How to translate the feeling into sound | Claudio | TEDxPerth

my grandfather was the organist in an

my grandfather was the organist in an Italian church and we shared this epic

Italian church and we shared this epic

Italian church and we shared this epic love for Italian opera and the Beatles

love for Italian opera and the Beatles

love for Italian opera and the Beatles also a queen Bohemian Rhapsody was a big

also a queen Bohemian Rhapsody was a big

also a queen Bohemian Rhapsody was a big one just at opening melody the way the

one just at opening melody the way the

one just at opening melody the way the section is kind of happened seemingly

section is kind of happened seemingly

section is kind of happened seemingly randomly but come together to form this

randomly but come together to form this

randomly but come together to form this perfect coherent statement when I was

perfect coherent statement when I was

perfect coherent statement when I was four or five when I remember hearing it

four or five when I remember hearing it

four or five when I remember hearing it for the first time I didn’t necessarily

for the first time I didn’t necessarily

for the first time I didn’t necessarily identify with the lyrical content

identify with the lyrical content

identify with the lyrical content because I hadn’t killed a man but it was

because I hadn’t killed a man but it was

because I hadn’t killed a man but it was electrifying

electrifying

electrifying and it was weirdly familiar familiar

and it was weirdly familiar familiar

and it was weirdly familiar familiar like those other lyrics that go

like those other lyrics that go

like those other lyrics that go he was strumming my pain with his

he was strumming my pain with his

he was strumming my pain with his fingers singing my life with his words

fingers singing my life with his words

fingers singing my life with his words they later going to say I felt he found

they later going to say I felt he found

they later going to say I felt he found my letters and read each one aloud how

my letters and read each one aloud how

my letters and read each one aloud how does a great song do that that song came

does a great song do that that song came

does a great song do that that song came from a poem that Laurie Lieberman wrote

from a poem that Laurie Lieberman wrote

from a poem that Laurie Lieberman wrote on a napkin while she watched don mclean

on a napkin while she watched don mclean

on a napkin while she watched don mclean in concert for the first time how does a

in concert for the first time how does a

in concert for the first time how does a great song lay out your emotional

great song lay out your emotional

great song lay out your emotional experience as if the songwriter had been

experience as if the songwriter had been

experience as if the songwriter had been eavesdropping on your internal dialogue

eavesdropping on your internal dialogue

eavesdropping on your internal dialogue like they were strumming your pain with

like they were strumming your pain with

like they were strumming your pain with their fingers and hitting you like a

their fingers and hitting you like a

their fingers and hitting you like a memory I’ve been obsessed with it as

memory I’ve been obsessed with it as

memory I’ve been obsessed with it as long as I can remember the taking of

long as I can remember the taking of

long as I can remember the taking of something in the inner world silent

something in the inner world silent

something in the inner world silent formless and finding a way to convert it

formless and finding a way to convert it

formless and finding a way to convert it into a shareable perceptible sonic

into a shareable perceptible sonic

into a shareable perceptible sonic language via rhythms harmonies beautiful

language via rhythms harmonies beautiful

language via rhythms harmonies beautiful noise lyrics whatever will get you there

