Branko about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"My goal with each song is to have a signature producer element. It’s my version of a guitar solo."
Till Martin about Directions in Jazz
“Jazz is a personal way of life - authentic and deeply rooted, yet free from the usual clichés.“
Emilie Cecilia LeBel about Directions in Contemporary Composition
“I am excited to see boundaries becoming increasingly blurry.“
Lawrence Hart about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"I like to make the distinction between when something needs to be performed and when it needs to be drawn in. There’s always a place for both."
Jonathan Enser aka matters unknown about Jazz, Improvisation, and the EFG London Jazz Festival
“I aim to project and propel the tradition. It's a lifelong pursuit.“
The Bony King of Nowhere about his Voice and Singing
"A singer is a messenger. Your only goal is to make sure the message gets through."
Transmission Towers about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"There’s something irresistible about experimenting with dials and buttons. It’s not just play. It's how we learn."
Helge Andreas Norbakken about Drumming
“Drum brands mean nothing to me. But the quality of the sounds determines everything.”
Johnny Delaware Shares his Creative Process
“You’re on the same team with the creative forces. There’s no wrong way to get to a great song.“
Answer Code Request about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"The ability to customize, experiment, and constantly push the boundaries of sound is what keeps me inspired."
The 5 Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique about Collaboration
"Part of the deal of being together in a band is actually being together."
Koki Nakano Shares his Creative Process
"Creation is hope in this physical world. For me, there is no option for survival without it!"
Ede about DJing
"The beauty of DJing is in the live creation – it’s like painting with sound in real-time."
Zé Nigro about the Magic of Sound(s)
“For me, music can be considered the soul of the planet.“
Helena Kay about Jazz, Improvisation and the EFG London Jazz Festival
"It’s always important to acknowledge the roots of this music. It’s Black American Music."
Opolopo aka Peter Major about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“The control and precision you have in software and the endless possibilities with automation – they fuel my creativity.“
Angela Johnson about her Voice and Singing
"Speaking and singing out is what we use to connect with each other. We should all respect this kind of power."
Nelson Devereaux about The Magic of Sound(s)
“My least favorite sound as a child was the banging of pots and pans in the kitchen. It used to send me into a fury.“
Gábor Lázár about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"I like to dig deeper into my own practice and find undiscovered territories."
Tammy Weis about Jazz, Improvisation and the EFG London Jazz Festival
"Improvisation is expression. It touches the soul."
benzii Shares her Creative Process
"I use a lot of imagery to create situations that can be understood differently depending on what the listener wants to hear."
Exos about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"I really dislike fundamentalists who judge artists for wanting to experiment with different genres."
Avishai Cohen Shares his Creative Process
“Creativity is a state of mind, closer to a dream.“
Tim Rutili of Califone Shares his Creative Process
“Sometimes I trust myself to go down the rabbit hole. Sometimes I don’t trust myself at all and will still go down the hole.“
Julian Argüelles about Improvisation
“There are many ways of defining what improvisation is. I don't think one definition is enough for me.“
Bluey Thomas about his Voice and Singing
“I look at singing as if it was working out: I just make sure to get my reps in.“
Fifteen Questions Interview with Eren Erdol
“ I try to use all of my feelings and emotions while making music.“
moskitoo about the Magic of Sound(s)
“I’m drawn to the tiny sounds that get lost in everyday life. It’s like each one carries a bit of someone’s story or life.“
Gavin McCarthy of Karate about Drumming
“The most important moments are when I move from unconscious incompetence to conscious incompetence.”
Gitkin Shares his Creative Process
"The guitar, the studio—they’re tools to unlock something beautiful."
Annarella & Django about their Collaboration
"We don’t try to hold on to the music with a clenched fist, but rather in an open palm."
Minotaur Shock about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I was interested in the parallels of making music and making pots."
Dawn Richard about Improvisation, Transformable Materials, and the EFG London Jazz Festival
“Improvisation in jazz isn't just about solos anymore. It’s about creating entire soundscapes.“
Zakes Bantwini about his Voice and Singing
"In the Zulu culture we sing no matter what. Weddings, funerals, whether we are mourning or celebrating - we sing."
Rafael Anton Irisarri about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I often view my music as sculptures—frozen in time, capturing the essence of a specific moment."
Rory More of Les Hommes about Directions in Jazz
"To some, if you can’t play a standard, you’re not in the club.“
Kidnap about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Making music often feels like an archeological process."
Abby Nissenbaum Shares her Creative Process
“You can’t be liked by everyone. So I just focus on the people who do!”
Svaneborg Kardyb Share their Creative Process
“It might be a really bad idea. But I take every song we make very personally.”
Nicky Lawrence about Lyrics
"I couldn’t speak because it was too painful. So I put it all to music."
Courtney Cutchins about Directions in Jazz
“Jazz is both about group communication and cultivating one’s unique individuality. That seems like a good philosophy for life.“
Kerretta: The Band Interview
"We began performing improvised. It was only after a few years that we decided to officially begin as a group."
The King's Singers about Voice and Singing
"No instrument can express who we truly are as authentically as the human voice."
Risa Taniguchi about DJing
“Groove doesn’t come when you’re consciously trying to create it. It appears when you let go.“
Michael Cloud Duguay of Scions about Collaboration
"I’d rather work with my neighbors than famous strangers. This sentiment is something we all share in Scions."
Bryan Perri Shares his Creative Process
“I have the ability to calm my music down. But for this album I chose not to.”
Kinkajous Share their Creative Process
“At a time when you can have control over every aspect of production, the human factor and the space in between make music stand out.”
Anouar Brahem about Improvisation and the EFG London Jazz Festival
“Modern jazz is no longer confined to a genre. It embodies a creative spirit where experimentation is key.“
Jonas Kardyb of Svaneborg Kardyb about Drumming
“Timekeeping is not about following the right bpm. It’s about how it feels in your body.”
Toni Kater about Lyrics
"I'm a kind of dreamer. I don’t like to express myself concretely and clearly all the time."
Adrien Kanter Shares his Creative Process
"If something feels too familiar, I lose interest."
Yugen talk Sound
“The line between sound and music should be blurred. If there is a clear line, the possibilities become extremely limited.”
