely find myself looking for something to do rather than knowing what to do. Often I find myself doing nothing but struggling with my own internal self since I've been on disability for the past 3 years.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
I'm very honoured to be working on putting out a new release for Mathias Van Ecloo under the moniker D.rhöne.  Mathias is also known for his brilliant sound work as Monolyth and Cobalt. Look for the release from Subterranean Tide out on June 12th.  Feel free to take a sneak peak at the release here: https://soundcloud.com/subterraneantide/drhone-iii-album-preview. This is the 3rd and final release for D.rhöne and it's been a true pleasure working out the details with Mathias.

I am also working on writing poetry again – I've taken quite a hiatus over the past few years.          


3) Who inspires you?
There are so many artists who inspire me, including the people I work with on a daily basis. Right now Mathias' release is moving me – sending me internally to new places as I listen to it at this very moment to help with writing this interview. These and other sound artists inspire me all the time – hence my dedication to the netlabel. I figure if I can get artists out there and heard for free then I'm also able to share a part of my own inspirations in hopes that others may experience the same.

David Teboul of Linear Bells has recently been a big inspiration. He asked me to write a poem for one of his new releases so this poem, even though it's pretty short, it has motivated me to start writing again. You can find the poem and the release at http://linearbells.bandcamp.com/album/robots-orchestra-tones.  I've been stuck with no subject matter for such a long time, while listening to this new track – the words just fell out.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
What drives me is a very complicated issue. I am consistently “un-driven” struggling with bipolar depression and just existence itself. But the music helps, the CC Music community, the musicians I've worked with, etc. The poetry is more innate, I'm highly driven when I'm manic.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
The value of art. The value of poetry, words & music. The importance of Creative Commons - it really makes art accessible to everyone and cuts out a bit of elitism - I love the idea of sharing and building upon each other's work.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
Community plays a huge role. If it wasn't for all the artists out there – there would be no label. And with no label, there would really be less for me to look forward to.


7) What is next for what you do?
Continue running the label. As I've said I've got this great release coming out from D.rhöne and something from Bengalfuel coming out later this summer. I also hope to write more this year – I'm always searching for new inspiration from the people I meet – send me your music, your thoughts, inspire me. :)

For more information on the label, go to www.subterraneantide.com and if you would like to read my poetry further, you can find some of my work over at www.emilylorenmossferrell.blogspot.com.

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Thanks Emily! I've embedded a BC player with the 'Endless Intermission' compilation from Subterranean Tide ... it features tracks from Be My Friend In Exile, Bengalfuel, Linear Bells, and Mystified amongst others and is well worth checking out ... it is also free to download!

Please do what you can to support the independent labels that support the independent musicians ... and please, please encourage Emily in all her endeavours.


Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Seven questions with ... composer Levi Patel



I got to know Levi Patel through a conversation he had with Shannon Penner aka Orbit Over Luna ... I followed the links in Patel's twitter page and checked out his current offering on Bandcamp - "Forms". I was blown away with the neo-classical elegance of what is his first EP. I then saw a connection with the fab A Strangely Isolated Place website - Ryan is truly a tastemaker, putting out Patel's first single on his label.

Anyway, we got talking and I asked Patel to complete my wee blog interview. I am delighted to say he agreed ... this is what he had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Levi Patel. I'm a 22 year old music composer and student from Auckland, New Zealand. I love to use organic instruments to create ambient/cinematic music with minimal and post-rock influences.


2) What are you working on at the moment?
I've just released my first EP named Forms and I'm working with John Beltran at Dado Records to promote that at the moment.

Something else that I'm very excited about is a collaboration between Stray Theories and myself. It's in the early stages so I won't reveal too much but I love his style and cannot wait to see where this goes.

After finishing the recording of Forms I wanted to try something new and have been writing a short series of minimal piano and string pieces. I have challenged myself to reduce the music only to its essential elements and not rely on layering as I normally would.


3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
I'm inspired by many artists but the following two musicians (I couldn't pick one) have had a particularly strong influence on my music.

The first is Rhian Sheehan. His album Standing in Silence was the perfect introduction to the genre, after one listen I knew that this was the style of music I wanted to pursue. He continues to create stunning music and to help me with advice when I need it.

The second is Alex Somers. I discovered him, as many people do, through Jónsi and their ambient album Riceboy Sleeps. Everything he touches turns to magic.

- Name place that has inspired you.
There's a small town North of Auckland named Matakana where I spend some time. The particular place is on top of a hill, surrounded by native bush, and looks out over the ocean beyond the East coast. It's the perfect isolated place to write, and where I am writing from as we speak actually.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
One idea that I often find myself considering is the fact that "good" music is subjective. Each person has their own preferences that are influenced by all kinds of things. That idea frees me to follow my instincts rather than aiming for a particular, well established "good" sound. Then I just hope that others share my preferences and will appreciate it too. It turns out that my preferences are fairly standard and I haven't created anything too outrageous, but I still find the idea and the potential it offers to be inspiring.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
(Brace yourself for clichés...) There are countless reasons why I enjoy creating music but the thing that truly drives me is the satisfaction I get when I fully express some feeling that I have, something I only can achieve with music, and when I translate an idea that exists in my head into real sound.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
I guess the main value would be honesty. I want to express myself fully and not sacrifice integrity, I think that's an important element of any quality music. There's no particular message I try to communicate with my music, I just try to make something honest and beautiful that people can enjoy.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
There isn't much of a scene where I live but right from the beginning I have been part of a wonderful community online. Of course I have friends at home who I couldn't do it without (Suren Unka - to plug a good friend of mine) but online it all began with Ryan at A Strangely Isolated Place releasing my first track and introducing me to other musicians in his network. Since then I've met many amazing people who have been invaluable during the creative process and particularly when it comes to sharing my music. It goes beyond music too, I have been in contact with all kinds of creatives including filmmakers and writers. It creates opportunities that I just wouldn't have on my own and I hope that I can pay it all back in kind once I'm more well established.