noise lyrics whatever will get you there

noise lyrics whatever will get you there I call it translation the reason why

I call it translation the reason why

I call it translation the reason why it’s a big deal is because if the

it’s a big deal is because if the

it’s a big deal is because if the songwriter gets it right then chances

songwriter gets it right then chances

songwriter gets it right then chances are that he or she gets it right on

are that he or she gets it right on

are that he or she gets it right on behalf of the listener also and it’s a

behalf of the listener also and it’s a

behalf of the listener also and it’s a very powerful thing in a world where we

very powerful thing in a world where we

very powerful thing in a world where we don’t always have the tools or the

don’t always have the tools or the

don’t always have the tools or the context to express the fullness of who

context to express the fullness of who

context to express the fullness of who we are music has this unparalleled

we are music has this unparalleled

we are music has this unparalleled ability to take all of one’s pain pull

ability to take all of one’s pain pull

ability to take all of one’s pain pull it into a single frame and invite us to

it into a single frame and invite us to

it into a single frame and invite us to relive it with all of the joy of

relive it with all of the joy of

relive it with all of the joy of experience and none of the suffering

experience and none of the suffering

experience and none of the suffering like a wind turbine converts the winds

like a wind turbine converts the winds

like a wind turbine converts the winds kinetic energy into electrical power the

kinetic energy into electrical power the

kinetic energy into electrical power the songwriter

songwriter

songwriter has an ability to convert the emotional

has an ability to convert the emotional

has an ability to convert the emotional experience the human experience however

experience the human experience however

experience the human experience however transitory and convert it into redeeming

transitory and convert it into redeeming

transitory and convert it into redeeming beauty long after the pain is passed we

beauty long after the pain is passed we

beauty long after the pain is passed we have some machines over here – just let

have some machines over here – just let

have some machines over here – just let me get up this one here if we can get a

me get up this one here if we can get a

me get up this one here if we can get a little bit sound on there this is D

little bit sound on there this is D

little bit sound on there this is D minor a great mine once said that it was

minor a great mine once said that it was

minor a great mine once said that it was the saddest of all keys I don’t know why

the saddest of all keys I don’t know why

the saddest of all keys I don’t know why but it makes people wait pit instantly

but it makes people wait pit instantly

but it makes people wait pit instantly you can do amazing things with D minor

but the thing about D minor is that it’s

but the thing about D minor is that it’s not sadness itself it doesn’t create the

not sadness itself it doesn’t create the

not sadness itself it doesn’t create the sadness but thing is that we carry the

sadness but thing is that we carry the

sadness but thing is that we carry the sadness already

sadness already

sadness already it’s that D minor seems to be a harmonic

it’s that D minor seems to be a harmonic

it’s that D minor seems to be a harmonic match for a particular kind of sadness

match for a particular kind of sadness

match for a particular kind of sadness I’ve spent my entire life trying to

I’ve spent my entire life trying to

I’ve spent my entire life trying to accurately convert the human experience

accurately convert the human experience

accurately convert the human experience into sound and for that conversion we

into sound and for that conversion we

into sound and for that conversion we either need to find or build a sonic

either need to find or build a sonic

either need to find or build a sonic vocabulary when I was a kid I drove my

vocabulary when I was a kid I drove my

vocabulary when I was a kid I drove my very very patient family insane

very very patient family insane

very very patient family insane I had this 80’s keyboard that had the

I had this 80’s keyboard that had the

I had this 80’s keyboard that had the horrible drum sounds the synth choirs

horrible drum sounds the synth choirs

horrible drum sounds the synth choirs the fake marimba and it had this double

the fake marimba and it had this double

the fake marimba and it had this double cassette tape player and I’d record all

cassette tape player and I’d record all

cassette tape player and I’d record all of the drums to one side like all the

of the drums to one side like all the

of the drums to one side like all the drums of my Arrangements to one side and

drums of my Arrangements to one side and

drums of my Arrangements to one side and then the drums on the bass to the other

then the drums on the bass to the other

then the drums on the bass to the other side the drums the bass and then the

side the drums the bass and then the

side the drums the bass and then the vocals and in the horns and then the

vocals and in the horns and then the

vocals and in the horns and then the whatever and it’s tape

whatever and it’s tape

whatever and it’s tape so each dub you multiply the hiss that’s

so each dub you multiply the hiss that’s

so each dub you multiply the hiss that’s there so in the end you’re left with

there so in the end you’re left with

there so in the end you’re left with this in somewhere far in the background

this in somewhere far in the background

this in somewhere far in the background this kind of R&B Caribbean pop bosib

this kind of R&B Caribbean pop bosib

this kind of R&B Caribbean pop bosib number arranged by a very odd

number arranged by a very odd

number arranged by a very odd eight-year-old and I loved how the parts

eight-year-old and I loved how the parts

eight-year-old and I loved how the parts interweaved I loved how within a chord a

