TLDR: Have Long Covid, need to make music. With rigid, careful planning managed to make an album:
I wanted to share a few thoughts about the making of this album, because the process behind it was unlike anything I’d done before.
Since catching you-know-which virus, I now live with a daily limit on my energy.
There was an extensive period of time where I wasn’t able to make any music at all. Tasks like conceptualizing, writing, practicing, curating, and mixing all took significantly more energy and cognitive effort than they once did.
I first learned about the value of rigid planning during my time at the rehabilitation centre, where I’ve been learning to cope with this condition. Planning daily activities leads to controlled use of available energy. Over the past few months, I set aside very specific blocks of time each day for making music—usually max twice a day, for no more than 30 minutes at a time. These sessions were part of a larger daily structure that (if my body allows it) also included some reading, a stroll through the park, or a bit of housekeeping, etc.
This way of working forced me to become highly focused, disciplined, and decisive when making creative choices. And, more importantly, it gave me back a sense of direction—of making small, steady steps toward something that feels like a “normal” life.
Now, after several months work, I’ve gathered around two dozen pieces—some entirely new, some older, some even started life before I got ill. Some needed more work than others. From this collection, I chose the eleven tracks that felt the strongest to me and release them today.
You might expect the result to be subdued, but the finished record still sounds unmistakably like me—just with a few twists: Arpeggios everywhere. They seem to soothe me, so they show up more than ever. Second, no conventional snares. Instead you’ll hear snaps, blips, brushes, rim-clicks**.** I guess snares are just too intense. And finally more use of glitch and noise. I’ve fallen in love with every shade of hiss and crackle.
In general the album is a blend of styles. Although it’s an electronica record, I aimed for an organic, human feel throughout. There are elements of IDM, ‘70s jazz-rock, some indie, noisy and cinematic sounds.
I’m proud of what I’ve created during this very challenging chapter of my life, and I truly hope you enjoy listening. If you’re familiar with the same challenge, or just want to chat, please don’t hesitate tot contact me.
Huge thanks to my family and friends for their unwavering support—especially those who listened to early versions and shared thoughtful, valuable feedback.
For the gear heads, an indication of instruments used: Various iterations of my modular synth, Prophet Rev2, Moog Grandmother, acoustic objects (hit with brushes and sticks), Digitakt MK2, Analog Rytm MK2, electric bass (Squier Jazz, flatwounds), electric guitar (Fender Tele Plus), piano, Ableton Live, and a crapload of plugins (Ableton native, Arturia V Collection, Blank Forms Tape Synths, Fabfilter, Klevgrand, Knifonium, Random, Sumu, UA, Valhalla, and many more).
. Digging the arpeggios and overall vibrant sounds, so I bought a copy too. I wish you well in your recovery & congrats on the album!
