Sir Mustapha
Group: Musicians
Posts: 2802
Joined: April 2003 |
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Posted: Oct. 06 2005, 13:28 |
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I've got a few questions here... I'm interested in reading answers, both for curiousity, and to see if we can start an interesting coversation about our processes of making music, and such. I hope these questions aren't really too long/complex. I've given my own answers, too.
1) In general, how do you write music? Do you make it all in your head? Do you play away instruments and improvise ideas? Do you have a special technique, an unique way, or something?
My answer: Oddly enough, one of the most effective ways I have for writing music is vocalising. Yes, vocalising. When I'm on the street, or on the beach, and nobody is nearby, I often start to hum, whistle, sing, make noises with my mouth. And I have come up with many songs that way. Sometimes I create random, assorted ideas, and other times, I have came up with full songs that way. I often have to write down those ideas to keep them safe, or try to remember them for a long time and "record" them into my brain.
2) When you're making music - not in the exact moment you're writing or playing, I mean, when you're in between sessions - do you keep yourself absolutely away from listening to music? Or do you listen for just a few artists for inspiration? Or do you listen to as much music as possible for inspiration?
My answer: my philosophy is listening to as many different kinds of music as possible, so that I'll have more mature, more diverse and more interesting musical ideas. Having many different influences helps me a lot, and listening to the finished albums, one can have an idea: by the time of "Musics For Highways", I dedicated my listening to just a few bands - maybe 5. With "The Binary Sounds Of Nature", I was expanding a little towards Prog Rock. And by the time of "Buses", I was a music-hungry monster. I prefer being like that.
3) Lack of inspiration... how do you deal with it? Does it worry you? A little or a lot? Do you try to come up with techniques to gain new inspiration? Or you keep yourself busy with something else?
My answer: lately, I've been so busy with so many things, the few moments I can work with music are a gift from the Heavens. I have more inspiration than I can deal with! But when I don't have any, I try to do something else: writing, reviewing, playing games, working, whatever. I don't worry myself with lack of inspiration, really.
Just three questions. Hope to hear from you.
-------------- Check out http://ferniecanto.com.br for all my music, including my latest albums: Don't Stay in the City, Making Amends and Builders of Worlds. Also check my Bandcamp page: http://ferniecanto.bandcamp.com
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