A couple of weeks ago, at the end of 2020 (after many months of working from home), I had been mostly listening to music during the day to wash out the many noises annoying city residents make these days. One day, I realized that this is not helping because even the best focus music will be quite well penetrated by a garbage truck or the neighbor's car alarm when he uses its trunk regularly as storage throughout the day. So I've realized the only way to completely ignore these and essentially stop the interruptions was to focus even more. Thus I've just stopped listening to anything altogether, leading to a much more focused and deeper flow during the workday.
Nowadays, I'm starting my old Akai amplifier, mostly on Sunday evenings like this one, to actually _listen_ to music and doing nothing else. I still enjoy a duo of Jamo monitor-like 2-way speakers (Cornet 145) and a custom active subwoofer - a personal toy project from my student days (...and a relic from the eye-blurring bass-rich parties back in the days), much more powerful than necessary for the monitors but profoundly contributing to slower and deeper pieces and lower volumes.
I also occasionally enjoy KRK KNS-8400, probably the best passive noise-canceling headphones I've ever had. They are really nice, but listening with a bit of a vibe in your core is still priceless.
Thank you for another illuminating post as ever. Your writing style continues to evolve and in the process it continues to bring me incredible amounts of joy. I have always been so impressed by your drive, vision, curiosity, and never ending journey for enlightenment in all areas.
I personally have been playing with different ways of listening to music. Most notably because when I recently moved to North Vancouver, I found an old cassette/radio player. I also was able to dig out my dual DVD/VHS player (I have an impressive VHS collection I might add). These items mainly bring feelings of nostalgia to me, but I will tell you how gratifying it is to not be able to find a movie on Netflix/Prime and to then jump out and shout from your office/study, “I have it on VHS!” Groans from my partner ensue, as she no doubt doesn’t want to watch a scratchy film with awful resolution, that I may not have been kind and rewound. I love watching my VHS collection, just as I love listening to the radio on my radio player. Sometimes the sound cuts out or goes fuzzy. The other day an MF Doom song came on (RIP), and I went mad taking a video and telling friends how I heard him on CBC radio. A few minutes later I actually found out I was on Q radio (which I’ve now found out is a show on CBC radio), but with the tuner slider selector; it’s really hard to know if I’m on 99.9 or 99.8 FM.
Personally I take comfort in being off by a decimal place or two. Knowing I may get some strange feedback, or find myself actually listening to a channel I had never heard of makes me excited. It’s like the hiss, buzz, and crackle of vinyl. My Dad has a copy of, “I don’t play no rock and roll”, by Mississippi Fred McDowell. I must have listened to it 500 times over the years with my old man. Now when it comes to the condition of the record, the polite way of putting it is that the record is scratched to rat shit. But it’s one of my favourite records of all time. If my Father were to pass today and I could only have one record from his collection, I would choose that one. There is perfection in imperfection.
It’s the same way I like watching cable television. I love the commercials. I must admit I think a lot of Canadian advertisements are totally rubbish, but I love having the break in programming. I love having the pause controlled for me. The commercials decide when I go for a pee, or when I have a break to pick up my phone to text Elliot about some obscure sounds he’s been recording in the woods. I find when we are constantly trying to curate our own experiences it can be somewhat exhausting. You feel guilty if you haven’t picked the right song selection, or the right film. But when you let somebody else take care of it for you, then you don’t have to blame yourself. This takes a way a lot of the guilt or frustration of not picking the right playlist to suit the vibe.
I very much resonated with your comment about people seeing red, and just not enjoying any of the music they are putting on. As you know Elliot, I am a huge music lover. All sorts of genres and styles. But even with that, I do find the odd moment, usually during the workday, where nothing I put on is working. So why do I try to force it?
On the flip side, I’ve had days where I am the master Disc Jockey, and every tiny thing I put on is literally perfect for that vibe/moment. I’ll never forget when I was on a boys surfing trip to Tofino, and I was given the musical reigns for the weekend. I played all manner of Techno, Rock, Jazz, Pop, Soul, Groove, Funk, Acid-House, etc. But what really took the cake was as we prepped and ate our final big meal, I put on Can’t Get Enough by the late great Barry White, and boy did things kick off. I’ve never seen such grins, and of all the music we listened to, danced to, and sang to, it was Barry White at that dinner that stood out for everyone. To this day, I get requests to put on Barry from the lads, and I often hear them mention how great that meal was.
Dinner is a great time to put on something unique and new to listen to. I often play a lot of Italian Opera music at dinner, as I find I can’t give it my proper attention during the day. I do reserve the singing and loud clapping for before the meal, but once this lock down is over, I am going to be banging and singing while I enjoy my freshly baked Ziti.
For me headphones are my best friend. I have AirPods (very convenient for an iPhone user, but need a lot of work) and Power Beats by Dre (brilliant for working out). I also have 12 other pairs, that at times get plugged into a phone or CPU. I keep considering some Beats over the ear headphones. I am on the phone a lot for work, so I love having the music in my ear, and being able to transition into a call. My favourite part, is that when I hang up, the music keeps playing right where I left off. It allows me to keep working but not miss a beat!
Lots more to write and say, but this is your blog not mine, so I will bid you adieu!