interweaved I loved how within a chord a

interweaved I loved how within a chord a single note can have the final word on

single note can have the final word on

single note can have the final word on the way you’re caused to feel or at

the way you’re caused to feel or at

the way you’re caused to feel or at least which part of your emotional

least which part of your emotional

least which part of your emotional experience it matches up to in

experience it matches up to in

experience it matches up to in songwriting just like in language in

songwriting just like in language in

songwriting just like in language in order to express a feeling but you

order to express a feeling but you

order to express a feeling but you absolutely have to capture and seize the

absolutely have to capture and seize the

absolutely have to capture and seize the thought the experience the memory the

thought the experience the memory the

thought the experience the memory the feeling inside the mind and be able to

feeling inside the mind and be able to

feeling inside the mind and be able to understand it but your language were

understand it but your language were

understand it but your language were often using ready-made templates

often using ready-made templates

often using ready-made templates reaching for the nearest possible word

reaching for the nearest possible word

reaching for the nearest possible word and then adjusting our thoughts

and then adjusting our thoughts

and then adjusting our thoughts accordingly but in songwriting just like

accordingly but in songwriting just like

accordingly but in songwriting just like in art just like in any accurate or

in art just like in any accurate or

in art just like in any accurate or faithful self expression sometimes we

faithful self expression sometimes we

faithful self expression sometimes we have to push a little further than that

have to push a little further than that

have to push a little further than that beyond the linguistic templates

beyond the linguistic templates

beyond the linguistic templates sometimes you have to get inside the

sometimes you have to get inside the

sometimes you have to get inside the cracks that exists between the words or

cracks that exists between the words or

cracks that exists between the words or at least between the feelings that

at least between the feelings that

at least between the feelings that already have names and you have to kind

already have names and you have to kind

already have names and you have to kind of blindly and bravely feel your way

of blindly and bravely feel your way

of blindly and bravely feel your way around that very non-illuminated space

around that very non-illuminated space

around that very non-illuminated space until you stumble across the light

until you stumble across the light

until you stumble across the light switch in

switch in

switch in hope that none of the monsters are real

hope that none of the monsters are real

hope that none of the monsters are real in art in faithful self-expression you

in art in faithful self-expression you

in art in faithful self-expression you go until you’ve lit up the dark space in

go until you’ve lit up the dark space in

go until you’ve lit up the dark space in singer-songwriters they’re often teaming

singer-songwriters they’re often teaming

singer-songwriters they’re often teaming up with music producers in very broad

up with music producers in very broad

up with music producers in very broad terms music producers are like the

terms music producers are like the

terms music producers are like the interpreters of the artists vision

interpreters of the artists vision

interpreters of the artists vision guiding where the song goes in its

guiding where the song goes in its

guiding where the song goes in its recorded form I’ve worked with a lot of

recorded form I’ve worked with a lot of

recorded form I’ve worked with a lot of great music producers and we’ve made

great music producers and we’ve made

great music producers and we’ve made some great music but it’s always been

some great music but it’s always been

some great music but it’s always been tricky because this idea of translation

tricky because this idea of translation

tricky because this idea of translation goes beyond the realm of good or bad

goes beyond the realm of good or bad

goes beyond the realm of good or bad it’s not a rule and it’s definitely not

it’s not a rule and it’s definitely not

it’s not a rule and it’s definitely not for everyone

for everyone

for everyone but for some if the feeling translates

but for some if the feeling translates

but for some if the feeling translates into the song and the song into the

into the song and the song into the

into the song and the song into the record then it stands to reason that

record then it stands to reason that

record then it stands to reason that when the artist here is the recorded

when the artist here is the recorded

when the artist here is the recorded song back that some of that emotion of

song back that some of that emotion of

song back that some of that emotion of origin would be evoked or at least

origin would be evoked or at least

origin would be evoked or at least somewhat some emotion at all and if not

somewhat some emotion at all and if not

somewhat some emotion at all and if not then it’s possible that something has

then it’s possible that something has

then it’s possible that something has been mistranslated or lost in the

been mistranslated or lost in the

been mistranslated or lost in the conversion and it’s challenging Tom

conversion and it’s challenging Tom

conversion and it’s challenging Tom Waits said it was like trying to capture

Waits said it was like trying to capture

Waits said it was like trying to capture birds without killing them sometimes you

