Andrew
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 write creatively 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 believe that music can make the world better.
What I'm doing nowPlaylists
El Mañana – Gorillaz
29 March 2018
I do this because I believe music can make the shit times better.
Henry is a Music to Curator – he curates the Music to Stay Up Late At Night playlist – it’s a beautifully put together list – the music is often familiar and yet when you hear something new – it’s always great. But for me – my favorite thing about his list, is the writing. He writes with such an authentic voice that you can’t help but feel as if you’re sitting there, next to him…
Erin Murray – Music to Curator Interview
28 March 2018
My name is Erin, I live near Lake Cootharaba, on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. I am a Writer, I have had many careers prior, Auditor, Plumber, I like this one the best, and I get to spend time at home with my family.
2/ Is This Something You Always Wanted To Do? What Do You Enjoy About It?
I think I always wanted to write, I love describing the things I see and feel. It is great curating a playlist, it creates a space to explore how a particular song makes you feel, and then explain why you love it. …
Flow – FLOW
28 March 2018
I’m in love with this track – I’m listening to it on repeat as I write this.
It has helped me outline the post, encouraged me to focus on what I want to say and created a perfect sonic environment where the outside world has disappeared – it’s just me and the text – and it feels great!
Leidseplein – Klangriket & Sjors Mans
28 March 2018
It’s the ticking clock.
Oh sure, it isn’t always there – you don’t always hear it, but you feel it – feel it in the same way we all do when something is due – when time is running out and we actually have to create. And make no mistake, writing is a creative act and creating is hard – which is why this playlist exists – to make it easier 😉
Vranko – Music to Curator Interview
21 March 2018
1/ So First Off – Tell Us your Name, City and Country and what you currently do for a living?
My name is Vranko, I live in Barcelona, Spain and I am a pianist and writer.
2/ Is This Something You Always Wanted To Do? What Do You Enjoy About It?
I’ve always like to write and have discovered so many ideas that are often found sleeping inside the music. I fantasize about what those ideas are and love to write out my interpretation of the track.
3/ Tell Us About Your First Musical Memory – Why Do You Think You Remember It?
My sisters used to listen to lot of pop music in the 80s when I was a kid. So my first memories are from pop artists like Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John or Simon and Garfunkel. These kind of people were my first listenings!
Loss (The Bench) – music2work2
20 March 2018
So it’s the anniversary of my Dad’s death – it’s been three years – it’s weird. I’ve been out of sorts for days – weeks actually. While there’s been a lot going on I’ve just not felt right – not wanting to move forward – wanting to withdraw and not be a part of anything.
Three King Fishers – Gábor Szabó
20 March 2018
There’s many ways you can use music to help you write your essay. Sometimes you want something that will set a conducive environment for FLOW – other times you want something that evokes a certain emotion or memory – but every now and then – like this week – you want something to give you energy and get you going.
Jed – Music to Curator Interview
15 March 2018
1/ So First Off – Tell Us your Name, City and Country and what you currently do for a living?
Jed, currently in Lillooet, BC (Canada). Doing graphic design, websites & video production.
2/ Is This Something You Always Wanted To Do? What Do You Enjoy About It?
No, but I enjoy graphic design and making videos. I generally like creative work — unless the assignment is particularly mundane. I like trying to create balanced and pleasing compositions, I like color, and I enjoy creating rhythm and meaning in video editing. I’m sick of building websites…
She’s Like the Swallow – Ian Wong
13 March 2018
A return to the playlist’s roots this week with a stunning solo piece from Canadian pianist Ian Wong. While sad songs – and by songs I mean tracks with lyrics – can tell a specific story – sometimes you just need an instrumental track to create your own narrative. Right now it’s raining outside, the sky is kinda grey and you know it’s cold – there’s a general melancholic feel to the world and this track accompanies it perfectly.
Vicky Cohn – Music to Curator Interview
8 March 2018
1/ So First Off – Tell Us your Name, City and Country and what you currently do for a living?
Vicky Cohn. That’s a hard one, as I see myself as a cosmopolitan that is constantly moving between Berlin / Germany, London / United Kingdom and Tel Aviv / Israel. However, I will be soon back to London and staying there for a while again…
2/ Is This Something You Always Wanted To Do? What Do You Enjoy About It?
Creating playlists is definitely something I already did a lot in my tender years, when tapes were still a thing. Music was always my first and obsessive love, but after I had to deal with a death case in my family, I asked myself, what I would do if I had only one year to live, so it became then very clear to me that I needed to start my new career within the music industry. Coming beforehand from a creative background of film/video making, I looked here too for something that could really fit me and my personality and I found that curating playlists sounded so me and so fun, so I just went for it.
Tommi Tikka – Facebook Live Interview!
8 March 2018
This week’s Music Curator chat is with Tommi from the Music to Celebrate Life playlist. It’s another wide ranging discussion looking at the problems associated with territory restrictions in the digital age – the challenge of how to listen to all the music that’s being submitted to a great chat on the nature of song writing and what makes a great lyric – it’s great stuff – thanks Tommi!
Man I’m Supposed to Be – American Aquarium
7 March 2018
I was writing a few weeks back about how it’s often seeing an act of human kindness that will make me cry – more so than experiencing something sad. There’s something in that – focusing on the good rather than the bad – that makes this track resonate for the grieve to list.