The liminal music studio: between the geographical and the virtual

What is it about?

This paper explores mobility and connectivity as a creative approach to electronic music production. Mobility of the practitioner in a geographical way and data mobility. Connection of the practitioner to the physical environment and connection to the virtual environment. This is a practice-led study. The analysis is undertaken in the process of producing an ambient electronic album while travelling. A new model of mobility and creativity is proposed, of value to artists working in all mediums and genres.

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Why is it important?

Music production has traditionally taken place in static studios. Advances in mobile music technology now enables studio- quality production on powerful portable devices such as phones, tablets and laptops. The music producer can now work on a sun-kissed beach, an airport lounge, in the doctors waiting room, or on the bus. Each place offers a unique "press" of cognitive inputs, sparking new creative potentials. Connected devices also offer further inputs from the virtual world. We are Liminal producers, existing between the geographical and the virtual.