Name: Kit Grill
Nationality: British
Occupation: Producer, radio host, visual artist
Current Release: Kit Grill's Opal EP is out via Primary Colours Records. His latest single, "Red Dances" is available via his bandcamp store.

If you enjoyed this Kit Grill interview and would like to find out more about his music, visit his official homepage. He is also on Instagram, and bandcamp.
 


When I listen to music, I see shapes, objects and colours. What happens in your body when you're listening? Do you listen with your eyes open or closed?

I listen to music with my eyes open more.

But I do like closing my eyes hearing music live sometimes, the whole experience is different.

How do listening with headphones and listening through a stereo system change your experience of sound and music?

I think headphone listening is more internal focused, and the experience is like having your own soundtrack to the world around you. I find my mind jumps to past memories or future imaginations.

When music is playing out of a speaker it feels more real-time and I’m more present with the immediate environment.

Tell me about some of the albums or artists that you love specifically for their sound, please.

I love the Under the Skin OST by Mica Levi, ‘Damn’ by Kendrick Lamar, ‘The Sinking of the Titanic’ by Gavin Bryars, ‘I’m New Here’ by Gil Scott Heron, ‘loveless’ by my bloody valentine, and ‘North Star’ by Philip Glass.



[Read our Gavin Bryars interview]

Do you experience strong emotional responses towards certain sounds? If so, what kind of sounds are these and do you have an explanation about the reasons for these responses?

I do love certain sounds; synth, strings, cello, snare, kick, distortion, grain. I think they remind me of times in my life, experiences, films, gigs, records etc and some sounds are just pleasing to hear.

Sometimes I really don’t want to listen to any music, it feels too intrusive and just want to hear the sound of nature or life passing by.

I think when you create music too, listening can get exhausting as your brain is analysing and making sense of the sounds, structure, what snare is it, how did the artist do that etc.

There can be sounds which feel highly irritating to us and then there are others we could gladly listen to for hours. Do you have examples for either one or both of these?

Higher pitched sounds can be annoying and grating sounds that have a friction in them can make you feel uncomfortable.

Also I find speed, structure and tone of sound can be triggering, often it depends on my mood when listening to music that dictates what I’m open to.

Are there everyday places, spaces, or devices which intrigue you by the way they sound? Which are these?

The sound inside large spaces is always interesting, I love echo and reverb.

Have you ever been in spaces with extreme sonic characteristics, such as anechoic chambers or caves? What was the experience like?

Yes I went to a cave recently with tunnels; other people were in the cave talking and it felt as though they were inside your head and at the same time inside the walls.

Spaces that are soundproofed are also quite weird, because it feels like life has been sucked out and everything is really dry.

What are among your favourite spaces to record and play your music?

Travelling by train or car and listening in airports. Other times laying in bed with headphones.

When recording, I currently record pretty much anywhere as I’m shifting things around. So I’m quite open to where I record.

Do music and sound feel “material” to you? Does working with sound feel like you're sculpting or shaping something?

Yes, it’s in the back of my mind. I approach music with emotion first and then it takes on the sculptural form and starts to form shapes, textures and forms.

How important is sound for our overall well-being and in how far do you feel the "acoustic health" of a society or environment is reflective of its overall health?

Very important, a world without music would be dull.

Sound can be healing, energising, relaxing, stimulating, terrifying - it touches all our emotions and can transform your day.

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?

The sound of the rain falling on a lake.

Many animals communicate through sound. Based either on experience or intuition, do you feel as though interspecies communication is possible and important? Is there a creative element to it, would you say?  

I do yes, I’m sure we have so much more to learn from the natural environment and the species within it.

And yes I think creativity is essential to communication.

Tinnitus and developing hyperacusis are very real risks for anyone working with sound. Do you take precautions in this regard and if you're suffering from these or similar issues – how do you cope with them?

I had tinnitus during Covid-19, it lasted for 6 months, and I think it was a side effect of Covid, so it wasn’t caused by sound systems. It was difficult sleeping hearing what sounded like a mosquito in the room every night, so I feel for anyone out there suffering with it.

I do have ear protection, and I don’t tend to stand too close to a speaker for a long period of time.

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?

I’m not sure I’d like to hear ‘music’ every second of the day. I enjoy silence and use it as a reset and without it we wouldn’t appreciate ‘sound’.

It’s also good to experience silence and quiet.

Seth S. Horowitz called hearing the “universal sense” and emphasised that it was more precise and faster than any of our other senses, including vision. How would our world be different if we paid less attention to looks and listened more instead?

I think it would be more peaceful and harmonious.