To fully comprehend why re:Write is what it is, one must first understand who A/B Duo are, because without A/B Duo there would be no re:Write. That’s not simply because they commissioned the piece, but rather, the piece was inspired by their attitude and overall badass-ness. When I first heard recordings of this flute and percussion duo, I didn’t think of it is “chamber music”. I heard them as an indie band, a rock band, a punk band--a couple of musicians doing things their own way, outside of the norm. This perception helped to shape my approach of writing (and rewriting) this piece.
Album art: Meerenai Shim
The idea of A/B Duo as a band and not an ensemble was comforting to me. It took me back to thinking as a songwriter and as a producer. At some point in my career, I decided that composition and songwriting were not the same thing. I created this false boundary between who I was and who I thought I should be. These struggles are nothing new, probably every composer goes through something similar, however, that doesn’t make it any easier to find ways to stay true to yourself as an artist. In a sense, re:Write helped me to bridge that gap I created within myself. It helped me to recognize the absurdity of attempting to wear the mask of canonical composers instead of just working out of my own experiences and the skills that I have developed over my years of creating music.
Staying true to this sentiment, I drew much of the musical inspiration for this piece from some of my favorite records--not only in the composition but also in its production. The process of creating re:Write simultaneously felt like a new journey and a homecoming. I was writing this type of music in a way that I had written that type of music in the past. I thought about re:Write as equal parts chamber music, indie record, and performance piece. I am thankful to be able to have a studio recording to share of the piece, because this format was part of how I envisioned it. The electronics were carefully crafted to provide as energetic of an experience through headphones as in a live performance.
Original sketches for re:Write.
The best part of this collaboration has been the enthusiasm from both Meerenai and Chris. It’s a wonderful feeling to have something you’ve created come to life, but the experience is enhanced exponentially when there are others that are just as invested in the process as you are. Enjoy the digs, y’all. It’s what those in the industry like to call, a BANGER.