Part 2
Sound, song, and rhythm are all around us, from animal noises to the waves of the ocean. What, if any, are some of the most moving experiences you’ve had with these non-human-made sounds? In how far would you describe them as “musical”?
Perhaps the most powerful experience I had with a natural sound was when I was in front of the Perito Moreno, a famous glacier in Argentina, which began to break from the inside as I watched its majesty.
The powerful sound of the ice, its echo, was so alive, visceral, intense that it moved me, and I cried. I would describe it as music because, for me, it was like the voice of the glacier – something I didn't know existed in the world, of incredible depth.
The ice cracked for tens, perhaps hundreds of meters in a few seconds, and with it, I shattered too.
There seems to be an increasing trend to capture music in numbers, from waveforms via recommendation algorithms up to deciphering the code of hit songs. What aspects of music do you feel can be captured through numbers, and which cannot?
Numbers form the bedrock of comprehending the world and shape its structure. Music, in all its dimensions, is inherently numerical, encompassing rhythm and pitch. Our entire system of equal temperament is meticulously constructed upon specific proportions.
However, there are realms that numbers can never illuminate - the aspects that elude rational understanding. This includes the origin of an idea, the allure of imperfections that resonate, the emotional depth, and the brilliance of some passages of musical improvisation, sometimes born from human error.
It's as if numbers have perpetually embodied the essence of things; we unravel their code, uncovering the ways to play with them. Through this interaction, we not only bring order but also create our world. Numbers serve as the foundational point, the genesis of our exploration.
How does the way you make music reflect the way you live your life? Can we learn lessons about life by understanding music on a deeper level?
The music I release typically mirrors the instruments I'm immersed in at the moment. If my focus is on the piano, I dedicate more time to key synths. Similarly, when my attention shifts to the violin, I find myself composing for strings, and so forth for each musical element. This dynamic creates a dual landscape, where there's a backdrop of continuous study and another of creative output – akin to the opposing poles of a battery.
Drawing an analogy to direct current, the negative pole, characterized by an abundance of electrons and heightened electric potential, symbolizes the introspective facets of music. This encompasses solitary listening, music exploration, and daily practice, serving as vital phases that pave the way for a subsequent surge of positive energy oriented towards outward expression.
Music, in this context, becomes a realm where I hone patience and discipline, engage in active meditation, enhance my listening skills, develop a deeper understanding of my body, and embrace the essence of the present moment.
We can surround us with sound every second of the day. The great pianist Glenn Gould even considered this the ultimate delight. How do you see that yourself, and what importance does silence hold? What role do headphones play for you in this regard?
There is no silence; there is quiet. I often need this calm space. I require it for writing, thinking, and perceiving the poetry of things. Music helps me to engage, but at times, I need to stand still and listen to something else.
When I'm outdoors, I prefer to stay connected to my surroundings, so I seldom use headphones indoors or outdoors, except for mixing.
Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?
I desire that creating music could be as effortless as brewing a cup of coffee. However, the reality is that making music demands a significant investment of effort and study, and performing on stage carries a substantial weight of responsibility and energy.
Through my music, I strive to articulate the influences that shape me, incorporating diverse music styles encountered in Berlin, my cultural roots, the impressions from my travels, and the inner landscape that defines my perspective on the world.
This involves expressing not only how I see things but also how I feel about them, weaving together my unique experiences with the ideas that emerge from somewhere mysterious, and that I make an effort to honor and uphold.
Every time I listen to Albedo by Vangelis, I choke up. But the lyrics are made up of nothing but numbers and values which don’t appear to have any emotional connotation. Do you, too, have a song or piece of music that affects you in a seemingly counterintuitive way – and what, do you think, is happening here?
In this interview you are quoting some of my favourite artists ever, thanks for that.
Well, Vangelis is always warm and I think Albedo is strongly emotional, so it isn’t counterintuitive at all that you feel that way. Here Vangelis is referring to planet Earth’s light radiation. It makes you somehow vibrate with his idea for which you are a part of this light’s planet as well.
The name of this piece, which is also the name of the record, is Albedo 0.39.
On the back of the record there is this sentence:
"The reflecting power of a planet or other non-luminous body. A perfect reflector would have an Albedo of 100%. The Earth's Albedo is 39%, or 0.39”.
We now know that Earth’s Albedo is actually 0.30 so even less than what they thought in ‘76. This title could metaphorically suggest that the Earth isn't bright enough, along with all the consequential thoughts that might stem from this. In my opinion, it's a criticism.
If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?
I wish for all of us a safe space for freedom of expression through music, a fair market, as well as a captivating evolution in music-responsive visuals.
One of my favorite artists in this regard is my friend Tarik Barri. I admire his work, and I strongly believe that individuals like him are making a significant impact on the future of A/V.
I am curious to see where all the imagination and the beauty of artists will lead humanity to.
