I have been resistant to the idea of starting this blog, under the guise of “this is my public face, why should I dilute it with the scattered rambling that makes up any writing of mine,” opting instead for journalling privately in a notebook.
However, one of these reflections done in the privacy of the notebook reflected on a quote from composer and producer Nils Frahm saying, “we all live in a digital world which is not even free, but we could live in the real world - which is not free, right, but it’s at least real.” So on further reflection I am saying screw it and embarking on a frank and honest reflection in the hope that despite existing in the digital world I can contribute to making it just a little more real.
And with that, a reflection the driving force of my creative practice. I think it’s important to consider why we create. It appears self-evident but It is very easy, especially in the cycle of assignments as an arts student, to mindlessly produce work which has no meaning or inspiration. Of course there is undeniably a place for practice for the sake of practice and that in itself can be reasonable motivation, but practice without a clear objective more often than not proves to be less than worthwhile. When I write music what am I trying to better? What skill am I learning? How will this help me to create the kind of music or art that I aim to produce? For me, I can sit down and knock out a lifeless piece for the piano or a choir but those pieces contain none of the soul that good art MUST have (at risk of presenting objectivity to describe good art). I recognise that neither I nor really anyone else can assign an objective value to creative work.
My practice is centered around adding to the rich existing world of music which we moved on from so quickly that we forgot to explore the rest of its capabilities. Baroque instruments which are so full of character and possibility, which we have all but abandoned for what we now consider staples of western art music. Combining this with new instruments and techniques provides the opportunity to enrich the existing culture with what we are able to now do rather than simply replace it and lose that which has so much value. It is at this point that I become a little lost in what I am trying to achieve with this music. I truly believe art has a huge part to play in building community and reconciliation and recognize the privilege it is to be given the opportunity to be part of that and even attempt to make a career of it. As a young, emerging artist, I am yet to fully realise what it means for me to work towards creating spaces which can embody this but I continue to reflect and discover as I create.
With each new post here, reflecting on work as I write, I hope to further understand my motivations for creation, to further realise why I am creating and the impact that has on me and those around me. I am blessed to be placed in a community for creating art, full of new and changing perspectives and artists who create work totally unlike anything I could even conceive. This environment only works as creatives create together and I aim to continue striving to be involved and foster this.
The image associated with this post is a small insight into the way I create music, combinations of acoustic instruments, old organs, new midi controllers, scavenged natural branches, books, paper, computers and the ever important tea cup hiding in the bottom left.
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