birds without killing them sometimes you

birds without killing them sometimes you end up with nothing but a mouth full of

end up with nothing but a mouth full of

end up with nothing but a mouth full of feathers and so at that point when I

feathers and so at that point when I

feathers and so at that point when I understood that I realized I would have

understood that I realized I would have

understood that I realized I would have to become both fluent in songwriting and

to become both fluent in songwriting and

to become both fluent in songwriting and music production my current live show is

music production my current live show is

music production my current live show is centered around these dazzling machines

centered around these dazzling machines

centered around these dazzling machines which make for a very interesting

which make for a very interesting

which make for a very interesting futuristic style conversation to have

futuristic style conversation to have

futuristic style conversation to have with my Italian owner it’s like I now

with my Italian owner it’s like I now

with my Italian owner it’s like I now understand the way you not play with the

understand the way you not play with the

understand the way you not play with the human musicians you know

human musicians you know

human musicians you know human musicians I do love human

human musicians I do love human

human musicians I do love human musicians and I played with real live

musicians and I played with real live

musicians and I played with real live human ones my entire life but in the

human ones my entire life but in the

human ones my entire life but in the production process

production process

production process I’ve only ever accessed that sacred

I’ve only ever accessed that sacred

I’ve only ever accessed that sacred state of flow in solitude you know that

state of flow in solitude you know that

state of flow in solitude you know that state from which the really true stuff

state from which the really true stuff

state from which the really true stuff comes and that’s the only stuff that I

comes and that’s the only stuff that I

comes and that’s the only stuff that I kind of feel at this point in my life is

kind of feel at this point in my life is

kind of feel at this point in my life is worthy of sharing solo and surrounded by

worthy of sharing solo and surrounded by

worthy of sharing solo and surrounded by machines I can kind of pretend that I’m

machines I can kind of pretend that I’m

machines I can kind of pretend that I’m unwatched and judged safe and free and

unwatched and judged safe and free and

unwatched and judged safe and free and so these guys make up the vowels the

so these guys make up the vowels the

so these guys make up the vowels the consonants the diphthongs the slows the

consonants the diphthongs the slows the

consonants the diphthongs the slows the cadences and the swear words my current

cadences and the swear words my current

cadences and the swear words my current sonic language so over here is the drums

sonic language so over here is the drums

sonic language so over here is the drums and just let me help myself up further

and just let me help myself up further

and just let me help myself up further let me be tethered because I don’t look

let me be tethered because I don’t look

let me be tethered because I don’t look like enough of a switchboard person as

like enough of a switchboard person as

like enough of a switchboard person as it is oh hi this is Rhonda calling from

it is oh hi this is Rhonda calling from

it is oh hi this is Rhonda calling from TEDx just wondering if you’d like to

TEDx just wondering if you’d like to

TEDx just wondering if you’d like to partake in a survey on translation yep

partake in a survey on translation yep

partake in a survey on translation yep converting the feeling into sound okay

converting the feeling into sound okay

converting the feeling into sound okay yeah

yeah

yeah those were the drums this is the bass

those were the drums this is the bass

those were the drums this is the bass [Music]

here we have a kind of analog synth

here we have a kind of analog synth [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

this one here is kind of synth strings

this one here is kind of synth strings that I like to play on this device that

that I like to play on this device that

that I like to play on this device that [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] I’ve asked the machine to be limited to

I’ve asked the machine to be limited to

I’ve asked the machine to be limited to a certain musical scale that’s F

a certain musical scale that’s F

a certain musical scale that’s F Phrygian I could also play it over here

Phrygian I could also play it over here

Phrygian I could also play it over here but when I reduce exactly the notes that

but when I reduce exactly the notes that

but when I reduce exactly the notes that I’m playing then it kind of causes me to

