Keith Fullerton Whitman

Musician, Producer

Keith Fullerton Whitman is a composer and sound artist known for his innovative exploration of sound and perception, particularly in live performances.

Born
January 1, 1973
Quotes
19
Rank
#1663

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.

Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"I'm not a perfectionist by a long shot, but self-doubt is a large part of my creative process."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"The computer does things that can't be done with hardware, like freezing sounds."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"Unfortunately I've gotten more resistance in the last year than I ever have."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"I rarely assess live shows after I play them."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"I think if people have more of an understanding of what I'm doing, then they'll appreciate it and get into it more."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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'?"

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"I don't want to rewrite history."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"I love collecting; my joy is finding private press American or European home studio electronic music from the 60s and 70s."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes
Keith Fullerton Whitman Musician, Producer
Popular

"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."

Read quote 3 likes