Flip the Switch
The Montreux Jazz Residency believes that personal encounters are more important than masterclasses.
The Pankisi Ensemble about Voice and Singing
"There is no influence of technology on our performance. That's our signature."
Waithaka Shares his Creative Process
“I don’t discard ideas. I revisit them years later with more appreciation and knowledge.“
Darone Sassounian about Synthetic Instincts and Minimalism
“A minimalist approach allows me to push myself while I compromise my comfort.“
Ryan Jennings about the Magic of Sound(s)
"People would communicate and understand each other more if we listened. But that’s not humans' first reaction."
Chris Barr Shares his Creative Process
“New ideas are intersections of many different ideas and data points that collide and surface on the mind.“
Victoria De Angelis about DJing
“I don’t seek validation from purists. What excites me is the freedom to experiment and innovate.“
Evan Chapman about Drumming
"Technology is pushing us towards new rhythmic possibilities we never dreamed of."
Pat Carter of Rodeo FM about Lyrics
"At their core, all my songs are about melancholy and rage."
Craig Shepard about the Magic of Sound(s)
"The sound of refrigerators has always comforted me. When the fridge comes on, I have a real sense of home."
Bendik Baksaas about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"You could call my entire process a preset."
Jessica Ackerley about All Of the Colours Are Singing and Sound Paintings
"I am seeking the ability to transition from music to visual art and vice versa without pause or need to recalibrate."
Spencer Zahn about Jazz, Improvisation, and the EFG London Jazz Festival
“Being able to hear the silence in a room while hundreds of people share in that space is very powerful.“
Jerome Sabbagh about Analog vs Digital and the Best Sounding Format
"People talk about sound neutrality. But it doesn’t really exist."
Mieke Miami about Birdland, Magical Realism, and Products of the Past
"There were some dark and stressful things happening. But I kept on and things got lighter.”
us & sparkles about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I’ve encountered profound bodily experiences through music. It’s a complex and undefined realm that goes beyond description."
Ella Ronen about Lyrics
"Music has a way into our body and into our hearts that words will never have."
Melike Şahin about Lyrics
"Words have their own melodies and weight. When we form sentences it gets heavier."
To Athena about her Voice and Singing
"Music is a gift that allows us to distill our emotions into sound. I need to use it daily."
Benjamin Amaru Shares his Creative Process
"I’m a fan of speaking the truth. One should never be afraid of trying and sharing ideas and thoughts."
Kevin Miller about Improvisation
"Taking a sound-focused approach to improvisation allows for unlimited growth."
Gewalt about Lyrics
"Most artists don't want to say anything. They just think: fuck, I need three more lyrics for our new songs."
Lenna Bahule about Lyrics
"Lyrics are information. Information is liberation or imprisonment."
MadStarBase about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Electronic music has a kind of pull. It pulls the mind into different places."
Dame Evelyn Glennie Shares her Creative Process
"We often think of something being created as not having existed before. But we have infinite ingredients out there."
Kate Campbell Strauss about Collaboration
"The tone of the collaboration is what's most important, rather than the exact model."
Marius Neset Shares his Creative Process
"Everything that happens in life is an inspiration to compose music."
Leif Vollebekk about Lyrics
"Some words fight the song. It's like the furniture won't fit through the door and you have to shave off a corner."
Nubya Garcia Shares her Creative Process for Odyssey
"I'm all about the actual performance. I want to know that the music is real."
Matthias Kohler about Transgenerationalism, Childhood Mysteries, and Heroic Dreams
“I try to get away from certainty as much as I can.“
Ibukun Sunday about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Sound and music are one of the languages of the soul."
Bi Disc about the Magic of Sound(s)
"If music has a certain amount of noise in it, I like listening to it more."
Martin Brodin about Disco and the Neverending Conversation between Tradition and Innovation
"Disco has its own depth—whether it’s the production, how it brings people together, or how it reflects the culture of its time."
Gene Coleman about Neuro Music, Synapse Bowing, and Using the Auditory Pathways of the Brain
"I don’t want to travel where most composers go."
Carmen Souza about her Voice and Singing
"Technology can become a supermarket. It gives you music made by statistics and formulas."
Telekaster about the Magic of Sound
"The sound of frying in a pan is beautiful in my ears, It can be very diverse and dynamic."
Lady Tazz about DJing
“As a DJ you can make people step out of their boundaries - how sexy is that for a job description?“
Black Brunswicker about the Magic of Sound(s)
"We tune out the drone and humdrum of everyday life. But the sounds are still there."
Jowee Omicil about Improvisation
"The key to improvisation is to release yourself. And when you've been released—who knows what’s gonna come out?"
Mehmet Aslan talks Sound
“Music is about emotions, a narrative, a beginning and an end. Sound deals with what is there, what occupies the space.”
Tools of Creation: The Lyre
For Thanasis Kleopas and Theodoros Koumartzis, the Lyre connects science with art – allowing the heart to come to the fore.
NIGHT TAPES Share their Creative Process
"There’s a moment of stillness after a release. You’ve given so much of yourself to something, and now it’s out there on its own."
Jerome Sabbagh about Analogue Philosophy and Conversations about Anything
"A lot of the records we love have little imperfections. They are not any less amazing for it."
Léo Belthoise about the Evolution of Making Art
"Making Art for Art's sake is becoming less important than building bridges."
Thomas Prunier about Pont Neuf, the Diversity of French House, and Unique Musical Universes
"We launched our label, and one of the biggest clubs in Paris agreed to give us the keys to the club once every two months. We couldn’t believe it."
Housemeister about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"The matrix is coming. It's great and weird."
Myles Sanko about his Voice and Singing
"My voice is an essential part of how I express myself and connect with others."
Travis Laplante Shares his Creative Process
"Sometimes composing can feel like love-making. Sometimes it can feel like I’m bashing my head into a brick wall."
Jeff Snyder about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"I'm not sure there are rules for sound design. I'm also not sure there are rules for harmony."
Li Daiguo about Rituals
"What artists are trying to sell as spiritual performances is full of shit. But in a cute way."
