I started composing 17 years ago with text based computer sequencing
and that interest grew until I had a degree in music composition under
my belt! Now I am using Ableton Live which is very versatile for music creation. For recording bands however Pro Tools with Ableton Live as rewire is my choice.
But living in secluded realms in the bush led to a
different form of creativity; instrument making. After years in the
bush I finally crafted the chromatic bamboo flute, which along with its warm sound provides the option to bend notes (in the Indian style) fused with the key modulation
versatility of the western style "silver" flute.
My best friend Chris gifted me with an old Yan Quin, a zither which produces clear and vibrant notes
with a sweet resonance. It is typically played with bamboo hammers but there are other ways of making sounds on this beautiful instrument. I have taken to playing it with a wah pedal while plucking with fingers, it really works!
Recently I purchased a Thai variant of the yan quin, called a Khim. It is more resonant and has a sweet sound suitable for more meditative musical performances.
My synthesiser is a Novation Xiosynth, I just love the onboard X-Y pad that controls its Frequency and Resonance parameters. I have now joined it with a Roland JD-Xi for some softer sounds and better keyboard/organ sounds.
During the era of electro ska band,
Heart Tribe, I constructed an elaborate setup that routed the flute,
zither, xio-synth and vocals through my sound card and laptop. I now use more portable gear where required.
I
love collaborating and improvisational jamming on stage, exploring world
music, ancient cultures and traveling to find new sounds.
