"I became this guy that does drum programming, and I don't want to be that guy anymore. I don't want to sit in front of my computer for 18 hours programming 16 bars of music."
About Keith Fullerton Whitman
Keith Fullerton Whitman — Life and Legacy
Keith Fullerton Whitman is a notable composer and sound artist recognized for his unique approach to music that intertwines technology and live performance. His work challenges conventional boundaries, particularly in how sound is perceived and experienced. Whitman's philosophy centers on the idea that sound is not just an auditory phenomenon but a medium of thought, allowing for deeper emotional and cognitive connections. One of his well-known concepts is that 'sound is a medium of thought,' which encapsulates his belief in the transformative power of audio experiences. This perspective encourages listeners to engage with sound on a more profound level, fostering a sense of introspection and exploration. Whitman’s emphasis on live performance highlights the dynamic relationship between artist and audience, where improvisation plays a crucial role. He often utilizes technology to enhance this interaction, pushing the boundaries of traditional music forms. His innovative techniques and ideas have made significant contributions to contemporary sound art, encouraging a re-evaluation of how music can be created and experienced. Today, Whitman's quotes and ideas resonate with artists and audiences alike, as they continue to inspire a deeper understanding of sound's role in human experience and creativity.
Quote collection
Keith Fullerton Whitman quotes
19 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"I'm not a perfectionist by a long shot, but self-doubt is a large part of my creative process."
"The computer does things that can't be done with hardware, like freezing sounds."
"I'm a real big electronic music nut; when I was young I listened to musique concrète, German music from Cologne in the early 50s, all kinds of stuff."
"I've got a bunch of circuit-bent boxes and things that are controlled by my Mac through a big breakout box. I want to create this total environment where I can bring all this gear to the show but maybe just use one or two elements, if that's what's called for."
"I build the individual modules to meet a demand. If I need the music to change direction, I want to have the tools to be able to do that."
"I see someone play, or I listen to a record, and I think, "How did they make that sound?' It's not emulation; it's more building a vocabulary that can be called up at a moment's notice."
"Unfortunately I've gotten more resistance in the last year than I ever have."
"I use a laptop more as a tool, as sort of the central artery. Everything goes through the digital audio card of my computer, but if I had my druthers I'd do everything in dedicated hardware."
"I rarely assess live shows after I play them."
"I think if people have more of an understanding of what I'm doing, then they'll appreciate it and get into it more."
"I think Pro Tools is pretty analogous to how people composed music on tape back in the 70s, taking little fragments of things and saying, 'How can we organize these in a sensible way'?"
"I don't want to rewrite history."
"Records can ruin you. That's why it's important to be as intimately familiar as possible with the history of recorded music, I guess. In a way, it's an argument for record collecting."
"I love collecting; my joy is finding private press American or European home studio electronic music from the 60s and 70s."
"I can only stand to sit in front of my computer for three or four hours a day. Otherwise it can get really soul-sucking."
"It's funny, because I'm so associated with digital art and computer art, and yet I spend so little time in front of the computer."
"People have a hard time going to a club and seeing this business tool on stage that's wholly indicative of everything that rock is not. Rock is not about sitting in an office setting up documents, yet they see someone on stage doing that."
"With the mailorder, I wake up in the morning, I check my e-mail, process the orders, and then I just print everything out. And then for the rest of the day it's actually sitting with paper."