Made a list of what gets me hyped up to write music, and reframed it as kind of a ‘pre-flight checklist’ of questions to ask myself to generate motivation. Pleased with what came out of this morning’s session after doing this!
The only way to keep your glasses perfectly clean is not to wear them, which would obviously defeat the purpose.
Avoiding use to keep something pristine is foolish. Something that isn’t used, isn’t useful. See also: things you ‘might use one day.’
I’m hosting a seasonal poker night series for my friends, starting this Saturday. I’ve been spending a long time writing a helper guide for beginners.
When introducing anyone to a game, you have to answer a fundamental emotional question: why will this be fun? Why should I play? Here’s my answer.
Three composing sessions today on three different efforts. Gotta make the most of my days off 😅
From ‘Your Music and People,’ by Derek Sivers
Your mind is the fastest tool you have—it works at the speed of thought. No matter how fast you can look something up, it will always be more efficient to learn it and know it.
Brought myself nearly to tears at work today explaining what The Phantom Tollbooth is about. What a beautiful book.
Composers with doubt: what does ‘bad at music’ mean to you? What is ‘good’ music?
A rough patch in my meditation practice this week. Missed a few days here and there. That’s all right. These are opportunities to practice starting over—that’s the real work.
Still thinking about Tár
Resisting the addictions of social media is really difficult. I’m not posting on the platforms - if you’re reading this on Bluesky for example, it’s my personal microblog crossposting there - but just being aware that my posts show up on socials gives me the pernicious urge to check on them.
I usually carve portraits, so I decided to go for a monster instead this year. Balrog vs. Gandalf—Happy Halloween! 🎃
It is natural to sometimes yearn for a past self. Grief is growth’s mirror image. Try to embrace transformation.
Work in progress
Spooky skull 😨
It’s strange when people older than me talk about their mom or that relationship, as it’s a life experience I simply will not get to have. It’s easy to assume all our lives are fairly similar to each other, when really the differences are innumerable, and rich, and vast.
If a farmer is missing some cows, what’s in their garage?
They have a cattle-lack =)
Did you hear about the British dyslexic composer who scored the romance film? They were nominated for Best Original Snog
Today is a rest day from composing. You need breaks to fuel what you love.
It’s spooky season again! Last year I produced an album of eerie ambient soundscapes, designed to loop seamlessly as background to an RPG session. I’d love for you to check it out! Tell me how you’d use it this Halloween! 🎃