7) What is next for what you do?
I found out yesterday that I will be doing some work with two American filmmakers who are living and shooting in Seoul! It's one of my favourite places in the world and their work is always inspiring, I'm looking forward to doing that in a couple of weeks.

Later this year I want to create a proper studio in Matakana, the inspiring place I mentioned earlier. Last time I recorded in my present location I had to open my wardrobe and move my clothes aside so the cellist had enough space to bow - bedroom studios are great but they have their (sometimes awkward) downsides.

In the meantime I will be promoting Forms, working on a few collaborations, and eventually will be taking one step at a time down the long road to completing a full length album!

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Thanks Levi ... completely agree re Rhian Sheehan and Alex Somers! I look forward to hearing more from you, especially your collaboration with Stray Theories ... seriously, I cannot wait for that!

Have a wee listen to "Forms" below ... and, if you can, please buy a copy and support Patel in his endeavours:



Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Seven questions with ... Andy from A Day For Strange Birds



I love getting emails from musicians who want me to check out their work ... I check out every single one I receive and 9 times out of 10 I like what I hear.

Case in point is A Day For Strange Birds ... an ambient, post-rock project from San Antonio, Texas. Maybe I'm a sucker for 'out there' names but I really connected with 'the sound between the noise' and really recommend it.

Anyway, I got talking with Andy, the man behind A Day For Strange Birds and asked him to complete my wee blog interview ... this is what he had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?
I am Andy PS, a guitarist, bassist, and general noisemaker based in San Antonio, TX. The latest project I have been working on is A Day For Strange Birds (ADFSB).


2) What are you working on at the moment?
After finishing my first full length album for ADFSB, I’m plotting what projects to undertake next. My creative process usually works in concepts, which unfortunately either come very quickly or operate on a geologic time scale. Hopefully I’ll put some more craziness out into the ether sometime in the next couple months.


3) Who inspires you?
- Name an artist who has inspired you.
There are so many! While working on A Day For Strange Birds I’ve found myself drawing on influences from Lou Reed, William Basinski, Sigur Ros, Godspeed You! Black Emporer, and Brian Eno. But, primary among all of these is my father who is an amazing guitar player.

- Name place that has inspired you.
I think some of the desolate sounds that I’ve made come from my Midwestern upbringing and seeing the ruins of once great cities.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.
Talking to other musicians or people that appreciate music. It’s amazing to see what people love, what they can’t stand, and what they have memories tied into.


4) What drives you to do what you do?
For me, creating something out of nothing and watching it take shape is one of the best things in life. My family and friends have always pushed me to keep going and not be afraid to try new things.
ADFSB is completely different from any of the previous projects I’ve worked on, and I want to continue to see what I can come up with next.


5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?
When I started A Day For Strange Birds it was an exploration of the intricacies of sounds guitars can create. Some of the tracks build on top of old recordings I’ve done by myself or with others and I wanted to use it as a representation of where I started and where I’m going.

Everything I’ve put out with this project has been available for free. I realized that putting a valuation on music can limit its reach and wasn’t really something I was comfortable. So the approach has been to create it and release it into the wild.

Overall I’ve been operating on credo that one should strive to make art, make noise, be active, be the worst at something or the best at something but enjoy what you do.


6) What role does community play in what you do?
Community has always been a big part in playing music for me. Making friends with fellow music makers and supporting each other is what it should always be about. When I was a kid I hung around, and was involved in, the music scene in my hometown (Mt. Pleasant, MI); which was cool because everyone sort of did their own thing but we would all meet and share it at whatever venue we could get (sometimes it was a church, sometimes it was the record store, other times a coffee shop or someones house).

Now, I’ve found a similar community online through social media and music sharing sites and it’s really encouraging to see when people enjoy the noise I’ve been working on.
Some of the pettiness that I see from a lot of mainstream artists completely goes against what music should be.


7) What is next for what you do?
There are some ideas rattling around in my head but really I want to see where it takes me. It will either be a concept album of music based of my cross country travels or some sort of noisy guitar and bass symphonic experiment.

Something I’d really like to try my hand at would be working on soundtracks.
The uncertainty of what’s next is kind of exciting/terrifying but I really want to continue to grow and continue to sonically evolve.

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Thanks Andy!

If ambient, post-rock soundscapes are your thing ... then I would highly recommend 'the sound between the noise' which is available for 'pay what you want' on Bandcamp.



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