Bernhard Living about his Composing Grid and the Unrevealed Secrets of Western Music
"I do not regard my music to be an expression of emotions or feelings - but as an expression of musical ideas and of the unfolding of time."
Human Rias about the Magic of Sound
"If we prioritised listening over looking, our world would bloom with deeper connections and understanding."
NicoNote about her Voice and Singing
"The voice manifests the body. The life pulse. The blood and the spirit. The here and now."
Michael Begg about Climate Lessons from Antarctica, and how Science and Art can Make a Difference
"We’re absurdly lucky to be here. So why do we flirt continually with the end?"
Jules Ahoi Shares his Creative Process
"There are many aspects of my new album that a professional producer would handle differently."
Tensen Park on Production, Technology, and Creativity
"AI will become an integral part of our DAWs. But in a fun way."
Seaworthy & Matt Rösner about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Is there a pathway to interspecies communication? Maybe - I’m just not quite sure animals would have anything nice to say about people!"
Nico van Wersch Shares his Creative Process
"It's not exciting to do what you can. It's exciting to do what you can't."
Malcolm Pardon about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Sight without sound or the other way round would not be the full experience for me."
Ajukaja & Mart Avi about their Collaboration
"Sometimes it feels like walking into a pub. Other times like stepping into a church."
Tigran Hamasyan Shares his Creative Process
"You have to balance thinking and emotion. Neither should take over."
Francesco Leali talks Sound
"Listening means paying close attention. Hearing is more of a passive action. I feel some people mistake the two."
Joe Tatton about Improvisation
"Forgetting is important. I think that’s where new ideas are born."
The Third Sound: The Band Interview
"As long as there are ideas that excite us we can keep doing it."
Karolina Wegrzyn about her Voice and Singing
"Children in schools are told to keep quiet most of the day. From a healthy voice point of view this is not helpful."
Yuu Udagawa about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"The process of connecting sounds often mirrors life."
Efrim Menuck (Godspeed You! Black Emperor, WE ARE WINTER’S BLUE AND RADIANT CHILDREN): Memories in Sound
"Sound comes at us from everywhere. In each unraveling instant, we rummage through that pile instinctively, we focus and we discern."
Creative Profile: The Necks
It's an Organism: A Deep Dive into the Work of Hypnotic Improv Trio The Necks
Daniela Belcheva about her Voice and Singing
"Sometimes it feels like my forehead sings, or my fingers sing, or the skin all over."
Jean-Phi Dary about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"All my collaborations are first and foremost human adventures."
Citron Citron about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Music can't be touched or seen. It's important to deal with that."
Nikka Costa Shares her Creative Process for Dirty Disco
"It takes incredible calm to feel comfortable making art about happiness."
Renato Ratier about DJing, Production and Dance Music in Brazil
“I believe that my new club Surreal is a unique experience in club culture."
Lara Jones about the Magic of Sound(s)
"It’s so magical ... the power of a chant, a rhythm, a lyric … that moment when everyone knows the drop is coming."
Jeff Snyder about Loom, Implausibility, and Unstratifying Dance Music
"I'm not from a DJ background. I wonder how much this album will serve the dance music purpose."
Bistro Boy about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Many of us take our senses for granted. Seeing and hearing - what a gift we have been given!"
Cercle about Spectacular Fictional Worlds and Memories you can Touch
"We're in the midst of a renewal of the experience that artists want their audiences to enjoy."
Ishmael Ensemble about Rituals, Recording Vastness, and Shedding Embarrassment
“Jazz in its purest form means freedom. That’s what i strive for.”
Heli Hartikainen about Improvisation
"When performing, I always lead myself into “trouble” at least once."
Noé Franklé about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Giving yourself limitations is a great way to be creative. It pushes you to dig deeper."
Alvin Schwaar Shares his Creative Process
"Music is a place where I am fully there. Everything should be possible."
Dustin Wong about Improvisation
“When a group of people listen and search together, it creates that fluid place.”
Divanhana: The Band Interview
"It can get intense. But everyone is striving for the best possible outcome."
Timothy Archambault Shares his Creative Process
“Creation reflects a yearning for understanding.”
Etienne Nillesen about Improvisation
"It’s a misconception that improvising musicians don’t need to rehearse."
Li Daiguo about Music's Social Responsibility
"When I make my sounds, I always remember that they should take me to experiencing truth."
An Alien Called Harmony: The Band Interview
"We are constantly searching for ways to make a better world through questioning ourselves, our fellow humans and the things we build and destroy."
André Klein (Earth Ship, The Smokin ’44’s) about Drumming
"I like the feel and smell of vintage instruments. It seems they have old spirits living in them."
Romain FX about Making Italo Disco Great Again
"Hong Kong's discotheques in the 70s and 80s were the epitome of desire."
Rokia Koné Shares her Creative Process
“I do not find it useful to record many versions of the same thing. It makes me lose interest in what I’m doing.”
Rita Ray about Jazz, Improvisation, and Collaboration
"I hate to stay in the same place for too long."
Tashi Wada Shares his Creative Process for What Is Not Strange?
“Once the music is out in the world, you have to let it be and live its own life.”
Jerome Sabbagh about Audiophile Records, Great Sound, and the Double-Edged Digital Sword
"Everyone knows that I don’t really do edits. It puts all musicians in a different mindset."
Chuck Johnson about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I abhor fireworks. I can’t understand why people willingly want to be in a sonic equivalent to a warzone."
Tour-Maubourg about his Path in Music, Life-Changing Transitions, and Complete Honesty
"I don't see the point of making music if it doesn't leave a mark."
Emily Frembgen Shares her Creative Process
“I used to be able to write ANYWHERE. Now I need a completely empty desk and three uninterrupted hours.”
Lara Downes about Interpretation
"Connecting with tradition, but also forging your own path - it's a beautiful balance."
Heli Hartikainen about Instruments as an Extension of the Body
"My spine has twisted around my saxophone. I’ve literally grown together with it."
Hannah Laing about DJing
“DJing is the only time I feel fully switched off from the noise of the outside world.“
RIZTS about Lyrics
"When words and music work together, a whole new world of possibility opens up."
