Part 2
From symphonies and traditional verse/chorus-songs to linear techno tracks and free jazz, there are myriads ways to structure a piece of music. Which approaches work best for you – and why?
M: We do music that combines Humanity, Nature and Technology. It's a difficult time to live without technology now. We want to say that technology seems to avoid human nature, but it can be fused. That's why we value maintaining balance.
Could you describe your creative process on the basis of one of your pieces, live performances or albums that's particularly dear to you, please?
I: I’d like to talk about our live performance. Since RAAI has started to join us in the live performance, we think the sound itself is warmer than the album. TENGGER is a name that started after RAAI was born, so the live performance's order expresses the process of RAAI appearing in the world and expressing itself with parents even before RAAI was born.
Starting with the meeting MARQIDO and ITTA. MARQIDO using Mini Gaming PC, synthesizers, and electronics, ITTA using her voice and Indian Harmonium and then RAAI comes out to the stage with free-improvised dance performance, playing his voice and Toy Bird Flute and then there is a special performance part of RAAI's own track together with the sound that MARQIDO is making on the stage, ITTA and RAAI will go to the audiences with Korean shaman bells and build a physical three-dimensional sound that envelops the venue. After that, RAAI continues to play his voice, synthesizer and dance performances with his parents until the end.
Sometimes, science and art converge in unexpected ways. Do you conduct “experiments” or make use of scientific insights when you're making music?
M: We are doing an experiment with the science of numbers. We use the sequence of 12 steps intentionally. Since 12 is divided by 3 and 4, it can be heard in 3 beats or 4 beats, so it's interesting. and we think it's cosmic to capture sound and music as a cycle.
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?
I: I think music is mystical. And I believe that healing is born through the mystical music. We wish we could exist to give our listeners a positive feeling, not to use music for anxiety or sadness.
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?
M: For us, music and daily life (and the life itself) are in accord. The process of making music is no different from making delicious coffee and tea carefully. We create music as a Traveling Family. Life itself is a journey, and even the boundary between daily life and travel is not important.
Every time I listen to "Albedo 0.39" by Vangelis, I choke up. But the lyrics are made up of nothing but numbers and values. Do you, too, have a song or piece of music that affects you in a way that you can't explain?
M: Neu!'s “Hallogallo”. “Hallogallo” is an ideal track to feel the Orientalism and the universe. It was the time when computers were not used in music, but I feel the techno music's pioneering role with the beauty of minimal structure from that track.
I: “Sunrain” by Ash Ra Tempel is the most impressive for me. It was when I was on a live tour under the name 10, with Marqido in China in 2008. When I saw Manuel Gottsching's live performance in front of me at Beijing, I couldn't understand Manuel, who was playing such beautiful music with no expression on his face. But that unbalance may have become a factor that makes me even more impressed. I think I'm a very analog, physical and emotional person. While living with Marqido, came to understand that calmness was necessary for delicate sound expression. After all, I attracted to things that I don't have.
R: “Sky Fortress” by Waterflame. I really love to play the game called ‘Geometry Dash’, I fell into this game because of this music. It’s important song for me with my favorite game.
If you could make a wish for the future – what are developments in music you would like to see and hear?
I: We are always positive about the existence of music. If music doesn't lose its existence, there is a future.
