Earth Envy: Listening With Eyes Closed
Good morning bagelers, with a time change here and St. Patrick’s Day coming up, we finally have some evidence that the winter is on its way out.
While I had done a lot of video podcasts lately, this week was a good opportunity to work with sound only. I also got to include some field recordings I had taken last summer in Mont Tremblant National Park. This work is part of my ongoing project that I have given the code name Earth Envy.
On the topic of sound-only, I recently heard a workshop presenter named David Pearl say that “the eyes are the tyrants of the head” (his group Street Wisdom works with experiential walks). Sometimes it can be nice to close your eyes and see what comes up when we turn this sense off while listening to music or field recordings. So feel free to do this exercise when you listen to this episode.
Things I’ve Done That’s Similar
Another episode from the archive that is from this trip is The Map is Not the Territory which talks about some lessons I learned on that trip after making a horrible mistake with planning it.
I also have a track called Notes by the Marsh which is a similar combination of music and field recording.
On the topic of recording and archives, lately it’s occurred to me that the true challenge of working on music is having the discipline to review your song ideas and make decisions about committing to share them with the world.
That’s why my podcast has been a rewarding project as it allows me to share sound and video without any real pressure, only the pressure of the clock which is Sunday morning when it goes out.
Rather than stressing yourself with the idea that you have to come up with new ideas all the time, I feel like it can be more soothing to spend time with your archives and see what can be worked on there. Notebooks, sketches, voice memos, there is so much power in there.
Sometimes I feel like our entire life and career is spent trying to reconnect with our interests that were developed in childhood and teenage years. As if we are constantly working our way ‘home’ to that core spark of inspiration. Do you know what that moment was for you?
More Earth Envy
Italian photographer Sofia Podestà takes beautiful landscape photos with conceptual themes.
View her series here or follow on Instagram.
Alright that’s it for me. Wishing you an easy rest of your weekend and I’ll see you next week. This week, try a new bagel place you’ve never been to before.
Elliott