Wild Anima about Sonic Phytosynthesis, and the Best Plantmusic Devices
"Playing with plants amazes me every time. It's an entirely new genre of music."
Brian Johnson Shares his Creative Process
“The humanization of electronic music separates basic from advanced artists.”
Joki about Technology, Creativity, and Producing for Britney Spears
"If original is something that’s never been done before, I don’t think anyone would enjoy it."
Jason Kahn Shares his Creative Process
“I myself might not even understand what a work is about. Therefore I can't expect others to do any better.”
Creative Profile: Kelly Lee Owens
Holding Space via Sound: A Deep Dive into the Work of Producer and Songwriter Kelly Lee Owens.
Cosmonection about the Romance of Sound and Drums that sound like a Landscape
"I have a lot of respect for machines and the sounds around us. I try to use them with my heart."
Bremer/McCoy about the Magic of Sound(s)
"We wrote a tune in a water tower with a 20 second reverb. Unfortunately, we can’t play it anywhere else."
Gregory Uhlmann about Improvisation
"Improvising with inspiring people is the best way to learn and expand your world."
Isik Kural about Lyrics
"The ideal setting for the lyrics of my new album? A music that disappears."
Jacob Bergson aka Taut about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"There’s a tremendous structural freedom in electronic music - if you choose to take advantage of it."
Senaerya about the Magic of Sound(s)
"No one chooses to look how they’re born. But what they have to say and believe is their choice."
Ayumi Ishito about Improvisation
"Since I started playing free improvised music, I have become more accepting of myself."
Florian Naegeli Shares his Creative Process
“Prince and Stevie Wonder were constantly creating. Doing it will make you better."
Sebastian Oswald about Bach Inventions, Bach Interpretations, and Bach's Intentions
"I wouldn't be surprised if Bach eventually told me: Nah, sorry, not my cup of tea."
The Chuchchepati Orchestra about Playing with Insects, Biotremology, and Respect towards Nature
"These insect recordings are extremely complex. They contain both solos and duos that communicate with each other."
Wehbba about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"At some point, equipment stops being inspiring and becomes a limitation."
SUDO Share their Creative Process
“I could never lie to myself. I want to create with sincerity and honesty in my heart."
Creative Profile: Ty Segall
Experiences Only: A Deep Dive into the Work of songwriter and producer Ty Segall.
The Magician about Disco
"Belgian disco has always been a bit surrealist. It is made with the Belgian humor touch."
MANJA about the Magic of Sound(s)
"We talk about a song as a space. Almost like a room that needs to be filled."
Passepartout Duo about Collaboration
"In an improvisation, every participant is putting a musical offering into the mix. All the others are called to respond to it."
Anton Friisgaard about the Magic of Sound(s)
"It’s really important to be curious about different sound languages to explore our own, and the common soul."
Natisa Gogol about her Voice and Singing
"For a singer, it's crucial to sing regularly. Not doing so can lead to illness."
Morten Duun about Improvisation
"The lines between inventing and inventively re-arranging are blurry."
Harry Towell aka Glåsbird and Spheruleus about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I grew up with the whir of machinery in nearby factories. It never bothered me."
Magro about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“Electronic music gives me the freedom to express myself exactly the way I hear it. No musician would be able to do that for me."
Basile3 about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Electronic music is escapism, it’s a dream, it’s fantasy, it’s the unknown."
Fabio Perletta talks Sound
"I don’t like endless possibilities anymore. Limitation makes us value the beauty of life."
Sababa 5 and Yurika about their Collaboration
"It’s not necessarily about fun, but about creating something meaningful."
Rosbeh Shares his Creative Process
“If we don't take steps outside our comfort zone, we will never discover the beauty of uncertainty."
Creative Profile: Caterina Barbieri
The Cosmic Vastness of the Inner World: A Deep Dive into the Work of Sound Artist Caterina Barbieri.
Elif (TR) about Music and Architecture
“In architecture school I was creating stories of people who’d experience the building. It’s a very similar thing the DJ does."
Zar Shares his Creative Process
“Collaborating is a really vulnerable thing. It’s allowing yourself to make mistakes in front of others."
Mike Eckroth (Orquesta Akokán) Shares his Creative Process
“The main part of the ritual is the deadline."
Indus about the Magic of Sound(s)
"On the Caribbean coast, if a neighbor plays loud music, sometimes that's viewed as a gift to other people."
Alejandro Mosso about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"It's essential to dominate the technology, not let it dominate you."
Tools of Creation: The Harmonica
For The Harpoonist, the Harmonica's reeds allow it to soar into the heavens.
The Greeting Committee Share their Creative Process
“I don’t feel very spiritual. This gives me a bit of imposter syndrome.”
Ultramarine about the Magic of Sound(s)
"We produce most of our music in a grim, windowless, and slightly smelly rehearsal room. We find it very conducive to work."
Ewa Justka about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I seriously cannot care about the current state of electronic music. It's absolute garbage."
Xenia Manasseh about her Voice and Singing
"There are certain things I can’t express properly if I don’t sing them."
Jacob Plasse (Orquesta Akokán) Shares his Creative Process
“People sometimes see this band as a novelty act. But this is the music we all love."
Lewis Gill Shares his Creative Process
“You can only give a piece a certain length of time. You just have to take a chance."
Wild Anima about Interspecies Communication
"Having plants as co-creators is a new development in my creativity."
Nicolas Bernier and David Caulet about their Collaboration
"After 30 seconds, we looked at each other. We knew that something was happening."
Sinca about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I’ve learned a lot from technically minded producers. But sometimes you just have to ask: Does this sound good?"
Habibi Share their Creative Process
“We bring some fully fleshed, half fleshed and some bare-boned skeletons!"
corto.alto about 30/108, Overcoming Doubts, and Finishing Things
“It’s an artist’s responsibility to turn their ideas into things that can impact and make change.“
Stoked about Techno in India
“The techno scene in India is bourgeoning and constantly evolving."
Font Share their Creative Process
“Music isn’t language. That’s crucial to its fundamental cultural function."
Tools of Creation: The Qanun
For Ghenwa Nemnom, the Qanun is a complex instrument with a wide spectrum of tonalities and keys.
Rontronik about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Who wants to spend time in an environment that does not sound good?"
