The Reset

Over the years, I've come to realize how vital my workspace is to the music I create. I get this strong urge to rearrange my studio whenever I start a new large project. Sometimes, I shift things around a little bit; other times, I move it to an entirely new room. Currently, I'm working on my score for Tipping Point, PA. At first, my equipment was set up in our Great Room on the 1st floor of our house. We had an old dog who could no longer climb our stairs, and I didn't want to be away from her all day while I was working. Later in the composing process, my studio set-up moved to the guest bedroom. These movements are a kind of reset. Rearranging my space moves the energy around. Making it feel like a new room makes "room" for new ideas.

I've also discovered that what others might consider distractions--background noise, for example-- actually enhances my creativity. A low-volume television playing in the room works surprisingly well for me. It's like controlled chaos, something to soothe the background noise of my mind while the creative subconscious part focuses. At least, that's what I think is going on. It reminds me of writers who prefer working in cafes, where the hum of conversation provides that same amount of stimulation.

I stumbled upon this creative quirk while scoring The Last Horsemen of New York. My studio was downtown in Lancaster at the time, but a burst water pipe forced us to move everything home. Our house wasn't set up for a studio space, so I improvised and set my equipment up in the living room. This is the same room where the TV lives. What could have been a frustrating compromise turned into a revelation. Instead of being a distraction, the sound of the TV, even the commercials, helped me to focus in a way I hadn't expected. This experience taught me that chaos can be used as a creative tool.

In a broader sense, it's also taught me to look at what might seem like frustrating compromises in a new way. What might seem like an inconvenience or disruption might actually be an opportunity. A begrudging change can break old habits and lead to new ways of working. Creativity isn't a controlled activity for me. I never know exactly what I will write when I sit down to create. Usually, I start a new piece of music by improvising melodies and experimenting with samples I've made, so I'm responding to unexpected ideas and finding inspiration in the things I didn't plan for. And that's in life, too. I think life is all about improvising. You often don't know what's going to happen next. It's all about change and going through those unexpected and sometimes uncomfortable things that happen. I try to remind myself to go with the flow, like improvising music. I'm learning not to fight it and instead think - where is the opportunity here? Because maybe the thing that you believe has thrown you off course will be the thing that pushes you forward.

This was my recording set-up for The Last Horsemen Of New York

Above is my recording set-up when I first started working on the score for Tipping Point PA. As you can see, it’s a combination of doggie assisted living and recording studio.

Below is the opening music to the documentary, The Last Horsemen Of New York.