What is your creative process like? Some of my favorite moments are those seated at the piano just before any music arrives. Each one of these is a new opportunity to take a deep breath and beg<strong>in</strong> aga<strong>in</strong>. I’ll often st<strong>art</strong> by select<strong>in</strong>g one note to play, and then patiently listen<strong>in</strong>g as it fades completely. Then add<strong>in</strong>g another, and another, until an open<strong>in</strong>g appears - and simply follow<strong>in</strong>g that open<strong>in</strong>g to discover where it leads. Mistakes are welcome and feel more like opportunities to me. On a few occasions, I have <strong>in</strong>tentionally recorded one of these sessions as it unfolds. Chime Song is an example of this approach to composition. (https://lnkfi.re/chimesong-restored) The space that happens between hands fall<strong>in</strong>g to keys and the first note sound<strong>in</strong>g is sacred ground. It is this moment that I love most - when <strong>in</strong>spiration is born out of simple action, and follow<strong>in</strong>g that spark to wherever it leads for this moment <strong>in</strong> time. This is my daily practice. I may now and then strike upon someth<strong>in</strong>g p<strong>art</strong>icularly appeal<strong>in</strong>g, and so I will record that idea quickly <strong>in</strong>to my phone. Over time, these ideas accumulate. Before there was the iPhone, I used m<strong>in</strong>i cassettes. I recall at one po<strong>in</strong>t throw<strong>in</strong>g out a trashbag full of m<strong>in</strong>i cassettes with ideas. I have learned that it is my nature to move forward, not back. And so what tends to happen is that some idea that I have had will beg<strong>in</strong> to surface <strong>in</strong> my m<strong>in</strong>d throughout the day. Over time, one of these ideas will seem to poke its head out above all of the others, as if to request more attention. I’ll generally have three to ten of these go<strong>in</strong>g at a one time <strong>in</strong> ‘active’ mode and, return<strong>in</strong>g to the piano, the ideas will beg<strong>in</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g on shape that is call<strong>in</strong>g to be ‘song.’ As this group of songs are tak<strong>in</strong>g shape, a recognition of some common theme between them will emerge. This moment always comes as a surprise, like a light suddenly com<strong>in</strong>g on. There has been this clear moment for me <strong>in</strong> each of the records I have created as Story of Today. At this moment, I will beg<strong>in</strong> to beg<strong>in</strong> the journey to the ‘album’. I have always thought of music <strong>in</strong> these terms, with the goal of arriv<strong>in</strong>g at an album. From the moment of <strong>in</strong>spiration, when hands fall through space to keys, and voice calls out <strong>in</strong> melodic response to the moment, an album is complete - these are the creative journeys that cont<strong>in</strong>ue to beckon me forward. From an early age, I dreamed 32 | Art Locally of mak<strong>in</strong>g records. It is remarkable what is possible with even humble talent when dedicat<strong>in</strong>g oneself to a long journey <strong>in</strong> the same direction. If you could go open a show for any <strong>art</strong>ist who would it be? Open<strong>in</strong>g a show can be a grand experience, but the truth is I would rather watch a great show than play one. I would enjoy meet<strong>in</strong>g Paul McC<strong>art</strong>ney, St<strong>in</strong>g, James Taylor, Brian Eno and watch<strong>in</strong>g them work. Tell us about your latest project. FAMILY is a collection of songs among those Steve (Wilson) and I have been play<strong>in</strong>g together over recent years at Northstar. On occasion I have recorded songs as gifts for p<strong>art</strong>icular people, sometimes a song I have written, sometimes a cover that seems relevant for the time. This most recent project, FAMILY is that as well - a thank you letter and gift <strong>in</strong> song to the people of Northstar and beyond. Each song on the album was requested to be recorded ‘<strong>in</strong> our way’ by someone. So many beautiful musicians came alongside and added their p<strong>art</strong>icular musical gifts to that record. The orig<strong>in</strong>al title was to be Psalms, as the whole record is really an offer<strong>in</strong>g of thanks. As the work was near<strong>in</strong>g completion, a close friend came over to be the first person to hear the album and said, “This feels like family”. From that moment on, the album was called Family. So beautiful. (https://lnk.to/storyoftoday-family) What creative medium would you like to pursue but haven’t yet? Perhaps a visual <strong>art</strong>. Search<strong>in</strong>g for the extraord<strong>in</strong>ary <strong>in</strong> the common. I have played a bit with photography along these l<strong>in</strong>es. What is your favorite song to perform? This is go<strong>in</strong>g to change depend<strong>in</strong>g on the season. I th<strong>in</strong>k if I had to pick one, it would be Not Alone from Through the Light. (https://lnkfi.re/not-alone-song) What’s next for you? A new record is already underway. There is a good foundation <strong>in</strong> place already and I know which new songs will be <strong>in</strong>cluded. The theme for the work is self-acceptance, acknowledgement of challenges that have come before, and a call to live forward <strong>in</strong>to all of the love that can be. It’s all about love. Listen and learn more at: https://www.StoryOfTodayMusic.com
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