Booker Stardrum of SML about Drumming
"Many times, I don’t want drums to sound like drums at all!"
Kessoncoda about their Collaboration
"Standing by your own convictions is important. But you can’t always work with that mindset."
Imagination Engine
The Montreux Jazz Festival's archive is one of the music world's biggest treasures. It is also at the heart of a paradox.
corto.alto about the Montreux Jazz Festival and jazz in 2024
“Some things can ONLY happen live.“
Creative Profile: Kali Malone
Organs, Tunings, Leaf-Blowers: A Deep Dive into the Work of Composer Kali Malone
F.S.Blumm Shares his Creative Process
“Sometimes when you're recording, you ask yourself: Who is this? Is it really me!?"
Alex Groves and Philipp Rumsch about their Collaboration
"I knew that whatever was brought to the table would enhance the project, presenting ideas and perspectives I would never have thought of."
Ariadne Randall about Lyrics
"I don’t think anyone really understands music. If someone says they do, they’re either naïve or lying."
Etienne Charles about Improvisation
"The trumpet is always with me. It’s in my bed right now, next to me."
Die Wilde Jagd about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I love the sound of ice cubes moving in a big, solid whiskey glass."
Guti of Modal Tune about Collaboration
"I had no idea where we were going. This is where the good songs are crafted."
Chaz Prymek aka Lake Mary about Collaboration
"A great collaborator will make space for adventure."
Nia Chennai about her Voice and Singing
“I love a good tone. It always feels raw and personal.”
Corey duBrowa about An Ideal For Living and the Magic of the EP
“An EP is the musical Goldilocks; not too hot, not too cold. Just right."
Double Talk Share their Creative Process
“Creativity definitely pushes me to unhealthy habits."
Donna Lewis Shares her Creative Process
“There's a song of mine that I've recorded four different versions of. I still don’t feel I've captured it."
Chris Corsano about Improvisation
"Improvisation is an experience. It lives on in the memory of those who participated in it."
Szary about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I find the rhytm of escalators quite interesting. Clack clack clack clack …"
Arsha Kaviani about Interpretation
"Sometimes, interpretation consists in removing yourself from the performance."
Tools of Creation: Fender Rhodes
Tom O’Grady of Resolution 88 about an electric piano that makes ideas sound convincing
YELKA about Krautrock
"We have the “cosmic“ mission to produce and put out 10 records in 3 years."
Dead Pioneers Share their Creative Process
“If I don’t bring my honest self to the table, it won’t make it."
Luka Kuplowsky about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Sound, for me, is all reaction and feeling. I lose sense of what my body is physically doing."
Cristina Lazic about the Magic of Sound(s)
"The magic only happens when you let the other senses go and let hearing take over."
Gabbarein about Improvisation
"Every day you play a note, it's a totally different sound, a totally different universe."
Layla Benitez about DJing
“Subtracting the audience takes the joy and connection out of DJing.“
Wild Anima about the Beauty of Rain and the “Sound of a Society”
“One of the things that attracted me to England was the rain!“
Gabriela Martina about her Voice and Singing
“Singing is very physical. Music making is very physical. Just watch us and you'll see the sweat!”
Silvurdrongur about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Music moves through me. It determines how I experience the world."
Dean Fisher (Tinkertown, Juliana Hatfield Three) Shares his Creative Process
“Writing a song is a journey of many steps."
Almeeva and Toucan about their Collaboration
"The most memorable collaborations take you out of your comfort zone and make you grow. But they don't necessarily give the best results."
Lorenz Dangel Shares his Creative Process
“An idea waits for me, almost in a patient way, to be discovered."
ASHRR about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"We always try to start from a place of simplicity."
Azu Yeché about Fashion and Music
"Incorporating African fabric is more than the aesthetic. It is pride for my country of origin, it is celebrating the uniqueness and vibrancy of Africa."
James Vincent McMorrow about his Voice and Singing
"The idea of control within music always felt kind of counterintuitive."
Kenny Wollesen about Drumming
"Some view the drum set as a collection of many instruments. That's a weird way to view it. To me, the drum set is one instrument."
Joshua Idehen about Lyrics
"I see circles between words and music. Sometimes parallel, often intertwined."
Bodhi about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Our job is to connect all the dots. The output is the input."
Otto A. Totland Shares his Creative Process
“My process is too unpredictable for me to have any structure or routine that would help me."
Butcher Brown about Improvisation and the North Sea Jazz Festival
"Jazz means freedom, self expression. It’s all about the imperfections, not about being perfect."
Liraz about Lyrics
"We share the same enemy. We are fighting the same enemy. So my heart was open to write about this topic."
Martina Berther about the Magic of Sound(s)
"The sound of the melting Morteratsch Glacier deeply moved me. There is so much history in every drop."
Chikara Aoshima about Drumming
"My father was an abstract painter. I think that influence is present in my playing."
Johannes Brecht about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Your personal limitations are your identity, not the gear or instruments."
Booka Shade about the Magic Of Sound(s)
"I really like the noise when our dogs eat their crunchy food. It is soothing in a way."
L'étrangleuse about the Magic of Sound(s)
"In nature, there is sometimes a special sound place. It's as if a spirit is living there."
FINK Shares his Creative Process
"To achieve creative greatness, I think you have to truly ignore everybody. Even yourself."
COLA REN about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"There's a balance between embracing the vast potential of electronic music and using constraints to drive innovation."
Emika Shares her Creative Process
"New ideas don’t like to be judged. They like to be experienced."
Pocket about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"A machine can't truly be a collaborator because the basis of collaboration is in relationships."
Guy Braunstein about Interpretation
"Usually, what seems like a mistake, makes sense in the end. When it doesn’t – I’m in trouble."
Alexis Delong about Production, Technology and Creativity
"In electronic music, we are still pioneers."
Atelier about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Making music is deeply personal and scarring. But I enjoy that. I guess I’m a sadist."
The Qobuz team about High-End Streaming and the Specialised Listener
"Human recommendations are central to the music discovery experience."
Holland Andrews talks Sound
"Electronic music can possess a specific kind of nostalgia. It feels like an open door to write something new."
