Being stuck in the house during lockdown, there wasn't much inspiration floating around for me. I even lost some of my impulse to draw for a while. But, I have to say that making beats and just exploring sound has given me consolation through rough times, way more than I could have imagined.
The hardware out there these days is truly magical. You can easily make complete songs (electronic music) without using a computer. My favorite device at the moment is the Elektron Model:Cycles. It's an FM-based synth/drum machine. The sequencer is incredibly sophisticated for what they are calling an entry-level machine. For example, you can apply a % chance for every note as to whether it will play or not, allowing you to make almost generative music. I haven't even begun to scratch the surface, but the immediate joy it brings me is always surprising.
Another thing I've noticed is that the space you're in can really inspire the sounds you make. I particularly like making beats in hotel rooms for some reason. I'm ready to go off into the woods and see what I can come up with. Sometimes when I'm making beats, the sounds give me visual ideas too, almost like a hallucination. I decided that my Youtube channel would be a place to let these two modes interact with each other. I've yearned to make videos for a while now, so it feels good to have some direction and hopefully loosen up my art practice. I think everyone should make music.
Stay healthy ✌️
