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brettworks

thinking through music


  • February 18, 2021

    Resonant Thoughts: Gábor Lázár on Musical Sketches

    “Usually I try to find a balance between a rhythmic pattern and filter modulations which together articulate some interesting quality. For me, sketch is a strange word because it means something like trying to manifest an idea. Of course I have some kind of idea, but many times I just look at my idea as… Continue reading

    complex systems, creative strategies, Creativity, Resonant Thoughts
  • February 16, 2021

    Brett’s Sound Picks: Abul Mogard’s “Sand” (2021)

    (Brett’s Sound Picks 2021.) Continue reading

    Brett’s Sound Picks
  • February 15, 2021

    SD 1

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    Uncategorized
  • February 11, 2021

    Resonant Thoughts: Michael Crawley’s “Out Of Thin Air” (2021)

    “To ‘follow someone’s feet’ is to share their rhythm and to feed off their energy, and leading or pacemaking is therefore often described by the runners in Addis as ‘bearing someone else’s burden.’ The runners are expected to learn to share their energy and to improve together.” “When runners ask, ‘Condition yet alle?‘ (‘Where is… Continue reading

    condition, Resonant Thoughts, rhythm, running
  • February 10, 2021

    Brett’s Sound Picks: Colleen’s “Gazing at Taurus” (2021)

    (Follow Brett’s Sound Picks 2021.) Continue reading

    Brett’s Sound Picks
  • February 9, 2021

    Notes On Writing Musical Bios

    When I listen to new music on Spotify, I sometimes check out the artist’s bio to see what else they’ve done, and more importantly, to see how they, or someone writing on their behalf, represent their work. Writing about musical sound and musical experience is difficult, because the writer is tasked with translating listening to,… Continue reading

    musical biography, Uncategorized, writing about music
  • February 8, 2021

    No. 56

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    sketch, why doesn’t he just write about music instead?
  • February 5, 2021

    Notes On Quick Musical Assessments / Getting Granular With Musical Influences

    As you listen to music, think through these questions: What is the music’s bpm (beats per minute)? Or is it in free rhythm? How many parts are there? What are the music’s most important or foregrounded sounds? Does the music rely on a lead + accompaniment format? What processing effects are used? Are they used… Continue reading

    listening, Uncategorized
  • February 4, 2021

    Resonant Thoughts: Sophie on The Molecular Level of Sound

    “It’s about getting to the molecular level of a particular sound — realizing what that sound actually is made of, and why it behaves a certain way when processed or cooked. Then you use those molecules to build new forms, mixing and reappropriating those raw materials, and of course, it should be bloody delicious.” –… Continue reading

    Resonant Thoughts
  • February 3, 2021

    Brett’s Sound Picks: Clark’s “Small” (2021)

    Continue reading

    Uncategorized
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Thomas Brett is a musician and writer who holds a PhD in ethnomusicology from New York University. He is the author of Principles of Electronic Music Production and The Creative Electronic Music Producer, a book described by Sound On Sound magazine as “a deep philosophical analysis of the various creative inspirations, ideas and processes involved in producing electronic music.” His essays have appeared in the journals Popular Music and Popular Music and Society, as well as edited collections by Routledge, Oxford, and Cambridge University presses. Thomas has played percussion on Broadway since 1997 and writes about music at brettworks.com.

Recent Posts

  • Unquantized (Remodel)
  • Curating The Week: The Brand Age, Selling Out, Sync Music
  • Resonant Thoughts: John Ashbery’s “A Wave” (1984)
  • Art About Music: Google’s Lyria 3 (2026)
  • Studio Observations: Listening To Improvisation

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