Mirror People about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"You don't need infinite sounds. You need the right ones."
Mazz Swift Shares their Creative Process
“The term “spirituality” implies that there are answers. And I don’t believe there are any."
Samuel Hall of Foundling about the Myth of Silence and Focused Non-Silence
"We do not choose to be surrounded by sound. We already live inside it. It is our ocean."
Erin Lang of Foundling about the Responsibility of Becoming and Being an Artist
"I didn’t set out to be a musician. It felt inevitable."
Joe Webb about Improvisation
"True improvisation is a real show of someone’s true personality."
Odalie about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"Sometimes, technology is seen as a new God. That’s a dangerous path to follow."
Mina Alikhani Shares her Creative Process
“I want to shine a light on things that nobody wants to look at."
Scott Amendola of SticklerPhonics about Improvisation
"Do I remember things? Of course I do. Do I repeat myself? Of course I do. There is nothing wrong with that."
Kati Rán about the Magic of Sound(s)
"To discover someone's vibration or 'natural tonality' goes a long way into truly getting to know one another."
Sera Kalo about Improvisation, Evolution, and eX.II
"Jazz is a culture, with deep social and political relevance. When these aspects are considered, the jazz aesthetic becomes more open and inclusive."
Earthtones about the Magic of Sound(s)
"It would be interesting to play Bob Marley on buses, and see how that changes the experience."
Alessandro "Asso" Stefana Shares his Creative Process
“A writer can work just with a pen and a blank page. For a musician, it’s not that simple."
Albin Lee Meldau about his Voice and Singing
"All I really long for in a singer is truthfulness. If I don't believe them, it’s pointless."
Clara Vetter about Improvisation
"There is probably no music without some layer of improvisation. At least when it is played by humans."
David Castellani about the Magic of Sound
"Every song you’ve ever heard was created by a little orchestra inside your brain."
Robert Owens about his Voice and Singing
"Me delivering a vocal is me giving back to life unconditional love."
Pete Philly of Pete Philly & Perquisite about Lyrics
"Some chords are always true, no matter what the lyrics say."
Pieter "Perquisite" Perquin of Pete Philly & Perquisite about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"I never feel lonely in the studio. The music always keeps you company."
BOREAL SUN about their Collaboration
"Are we perfectionist? Yes. Do we explore different options? Yes."
Stacey Pullen Shares his Creative Process
"Being from Detroit helps me understand this oversaturated music market - because we were the first to do it."
George Cooper of The Jazz Defenders about Improvisation
"Writing your own music leads to the deepest exploration of improvisation."
XJAZZ! Festival 2024: The 15Q Special
UPDATED: With performances by Shabaka Hutchings, Bill Frisell, Midnights on Wax, Portico Quartet, Muriel Grossmann ...
Sasha Berliner about Improvisation
"I don’t think anything will compare to being in the same room with humans making music."
Taroug about Drumming
"To regard instruments as non-percussive would close off a world of sonic possibilities."
Derek Piotr talks Sound
"Sound is a vital component of post-verbal assimilation and communication."
Abigail Lapell about her Voice and Singing
"Singing is very compulsive – like hunger or some kind of physical addiction."
Ledfoot Shares his Creative Process
"There’s never a starting or stopping … it’s a never ending process."
Muriel Grossmann about Improvisation
"Music feels like freedom. Improvisation feels like free falling."
France Jobin Shares her Creative Process
"An architect creates works that occupy a space. I create sculptures that fit in the flow of time and perception."
Sasha Berliner about Analog Vulnerability, Inspirational Ripples, and XJAZZ!
"The term jazz is losing more meaning by the second."
Sebastian Hecht about Curation, Compilation, and XJAZZ!
"There are so many exciting stories that have not yet been told."
Nancy Meier of Nancelot Shares her Creative Process
"It's like a map. You have chosen a path and you follow it."
Erlend Øye about the Magic of Sound
"Listening to recorded music all day is not a pleasure for me."
Szabolcs Bognár aka Àbáse about Entangled Grounds, jazz communities, and XJAZZ!
"Every city has its own vibe. Berlin feels very raw and fresh."
Nduduzo Makhathini about Improvisation, jazz in 2024, and XJAZZ!
"The cyber world is trying to catch up with what has always been there in Africa since ancient Kemetic civilisations."
Muriel Grossmann about XJAZZ! and jazz in 2024
"I like to use all my possibilities to offer music that is transformative."
Andrea Taeggi about the Magic of Sound(s)
"The element of disconnection from one another through earbuds still troubles me."
Apifera: The Band Interview
"The sweet spot between our personalities is a rare and special place."
Amy Aileen Wood (Fiona Apple, Sharon Van Etten) about Drumming
"Recording this album was a liberating journey - akin to exposure therapy for a habitual worrier like myself."
Michelle Moeller talks Sound
"My piano brain kept interfering with a sense of creative freedom."
Maya Lane about her Voice and Singing
"Being able to experiment with my voice without a microphone has been really interesting."
Christian Löffler about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“I would love a tool where you paint a bassline and then convert it to sound.”
Taroug about Collaboration
"I want collaborators to have complete musical freedom. Too many words in advance can destroy that."
Theo Croker about Improvisation
"It's easy to meditate at the top of the mountain in complete silence. But can you meditate in the middle of the city?"
Jay Aston (Bucks Fizz) about her Voice and Singing
"I’ve had 40% of my tongue removed. I’ve had to learn to sing a different way."
Christina Wood of Kaleida about her Voice, Singing, and the Interplay between the Human and Mechanical
"My singing voice is another part of me entirely. It's a truer soul voice."
Matthew Ramolo aka Khôra Shares his Creative Process
"Misunderstanding is one of human beings’ most profound features."
Mo'Kalamity about her Voice and Singing
"I seek to master the breath that brings me freedom in my singing."
Ceiling Spirits Shares his Creative Process
"After the first record, I had no plans to ever record as Ceiling Spirits again."
Emmanuelle Bonnet about her Voice and Singing
"Singing has always been a mystery for me. It still is!"
La Yegros about her Voice and Singing
"My voice has no replacement. I take care of it like a newborn baby."
