What initially drew you to the artwork you selected as the departure point for your composition?
I was initially drawn to the artwork by its starkness. The hat is placed front and centre, almost as if it is staring down at you. There’s nothing else in the image to grab your attention, so you’re left to face the subject very directly. That said, after hearing about the background of the piece, its thematic subtleties became more apparent. This contrast between a very clear visual language and a complex emotional subtext informed the music I ended up writing.
What was the process of translating visual art into musical expression?
I knew from the beginning that this piece would require a different approach to my writing practice. Much of my music prior to writing this piece is frenetic and jolty with lots of driving rhythms and dense harmonies. Indrė Serpetyte’s work, which moved me so deeply, felt musically quite distant from my previously explored sound worlds. I knew what I wanted to say musically was very raw, without the embellishments of many other works of mine. This led me to a piece full of slow, extended melodic lines and a more minimalist harmonic structure.
The ending was a particular spot I changed many times before finding a version I liked. Should the piece fade out into nothingness, as if you were slowly turning down a radio? Should it end on a single chord that ties the whole thing together? I ultimately decided on a somewhat abrupt final bar, as if the musical world very quickly disappears.
How did your interaction with the artwork in-person influence you?
Seeing the artwork in person is always a vastly different experience than seeing it virtually. The texture of Indrė’s piece fascinated me; the hat has a sort of shimmer to it – an almost ghostly appearance. I would never have noticed that from a virtual image alone.
Were there any particular themes or moods from the artwork that resonated strongly with you?
The main theme I gathered from the artwork was one of sombre mystery, combined with the shocking horror of the event that informed the image and the unknown truth of what happened: these were key components to my writing.
Could you share any specific techniques or musical elements you used to capture the essence of the artwork?
This piece, for the most part, exists in one textural world. Led primarily by the horn, the music is calm but with a sort of harmonic uncertainty. There are short, sharper interjections that allude to the horrific background of the image, though nothing is ever too bombastic. It’s a sort of meditation on grief that brings up more questions than answers.