🤯🎧🎼🎶🥯👌
A couple of weeks ago, at the end of 2020 (after many months of working from home), I had been mostly listening to music during the day to wash out the many noises annoying city residents make these days. One day, I realized that this is not helping because even the best focus music will be quite well penetrated by a garbage truck or the neighbor's car alarm when he uses its trunk regularly as storage throughout the day. So I've realized the only way to completely ignore these and essentially stop the interruptions was to focus even more. Thus I've just stopped listening to anything altogether, leading to a much more focused and deeper flow during the workday.
Nowadays, I'm starting my old Akai amplifier, mostly on Sunday evenings like this one, to actually _listen_ to music and doing nothing else. I still enjoy a duo of Jamo monitor-like 2-way speakers (Cornet 145) and a custom active subwoofer - a personal toy project from my student days (...and a relic from the eye-blurring bass-rich parties back in the days), much more powerful than necessary for the monitors but profoundly contributing to slower and deeper pieces and lower volumes.
I also occasionally enjoy KRK KNS-8400, probably the best passive noise-canceling headphones I've ever had. They are really nice, but listening with a bit of a vibe in your core is still priceless.
Hello Elliot,
Thank you for another illuminating post as ever. Your writing style continues to evolve and in the process it continues to bring me incredible amounts of joy. I have always been so impressed by your drive, vision, curiosity, and never ending journey for enlightenment in all areas.
I personally have been playing with different ways of listening to music. Most notably because when I recently moved to North Vancouver, I found an old cassette/radio player. I also was able to dig out my dual DVD/VHS player (I have an impressive VHS collection I might add). These items mainly bring feelings of nostalgia to me, but I will tell you how gratifying it is to not be able to find a movie on Netflix/Prime and to then jump out and shout from your office/study, “I have it on VHS!” Groans from my partner ensue, as she no doubt doesn’t want to watch a scratchy film with awful resolution, that I may not have been kind and rewound. I love watching my VHS collection, just as I love listening to the radio on my radio player. Sometimes the sound cuts out or goes fuzzy. The other day an MF Doom song came on (RIP), and I went mad taking a video and telling friends how I heard him on CBC radio. A few minutes later I actually found out I was on Q radio (which I’ve now found out is a show on CBC radio), but with the tuner slider selector; it’s really hard to know if I’m on 99.9 or 99.8 FM.
Personally I take comfort in being off by a decimal place or two. Knowing I may get some strange feedback, or find myself actually listening to a channel I had never heard of makes me excited. It’s like the hiss, buzz, and crackle of vinyl. My Dad has a copy of, “I don’t play no rock and roll”, by Mississippi Fred McDowell. I must have listened to it 500 times over the years with my old man. Now when it comes to the condition of the record, the polite way of putting it is that the record is scratched to rat shit. But it’s one of my favourite records of all time. If my Father were to pass today and I could only have one record from his collection, I would choose that one. There is perfection in imperfection.
It’s the same way I like watching cable television. I love the commercials. I must admit I think a lot of Canadian advertisements are totally rubbish, but I love having the break in programming. I love having the pause controlled for me. The commercials decide when I go for a pee, or when I have a break to pick up my phone to text Elliot about some obscure sounds he’s been recording in the woods. I find when we are constantly trying to curate our own experiences it can be somewhat exhausting. You feel guilty if you haven’t picked the right song selection, or the right film. But when you let somebody else take care of it for you, then you don’t have to blame yourself. This takes a way a lot of the guilt or frustration of not picking the right playlist to suit the vibe.
I very much resonated with your comment about people seeing red, and just not enjoying any of the music they are putting on. As you know Elliot, I am a huge music lover. All sorts of genres and styles. But even with that, I do find the odd moment, usually during the workday, where nothing I put on is working. So why do I try to force it?
On the flip side, I’ve had days where I am the master Disc Jockey, and every tiny thing I put on is literally perfect for that vibe/moment. I’ll never forget when I was on a boys surfing trip to Tofino, and I was given the musical reigns for the weekend. I played all manner of Techno, Rock, Jazz, Pop, Soul, Groove, Funk, Acid-House, etc. But what really took the cake was as we prepped and ate our final big meal, I put on Can’t Get Enough by the late great Barry White, and boy did things kick off. I’ve never seen such grins, and of all the music we listened to, danced to, and sang to, it was Barry White at that dinner that stood out for everyone. To this day, I get requests to put on Barry from the lads, and I often hear them mention how great that meal was.
Dinner is a great time to put on something unique and new to listen to. I often play a lot of Italian Opera music at dinner, as I find I can’t give it my proper attention during the day. I do reserve the singing and loud clapping for before the meal, but once this lock down is over, I am going to be banging and singing while I enjoy my freshly baked Ziti.
For me headphones are my best friend. I have AirPods (very convenient for an iPhone user, but need a lot of work) and Power Beats by Dre (brilliant for working out). I also have 12 other pairs, that at times get plugged into a phone or CPU. I keep considering some Beats over the ear headphones. I am on the phone a lot for work, so I love having the music in my ear, and being able to transition into a call. My favourite part, is that when I hang up, the music keeps playing right where I left off. It allows me to keep working but not miss a beat!
Lots more to write and say, but this is your blog not mine, so I will bid you adieu!
Xoxo
Hans