You know why I love this track?
‘cos it’s human.
Sure - there’s the beat track, digitized to keep time to the nanosecond, but the performances that sit on top play with time and space in a way that is particularly un-machine like - and I dig that.
Writing is a very human act - it isn’t replicable - at least not in the way an 808 can repeat a four bar pattern to infinity. Even when we achieve a state of flow, that rhythm can’t be mapped to a particular meter and this is a great thing. It means our robot overlords are going to have to wait a little longer before they take us over.
I enjoy the purity of machine derived music, I can appreciate how producers quantize tracks to deliver the appearance of a ghost in the machine, but - you can tell - you can tell when it’s all too perfect - when the math is too exact - when there’s no errors, no warmth, no humanity.
So, when I’m looking to get inspired - when I’m looking for a track to remind me of me of my own unique humanity - it’s tracks like this I go for.
Shai-Li suggests that the song creates an atmosphere of hope and focus - I think she’s right.
You can learn more about Shai-Li Paldi here:
About the Curator - Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the dark forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top. They would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
After my dad died I was very sad - I couldn't play for a while and when I did, the music that came out reflected my grieving state. I wrote an album of solo piano music called Music to Grieve to - from which the idea of the Music to community originated.
If you'd like to know more you should read Nicole's fabulous article on why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
Latest Posts
Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel
24 September 2022
What’s the point?
You ever find yourself asking that?
The point of this playlist is to bring succor to people who are grieving. That’s it. We listen to and feature songs that we hope people can resonate with and perhaps elicit a cathartic release – at the very least – to help them feel less alone…
Strange Beauty – First Aid Kit
18 September 2022
It’s still September. We’re still talking about Suicide. We’re doing this because the experts tell us that the more we talk about it – the more we bring it into the open – the less likely it is that people will go through with it.
And yet – people still do…
Open Letter – Mr. Phelps
11 September 2022
So it’s September – and for the Grieve To list – that means our thoughts turn to suicide.
Yep – if you didn’t know – September is Suicide Awareness Month – it’s also National Suicide Prevention Month and in fact right now – between the 8th and the 14th – it’s actually National Suicide Prevention Week. If you are in any doubt as to the impact suicide has on society – spend a minute here: Suicide Statistics – the rate inches up every year – and as a middle aged white male – well – I’m slap bang in the highest risk group…
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.