Name: Alan Abrahams aka Portable
Occupation: Producer
Nationality: South African, Paris-based
Current release: Portable's Augmented Dreams is out via Circus Company.
Recommendations: One would be a sculpture, “ Seated man “ by Sivert Lindblom
Another would be the visual art by African artist Thandiwe Muriu

If you enjoyed this Portable interview and would like to know more, visit him on Instagram, and Soundcloud, for more information.    
 


Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

My composition cycle is closely aligned with the lunar cycle. I find my inspiration is at its highest from the new moon right though until about after the full moon.

During this period the inspiration can come from a myriad of sources, sometimes nature, my relationships, with partners or friends, and very often, the relationship with myself.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualization' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

More often than not a start comes from a chord sequence, during some piano practice or some guitar experimentation.

I would record this progression and often just store it, recorded as is,  and later come back to it, when I am in the mood for writing. So it’s a multistage process.

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

A song has many different stages.

When I am collaborating with a instrumentalist, like the strings or a  singer, I often have a rough version available, send it to them, and continue once I have their contribution, as often this plays an important role in the development of the song.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

Coffee is essential!

Another stimulant is walking. I often walk with no destination in mind, with the rough demo of the track on headphones. This often stimulates the lyrics to songs.

At other times I would be cycling and a tune or lyric would come to mind. I’d stop and record it on my phone for later reference

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Most definitely, I lose all sense of time during this period. It’s such an intense sense of focus and it’s when I am at my most happiest.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

Oh yes, a piece goes through many versions and revisions. Once a first version is done, I would listen to it over and over for weeks changing things slightly or improving it where it needs it.

I also get some input from my husband. He is an invaluable asset, as sometimes I am so close to my work that I can lose objectivity.

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

I can totally relate. It’s not really a feeling of emptiness, more like a reset. Often projects are done quite a few months  before release, so I am always composing way in advance. Once the initial sensation is worked through, I often start on the next project. I find this is what helps me keep in balance.

Besides music I am also making visual art, so when I am not composing music I am filming something, or putting together the film that I often use as visuals for my live performances. In this way I am always inside a creative cycle.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing 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 like to think that my music creates a space in an alternate world of peace and prosperity, sadly a place we are so far from in reality.

But only for those few minutes of elevation, I’d like to think it’s contributing towards this future state, bringing us ever closer to it …