I’m playing then it kind of causes me to

I’m playing then it kind of causes me to think about melody differently so it

think about melody differently so it

think about melody differently so it inspires something else and when I’m

inspires something else and when I’m

inspires something else and when I’m playing it and of course you have the

playing it and of course you have the

playing it and of course you have the beautiful piano

and this here is my vocal effects I got

and this here is my vocal effects I got a little pedal down here that switches

a little pedal down here that switches

a little pedal down here that switches where the mic goes or watch source the

where the mic goes or watch source the

where the mic goes or watch source the sound is pulled from so if I just flick

sound is pulled from so if I just flick

sound is pulled from so if I just flick this switch also part so the way it

this switch also part so the way it

this switch also part so the way it happens up here is that I construct

happens up here is that I construct

happens up here is that I construct songs I build them layer by layer

songs I build them layer by layer

songs I build them layer by layer instrument my instrument they stack upon

instrument my instrument they stack upon

instrument my instrument they stack upon one another and each of the instruments

one another and each of the instruments

one another and each of the instruments is attributed to each of these faders so

is attributed to each of these faders so

is attributed to each of these faders so I can really play you know this myriad

I can really play you know this myriad

I can really play you know this myriad of buttons and controls that I’ve asked

of buttons and controls that I’ve asked

of buttons and controls that I’ve asked previously to do certain things so I can

previously to do certain things so I can

previously to do certain things so I can manipulate each one individually or the

manipulate each one individually or the

manipulate each one individually or the track as a whole if I’m not looping

track as a whole if I’m not looping

track as a whole if I’m not looping something live then it’s because either

something live then it’s because either

something live then it’s because either there’s something that I don’t want you

there’s something that I don’t want you

there’s something that I don’t want you to hear until I feel like it’s time to

to hear until I feel like it’s time to

to hear until I feel like it’s time to come in you know hey I don’t want to

come in you know hey I don’t want to

come in you know hey I don’t want to spoil the reveal or if I want the part

spoil the reveal or if I want the part

spoil the reveal or if I want the part to change all throughout the tune or if

to change all throughout the tune or if

to change all throughout the tune or if there’s something sort of in the setup

there’s something sort of in the setup

there’s something sort of in the setup that makes me get into a certain mental

that makes me get into a certain mental

that makes me get into a certain mental space to kind of get me in the zone

space to kind of get me in the zone

space to kind of get me in the zone these guys are like my pet walls in that

these guys are like my pet walls in that

these guys are like my pet walls in that its technology and technology’s fickle

its technology and technology’s fickle

its technology and technology’s fickle and they often sabotage me but it’s the

and they often sabotage me but it’s the

and they often sabotage me but it’s the price that I am willing to pay for this

price that I am willing to pay for this

price that I am willing to pay for this feeling as close to the source as

feeling as close to the source as

feeling as close to the source as electronically technologically humanly

electronically technologically humanly

electronically technologically humanly possible right now for as little as

possible right now for as little as

possible right now for as little as possible to be lost in the conversion

possible to be lost in the conversion

possible to be lost in the conversion for the essence of who we are to not be

for the essence of who we are to not be

for the essence of who we are to not be lost in translation

[Music]

[Music] you

I used to play in the Bay broken down

I used to play in the Bay broken down bus in The Gaslight something like I

bus in The Gaslight something like I

bus in The Gaslight something like I used to play in the bay

used to play in the bay

used to play in the bay [Music]

banks and the mics that

banks and the mics that Oh baby doll don’t play the Hyatt anyway

you say the word

you say the word [Music]

Oh

Oh [Music]

[Music]

[Music] ah

20 inch drum and a bass a 20 inch drum

20 inch drum and a bass a 20 inch drum one of eight eggs when the inch from the

one of eight eggs when the inch from the

one of eight eggs when the inch from the base eggs 20 inch bro

base eggs 20 inch bro

base eggs 20 inch bro [Music]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

you

you [Music]