This is where it begins.

The purpose behind this journal is to document the development of a new music project. While I've been writing and performing original music for over a decade, these compositions feel like they were created in vacuum, with little or no thought to their structure or relationship to one another. This time around, I'm aiming for cohesion, and I'm doing my research. Ideas I'd particularly like to explore: non-standard scales and tunings; eastern modes and dissonant harmonies; rhythm and its correspondents in mystical/alchemical traditions; exploring the future of sound.

I hope to keep this blog updated regularly, as a way to keep myself on track and review the progression of the project. Right now, the ideas are incubating and I've just started working on producing some actual music. I'm using a basic setup with a midi synth and laptop running ableton live to build the foundations. These pieces will focus primarily on the voice -- as that's the instrument I'm most comfortable with -- accompanied by pure tones, drones, percussion, loops and samples. Once I've got the structure established, I'd like to bring other musicians in to record and, with any luck, perform these pieces live.

Although this blog is primarily intended for my benefit, I always welcome comments and suggestions. And if someone else is doing something similar, I want to hear about it.