In making radiophonic works, a somewhat distinct creative and analytical approach must be taken. Sound must be used in an overtly communicative way, articulating happenings, and working in collaboration with the voice to accentuate, illustrate and imaginatively define the invisible world.
In some respects, I feel that the inherent directionality of sound, sound effects in particular, is something I have consistently undervalued, or not fully comprehended. A third, imagined image is created, beyond simply the music or words, when sound effects dimensionally bring words to life. Sometimes the most seemingly obvious, clearest, honest or minimalist path is the most effective, which is a lesson I want to reflect on as we work on our group radio piece.
Sharing our work with one another on Google Drive highlights our individual strengths, and allows us to refocus how we can contribute uniquely to the whole group. In comparing my work to Arad’s archival, sample-based compositional work, I know, and it’s apparent, that my weaknesses are his strengths; complex digital signal processes, how to thread disparate samples intuitively, how to source said samples. Arad is far more engaged with the non-linear, more programmable workflows of Max for Live and Max/MSP than my own, more linear, traditional tracking. I treat the computer as a tool far blunter than its capabilities; like a tape recorder ostensibly. The way my brain works, I am easily lost amid endless choice. So, in recognising abilities and delegating the use of them, sharing work has proved invaluable in effectively maximising the effects of, and learning about, each others’ strengths.
I think my natural recourse is to add as little as possible, a minimalist approach. My mind finds it more immersive to sink into an atmosphere with few, but definitive elements guiding the way. If a composition is too busy with noise and activity, unless purposefully, I find I lose focus on the process. I try to avoid projects becoming a sinkhole of time, attempting to cut off and preempt any unnecessary additions that could bloat a project with too much second guessing put into it.