Dear Diary
I’ve been pondering existential loneliness and belonging (or not) quite a bit recently. There’s a place that I go when I practice music that is persistent and vivid and lonely. Well, it feels lonely, but I am also keenly aware that I am not completely alone. And this spiritual practice of music is my way to get closer to the presence that I feel there.
If I can be honest for a moment, I think I share my music for three reasons. The first is that I want to connect with other musicians, especially those who are interested in experimental music, improvisation, electroacoustic music, avant-garde guitar, or making music on iPads. I love talking about this stuff, especially with folks who can turn me on to stuff I might not be aware of.
The second reason is that I’m an artist, and for me part of being an artist is putting your art out into the world. Putting these tracks up on Substack is like standing on the street corner and reciting poetry to whoever will listen. Posting my albums on Bandcamp is like hanging my paintings in a quaint little gallery that barely anyone ever visits except me, but it’s there if anyone does want to take a look. It also gives me a sense of history and a feeling of nostalgia to look at album artwork and listen to music I made 10 or 15 years ago.
The third reason is what this post is ultimately about: I share my music because I want someone else to experience this place I go, and I want to share with them the person I am when I go there. My loneliness stems mostly from the existential isolation that is the illusion of being separated from source and the interconnectedness of all things. I want someone to hold my hand and walk with me to the place where we can remember together that we’re never alone.
Put on your headphones, hit play, close your eyes, and dance with me.
About the recording
This live meditation was recorded on October 4th. This track is notably minimal and intimate, starting almost tentatively with just the guitar before the backing drone and glitches slowly make themselves known. This is probably the most minimal drone, glitch, and noise guitar track I’ve recorded.
Xenome 811
811 is a 3-note xenome. In traditional western music theory terms this is “Major Seventh Omit 3”. According to Mr. Ring, it’s “BANian” in Justin Pecot’s Dozenal system, or Scale 2177.
Tools and stuff
Gear: Strandberg Boden NX 7, iPad Pro M2, Positive Grid Spark Mini
iPad Apps
Audio Damage: Other Desert Cities, Replicant 3
AudioThing: Noises, Speakers, Reels, Outer Space 2, Moon Echo, Wires, Fold
Kymatica: AUM, AudioShare, AU3FX:Space, AU3FX:Push
Igor Vasiliev: Stellarvox
Jam Origin: Midi Guitar 2
Fabfilter: Pro-Q 3
Arturia: iSEM
Moog: Animoog Z
AudioModern: Gatelab
Sugar Bytes: Cyclop
Arthur Kerns: midiLFOs
Dancing Alone