Part 2

Take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your work, please. Do you have a fixed schedule? How do music and other aspects of your life feed back into each other - do you separate them or instead try to make them blend seamlessly?

I have a pretty regular routine. My morning to early afternoon usually consists of focusing on a new modular instrument company that we will be launching soon, as well, any tasks that may need to be done for the clothing line I co-run with my girlfriend Brittney Anderson.

Then usually by 1pm I am locked in my music studio, where I stay until the late evenings. My studio routine can vary on what my immediate focus is on any given day. For example, right now I have been mainly focusing on a new live modular set. But as a general rule, I try to split my music day so that I will at least spend some time every day on production, live jamming & playing records.

Of course weekends can get a bit looser and I sometimes may end up not leaving the studio till 5-6 in the morning.
 
Can you talk about a breakthrough work, event or performance in your career? Why does it feel special to you? When, why and how did you start working on it, what were some of the motivations and ideas behind it?

I’m very excited and energized by the launch of my new label Noetic, and alongside that, my first solo releases. Starting a record label has been a dream for a long time and it’s amazing to see it come to life as it has. I have been very fortunate to be able to work with some truly superhuman people whom without I wouldn’t know where I would be today.

Having the opportunity to create a musical lifeform that can become a haven for artists, friends, and like-minded people, is what it’s all about. Community is the most important thing in life, and when you can drench it in music, there is nothing more beautiful.

There are many descriptions of the ideal state of mind for being creative. What is it like for you? What supports this ideal state of mind and what are distractions? Are there strategies to enter into this state more easily?

Inspiration and motivation for me are at the core of my ability to be creative.

Sometimes when I find myself sitting in my studio, twirling around in my chair and looking at my gear, painstakingly scraping myself up to handle whatever task is at hand. For me, this is usually the part of the process where I find myself snagging most. Thankfully though, after finally getting into working on that track or leaning into my modular rig, with enough focus I can often find my way into an inspired state.

Also, after many hours of listening to music, I can start to get mentally fatigued. Especially if I am listening to the same track for many hours on end. At these times, taking short breaks can really breathe energy back into my brain. Even five minutes of silence can go a long way for my process.

Lastly, I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t mention that, for me, cannabis is very helpful in getting and staying inspired for long periods of time. Taking those five-minute breaks, alongside a little THC, has gotten me through 23 years of music-making.
 
Music and sounds can heal, but they can also hurt. Do you personally have experiences with either or both of these? Where do you personally see the biggest need and potential for music as a tool for healing?

Music is what keeps me from deteriorating. It’s the constant line in my life that has followed me through every part of it. In one way or another, it’s intimately connected to almost every experience I can remember.

The way we process sound is a biologically intrinsic part of our emotional systems. When I think about what sound is, I remember that it only really exists in my head. The speakers are simply moving air around the room. It’s then my brain that registers the speed and intensity of those airways and has created an internal awareness mechanism which is what I then hear as sound.

Evolutionarily this is a way for us to better understand our soundings, but even more importantly, whether it’s a lion we should run from, or a baby’s cry that we should attend to. And unlike your vision, which offers very specific information that your logical brain processes often before your emotional system catches up, hearing has a direct connection to your emotional response. So when I think about this, it reminds me of the emotional weight and influence that music has on me.

I find it hard choosing music’s one most important fight in healing us. But I can speak to how I have used it to heal many different aspects of my life. There have been countless times in my life when listening to my favorite melancholic music has helped me in dealing with the aftermath of something difficult. This has been a very powerful and effective way that I’ve found to work through my emotions. I’ve also had many experiences where positive and uplifting music has helped me find my way out of complicated emotional situations. `
 
There is a fine line between cultural exchange and appropriation. What are your thoughts on the limits of copying, using cultural signs and symbols and the cultural/social/gender specificity of art?

I believe it is really important for all of us to be respectful to one another. The political and social climates right now are complicated and it’s no secret that there are important issues our global society needs to work through. I definitely believe that everyone should have a right to be accepted and equally treated, no matter what gender, race, or creed.

Appropriation is a very complicated subject. Exploiting another person’s identity for your own personal gain is villainous and toxic. Especially when there has been so much inequality in our history which has greatly benefited some and hurt others. On the other hand, genuinely wanting to participate in different cultural or social groups other than your own, I believe, is the only way to truly bring us together.

I think trying to find a blanket opinion on such a deep and important concept as this can be harmful. Instead we should focus on finding ways to come together more.
 
Our sense of hearing shares intriguing connections to other senses. From your experience, what are some of the most inspiring overlaps between different senses - and what do they tell us about the way our senses work?

I really appreciate the correlation between our sense of touch and hearing. I often shut my eyes and focus on the feel of synth knobs under my fingertips, noticing how the slightest movements manipulate the sound. Doing this usually helps me connect with the music deeper and generally leads to better performance.

I believe our minds can only process so much information all at once so sometimes removing one can really leave space for the others to come into focus.
 
Art can be a purpose in its own right, but it can also directly feed back into everyday life, take on a social and political role and lead to more engagement. Can you describe your approach to art and being an artist?

That is so true, the term artists is a loaded one. There are so many forms of art, movements within those artforms, meanings, lifestyles and personalities that grow along with them. It’s such a beautifully complicated ecosystem system of creativity and we all live it in our own intimate ways.

For me, making art has always very simply been about being addicted to the process of creating. As much as I love performing, and sharing my art with others, my inspiration comes from watching (or hearing) art manifest out of the aether and into my world. It’s a very personal experience that, for me, generally has less to do with society or politics and more to do with my inner experience.
 
What can music express about life and death which words alone may not?

It's hard to express in words what words cannot express. Instead I would invite you to listen to Chopin's Piano Sonata No.2 - a deeply emotional funeral march which speaks to the embodiment of death. It is considered to be one of the greatest sonatas in classical history.  

Another amazing reference is David Bowie's final album, Black Star. An astonishing piece of work which he recorded during his dying days and was released two days before his passing. The recording of the album, along with his illness, were kept secret and the music is fully intertwined in his personal experience of dealing with the end of his life. It’s one of the most beautiful, powerful and humanizing things I have ever experienced on this earth.