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SRP:
Thank you for sharing some music from your new CD with our audience.
What was your approach to composing these pieces, which have so many
different parts, and recording them all yourself?
SS: Recording
is an ongoing part of my
creative life. When I have an idea, I try to record it, so it's not lost. If I have time at that moment I'll continue to develop it. If not, I'll come back to it when I do have the time. Frequently, ideas come through improvisation. If I play a rhythm, melody, or bass line that I really like, I'll step on my loop pedal to capture it, and then start trying to layer different things on top of it. Other times, I'll hear something in my head and write it down. Seeing it on the page can stimulate a whole different kind of development. SRP: So technology plays a big part in your process.
SS: Sure,
because of the ease of recording these days. I just whip out my iPhone
to record wherever I am. Also, the fact that so many professional recording programs are relatively affordable enabled me to record this whole album myself on my laptop, at my own convenience. That's a luxury you don't have if you're paying for studio time. The downside of this accessibility is that many professional recording studios have gone out of business. However, when I finished the recording process, I did take the material in to a friend's studio, where he helped me mix and master it, achieving a much higher quality of sound than I would have been able to on my own. SRP: You've worked on several pieces for the Silk Road Ensemble. Does writing music with them in mind require a different approach? SS: One of the great things about composing and arranging for the Ensemble is that there is such a wide range of interesting sounds to choose from, from instruments all played by virtuoso musicians. These sounds themselves inspire a lot of ideas, but the personalities of the people behind the instruments are the true treasure. I love writing with these folks in mind. There's also a great deal of trust within the group. I know that if I come in with just a fragment of an idea, all of the creativity within the group will quickly flesh it out into a performable piece.
SRP: So what do you have in the works?
SS: My next project will be recording some music I wrote for shakuhachi, oud, cello and percussion. Hopefully I'll be ready to start recording this summer. I also have a percussion ensemble that I will start performing with more in the near future, as well as a duo with Kojiro Umezaki. SRP: Since you recently visited Silk Road Connect
classrooms, can we also talk about that experience? It's not your
first time working with middle school students. What stood out to you
about this program?
SS: I
was impressed with how well prepped the students were. It's great to
have all of the host teachers and fellows so interested and involved in
the program. It felt like I was part of a really great team. Because the
students have been thinking about relevant subjects before I arrived,
they asked some great questions. Some were very direct and tough, things
that adults wouldn't necessarily ask. They haven't developed that adult
filter that sometimes can soften the edges.... All of their responses
were very honest. It was
incredibly rewarding to see them open up when given the opportunity to
express themselves musically. Their sense of confidence was renewed when
they experienced how easy it was to create music together, especially
with percussion. It also provided a safe environment in which they could
talk about the things that they're
passionate about. This experience reaffirmed how important a program
like this is. Many kids don't have music or art programs and many more
may lose them under currently proposed education cuts. Shane will take part in the upcoming Texas and West Coast tour and will lead a Silk Road Project percussion workshop for student musicians at Harvard University later this month. Recently he has performed in concerts with Kojiro Umezaki, Kayhan Kalhor and Brooklyn
Rider, a string quartet formed by fellow Ensemble members. To learn more about Shane and his work, visit his website. |