Mark Holub of ANTHROPODS about Improvisation
"In the best moments, I am really transported somewhere else."
Davina Moss about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“Always start with a feeling - then it all falls into place.”
Cosmo Sheldrake about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Sounds will always carry a watermark of the place they came from or the creature who made them."
Fran & Flora Share their Creative Process
"Breaking bread together is a big part of our relationship. Essential to our process is making sure we have a food plan."
Sultan Stevenson about Improvisation
"When improvising, it’s almost impossible to be non-authentic."
Nadia D’Alò about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"I'd rather be limited than have a problem I can't fix myself."
Temple Haze about his Voice and Singing
"Songs as we create them in the western world are in effect mathematical equations."
Sepalot Shares his Creative Process
"The trick is to let yourself be led astray in the right places."
Melissa Aldana about Improvisation
"The process of knowing oneself is related to the process of growing as a musician."
José James about his Voice and Singing
"A great voice can sound good on a bad microphone. But a bad voice can’t sound good on a great microphone."
Beans (Anti Pop Consortium) about Lyrics
"Reading makes me want to write. Strong writers make me want to be a better writer. There’s not one without the other."
FNX Omar Shares his Creative Process
"Once the core of the idea is there, you need to be stricter with your production."
Taroug Shares his Creative Process
"It's like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. I like to destroy it from time to time and put it together in a new way."
Dana Gavanski Shares her Creative Process
"Writing songs is like chipping away at stone to find what’s underneath. As if it’s just waiting there."
Newen Afrobeat: The Band Interview
"The way we organize ourselves as a band has had to change to keep moving our music forward."
Wolfgang von Schweinitz about Alternative Tuning Systems
"I collaborate almost exclusively with enthusiastic specialists. They don’t need to care about time and money."
Claire Dickson about her Voice and Singing
"The voice is such an exciting medium to work with. All at once it has so much power and flexibility as well as fragility and precarity."
Robert Babicz about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"In electronic music, we are gods creating our own universe. It's total freedom."
Sunna Margrét about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Thoughts, words, instruments. It’s energy transformed."
Randall Tagwireyi Shares his Creative Process
“We need to express who we are to each other. Music does a good job of that.“
Julia Holter about her Creative Process and the Voice in her Music
"Sometimes it's a little limiting to just work with your own voice."
Amanda Whiting about the Magic of Sound(s)
"Music in school shouldn’t be optional. It’s a part of our being."
Dustin O'Halloran about 1 0 0 1, AI, and Consciousness
"People crave human connection even more in this age of hyper-connectivity. I want to make sure I’m always present in my work."
LFZ about Krautrock
"I’m always disappointed when a record isn’t just two side-long instrumental pieces."
Sietse van Erve about the Freedom of Live, and Directions in Sound Art
"Live, people can really surrender to the music."
Cicely Goulder of Kaleida about In Arms, Production, and Creativity
“Jean D’Arc armed herself to fulfil her mission. Sometimes music feels that way.”
Tools of Creation: Otari MX5050
Dexter+Franz about a reel to reel tape deck with a monumental impact on workflow.
Holysseus Fly about her Voice and Singing
"When someone feels something and they can convey it authentically - I’m so with them."
Thomas Lemmer & Oine about Trust and the Benefits of not Working Alone
"The purpose of being an artist is to show what's inside you. But it's always good not to get stuck there."
Fani Konstantinidou about Social and Cultural Context in Sound Art
“As a woman in a male-dominated musical genre, I have been isolated and patronised from a young age.“
Emmanuel De La Paix Shares his Creative Process
“An artist is a person who sleeps standing up.”
Sebastian Mullaert and Henrik Frendin talk about their Collaboration
"To live life is to collaborate."
m.rux about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I call it the buzz: Frequencies that touch us, remind us of home, or a lover, the ocean, a feeling of bliss."
Sages Comme Des Sauvages Share their Creative Process
“We try to keep that little light of mutiny burning.“
Christof Migone about the Magic of Sound(s)
"We should pay more attention—no matter the sense, no matter the tool, no matter the method."
Coen Oscar Polack about Sounds with Identity and Sonic Journalism
“I'm looking for sounds that, in one way or another, are compromised.“
Mira Ló about Love for Music
“DJing used to be very mechanical. So I decided to do the opposite: to give my audience everything.“
Nate Mercereau Shares his Creative Process
“The process of showing up fully to whatever it is, and bringing it all to that moment, creates something.“
DOT (Sebastian Birkl) Shares his Creative Process
“Creativity has a lot to do with dedication and the will to work. Even if that sounds very disenchanting.“
Fifteen Questions Interview with Simina Oprescu
A Meteorite Falling in the Cosmic Oscillation
Voiski about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“I find something magical in not knowing too much.”
Amirtha Kidambi about Improvisation
"Turning to improvisation for me was a process of decolonizing myself."
Thee Conductor Share their Creative Process
“An evening of YouTube can really push forward something buried within you.“
Sukie Smith Shares her Creative Process
“I actually think I am rescuing a song from death. I am tasked with its life.“
Oisin Leech about the Magic of Sound(s)
"The word ‘music’ derives from an ancient word for “magic”. Music is magic."
Sarathy Korwar about the South Asian Sounds Festival
"Everyone’s personal history and ideas about what it means to be part of the diaspora are and should be very different."
Kirk Degiorgio about the Magic of Sound(s)
"There is nothing more uplifting than the sound of a loved one quietly snoring whilst you are awake reading."
John J. Presley Shares his Creative Process
“I love the initial burst when you get an idea. That's the best time to record it.“
Jason Singh about Plant Music, Listening, and Interspecies Communication
"I am in dialogue with all living things in some shape or form."
Miharu Ogura Shares her Creative Process
“Misunderstanding is an essential part of the process.“
Dexter+Franz Share their Creative Process
"The idea was to invite a group of friends and retreat to this desert house for two weeks. In the end, Franz was the only one to commit."
Jinjé (Vessels) about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“I build islands of creativity.”
GC Oconnor about Voice and Singing
"Singing is the most primal, fundamental, soul-expressive thing a human can do."
RED ON Shares his Creative Process
"The performance doesn’t really matter for me. I don’t even know how to perform most of the parts."
Ditty: Reflections on a Post-Colonial World, Ecology, and Inter-Being
“Not taking a stand against what’s happening in the world is convenient.“
Laura Masotto about the Magic of Sound(s)
"If air makes us breathe, then the music that lives inside this air is also alive."
Sarasara about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I think we should teach self sufficiency in schools. Not how to sell yourself on Tik Tok."
LUMI about Fashion & Music
"Nothing feels better than listening to good music and having the best outfit on. It’s just so freeing."
Hexorcismos about about a Local Approach to AI
"There is no ‘fix’ or ‘update’ for the legacies in these technologies."
Imogen Clark about Voice and Singing
"If I’m not focused and putting my whole body into it, it doesn’t come out right."
Jason Singh about the South Asian Sounds Festival
"South Asian culture is broad, complicated and diverse. It’s going to be brilliant!"
The Snuts: The Band Interview
"We try not to get too territorial about who does what in the recording process."
and also the trees Share their Creative Process
"The music follows its own course. We don’t try to divert it."
Rural Tapes about Production, Technology, and Creativity
“I can’t stand going through manuals to learn about how things work. I just start twisting knobs.”
Drew McFadyen for Kosmischer Läufer about Krautrock
"I once picked up Kraftwerk with my car and tooted the horn twice - a cover version of the introduction to 'Autobahn'. Nobody noticed."
Jesse Zubot about Improvisation
"There are many times during an improvisational situation where you are not searching for anything … it is just happening."
Medina Interview about Voice and Singing
“My first serious song was about my guinea pig that I had to give away. That was a very sad time for me.“
Dillistone Shares his Creative Process
“I can do many other things than music. But it is what I get the most life from.“
Exsonvaldes: The Band Interview
"Bands like Radiohead or Phoenix seem to have a good internal balance of friendship, ideas, hard work and method. We like that."
Emme Moises Shares her Creative Process
“I see the end result, draw a path in my mind and start walking towards it.“
Chromeo about Adult Contemporary, Production, and Technology
"When you’ve got that student mentality, the discovery never ends."
Brittany Bindrim about Voice and Singing
"Nothing can compare to a well executed, raw, pure, recorded performance!"
Giuseppe Cordaro about the Magic of Sound(s)
"If we'd shift our focus from sight to listening, our world would undergo profound transformations."
Srdjan Ivanovic about Drumming
"I don't try to be different as a drummer. But I don't stop it either."
Marla Hansen about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I find silence very important, and nearly impossible to find."
Marco Giambrone about the Magic of Sound(s)
"A main challenge of the future is how to give more space to the sound of nature."
Lina_ about the Fado, Identity, and Sonic Poetry
"The fado renews itself according to each person's experiences."
Napoleon Murphy Brock (Frank Zappa Band) about Improvisation
“Improvisation is a statement about the truth! The truth is absolute!"
Fifteen Questions Interview with Alpacas Collective
Nothing is necessary. Everything is possible.
Musique Infinie about Improvising to Film and their First Date with a Movie
"We could never recreate this again."
Ida No (Glass Candy, Fawn) about Voice and Singing
"My singing has improved since I started learning to tap my feet while singing."
Chromeo about Sound Sculpting and “the Look”
"Our biggest influence is probably ZZTop. And it’s not for what their music sounds like."
The Montvales about Voice and Singing
"We’ve never had a drummer. Maybe that's why I put emphasis on percussive phrasing."
David Velez: An Introduction to Plant Music and Plant Communication
"Many artworks labelled as "plant music" are problematic because they emphasise the processing and not the plants' sensibility to sound."
Garrett Yates of Bronson Arm about Drumming
"There is something cathartic about beating the hell out of something."
Henrik Olsson (Muddersten) about Improvisation
"The magic works without words. And only without words."
Thomas Elsner about Elaste, Fanzine Culture and Getting Knocked Down by David Bowie's Bodyguard
"I can't say for certain. But we probably didn't get everything wrong."
Martin Rott about Recording Piano and Playing with Orchestra
"We are working with machines in our everyday life. Our love for electronic rhythms is a projection of that reality."
Peter Kernel Share their Creative Process
"We think we’re controlling the process. But the result confirms that we’re really not."
Simone Aubert (Hyperculte, Peter Kernel) about Drumming
"I always cover my snare with a scarf."
Chromeo about Originality, and the Honour of Tradition
"If you had told a Renaissance artist they were original they would’ve thought it was insulting."
Eighty Ninety Share their Creative Process
"There are still so many great songs out there. I want to go grab one of them before someone else takes it."
Merryn Jeann Shares her Creative Process
"Being in the creative flow is the most tangible experience of what we don’t understand."
Sébastien Guérive about The Magic of Sound(s)
"I recorded a cauliflower that I decomposed with my hands. It gave me some magnificent cracks!"
Ameli in the Woods about her Voice and Singing
"Singing serves as a means for me to cope with my depression."
Andrea von Kampen about the Magic of Sound(s)
"I totally have misophonia. But no worries, I’ve found a support group online."
Martin Rott about Sonic Utopias and Negative Realism
"Mixing up a negative world view with “realism“ can result in the reversal of progress."
Kees Berkers of YĪN YĪN about Drumming
"Programming drums in Ableton made me understand the beautiful math behind rhythms."
Bronson Arm share their Creative Process
"Fuck what the people want! Our music isn’t supposed to be comfortable."
Kollektiv Turmstrasse about Production, Technology, and Creativity
"You can't replicate human creativity that easily with artificial means."
Hayku Kyah about Voice and Singing
"The human voice is deeply influential. We hear it even when we don’t."
Dave Wilson about Improvisation
"The myth of “individual genius” disappears in music improvised in collectivity."
Shaina Hayes Shares her Creative Process
"Songwriting, to me, is just letting yourself be led in new directions."
Janek van Laak about Drumming
"Groove, Swing and rhythmic feel? To me they’re just concepts. Made up belief systems."
and also the trees: The Band interview
"Sometimes being strategic works for us. Mostly it doesn’t."
Portable Shares his Creative Process
"My composition cycle is closely aligned with the lunar cycle."
