James Armstrong

Name:   James Armstrong

Website:  http://jamesarmstrongmusic.com/

What do you do?  
I’m a composer / pianist, and teacher in public schools.

Where can we find your work?  
On my website and in Bay Area venues.

What inspires you to create and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?
Extended periods of practice are energizing.   I’ve learned to focus despite irregular performance schedules.

What do you think is more important content/finished product or technique/process?  
I’m constantly working on rhythmic and harmonic processes.  However, I don’t separate form from content. 

Who are some people who influence and/or inspire you?
Andrew Hill was a dear friend; I continue practice his scores, and recorded his composition ‘New Monastery’ in July.  Thelonious Monk is a huge influence.  I also study orchestral music by Béla Bartók and Ferruccio Busoni.    

If you could be any fictional character who would you be?
The ronin Kuwabatake Sanjuro from ‘Yojimbo’, the Akira Kurosawa film.   He could handle any situation !

When do you get your best ideas?
It seems that the best ideas evolve out of extended periods of study.  

What materials/tools do you use most to create your work?
An old Kawai upright piano and a partial drum set for working out technical problems.

Are you self taught or formally educated? How do you think that has influenced or affected your work?
I’m largely self-taught as a musician; my identity as a performer evolved out of my own research.    However, I did have several fine piano coaches.  Work in ensembles was also instructive.  

What would your creative work taste like?
Sweet and sour; dissonant and percussive at times, with tonal references.

When you are not creating what do you like to do?
Tend to family. My daughter always keeps me busy.

How did you learn to access your creative talents and gain the confidence to put it out there for everyone to experience?
Consistent practice and study.   Learning never stops. 

What advice would you give others just beginning their creative adventures?  Stay with the Muse.   Learn the history, and then do something that’s meaningful to you. 

What would your creative work taste like?

We thought it would be fun to compile the answers to some of your favorite questions. Today it is the question -What would your creative work taste like? Check out some of the interesting answers below.

Hamburger-milkshakes, beer and peyote - The English Language

Lemon poppyseed cake!  Sweet with just a hint of tartness - Megan Eckman

Coffee & Flap Cats (cornbread pancakes)-Troy Joseph Curtis

A strong dark IPA beer on a hot summer day -Max Dehart

Sushi washed down with the best beer you've ever had.-Kori Thompson

I guess it might be like a chocolate cake with a layer of beautiful glazed fruit on top.- Deborah Mills Thackrey

Hot buttered rum…tasteful,  smooth with a bit of a kick- Joan Tesauro

Bittersweet chocolate. Perhaps it took you somewhere else when you ate it, and you wanted to stay there. - Warren Lain

Fresh produce or something earthy like mushroom- Floy Zittin

That’s interesting. Thinking of how my playing has been described as “ dynamic”, “Artistic statement is powerful” and “Deft virtuosity” I would say that my playing would taste like some strong – yet extremely delicious cocktail! Ha Ha! - Ray Furuta

I have utterly no idea. This is the first “gotcha” question I’ve had in a long time!-Ketra Oberlander
SUSHI -Matt Gonzales

Funfetti Cake with vanilla frosting.-Vida Killz

It would be smooth to the tongue, but spicy when swallowed.- Karen Honaker

Delicious and satisfying, leaving you wanting for more, month after month. -Fernando B. Rodriguez

Beef Bourguignon.  Meaty, rich flavorful, hearty.  At least I hope so. - Jane Peterman

Smoked salmon- Coyote Slim

Sound - Andre Hart

A buffet. There are many different things you can eat and try and experience. There are so many styles in the music I like to create. My art would probably taste like sushi. I draw portraits, and you can expect a clean picture.-  Amanda Mikaelsson   

Pork chops & whiskey.  And no fancy-schmancy shit either - maybe a little apple sauce but that's it.-Jon Landry

Cheerios—I do a lot of work that has the shape of a circle. - Donna Orme

More like what it would smell like…Mr. sketch markers, sharpies, scratch and sniff stickers,- Mike Borja

Sweet , fruity with zesty under tones and some herbal fragrances. - Jane Ferguson

Maybe salty like sweat. Kinda gross, sorta sexy. It might also taste Fergi-licious, so delicious.- Eric Belladonna

It would have texture and taste a little salty with some sweet and sour - Deborah Anderson

I would like it to taste like rocky road cereal from the 80's followed up with an amazing hi-5. But in reality, it would most likely taste like snail urine. - Donny Foley – Donbon

The most fabulous chocolate brownies ever...and you could enjoy the whole pan and not get sick or fat.- Jen Norton

The buffet at Fresh Choice. - Tim van den Berg

Bittersweet chocolate or beets. Sometimes tart cherries. (But it would smell like fall leaves burning.) - Lacey Bryant

Kale, bread and butter, rice and beans, persimmons and coffee. - Frances Marin

Crisp, sweet and has to have a long after taste - Pete Anderson

Some of my paintings are little and sweet. Those ones would taste like mini cupcakes with pink icing. Some of my artworks are a bit darker, like the one shown at the bottom of this page (Peregrine Falcons Hunted Passenger Pigeons). The darker art would taste like black licorice.- Laura Callin Bennett

If you could eat my work, it would taste like ink and wood pulp.- David Mejia

Duh…Chocolate (vegan of course) - Katrina Marie Loera

Well, it's not a food, but I'll say cigarettes (if they weren't bad for you, anyway). Something you take in, which adds some hard to describe, but pleasant thing to your day, and then you let go of.- Todd Elliot

Really good homemade hummus and pita bread, followed by Greek honey yogurt.- Lisa Mejia

In my dreams, it would be as delicious as crawfish étouffée.- Paul Kimball

Blood orange juice and vodka. A bloody screwdriver? -Kim Christman

Like the perfect Cannoli or cheesecake accompanied with the most amazing espresso in the world. A rich complex taste that fills you and gets you excited.- Michael Foley

Ray Furuta

Name: Ray Furuta

Website: www.rayfuruta.com  |  www.svmusicfestival.org

What do you do?

a.       Concertizing Flutist – Soloist and Chamber Musician

b.      Artistic Director for brand new The Silicon Valley Music Festival

c.       Flutist for Yellow Barn Music Festival, Argento New Music Ensemble and other
          ensembles.

d.      Guest teacher at Universities, Music Schools, and Flute Societies

Where can we find your work?

a.       My personal website: www.rayfuruta.com

b.      Silicon Valley Music Festival website: www.svmusicfestival.org

c.       Youtube Channel – Ray Furuta & Silicon Valley Music Festival

What inspires you to create and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?
It is very easy to get frustrated and confused as a classical musician, or any artist for that matter.  I am a positive and relaxed person by nature and handle stress very well, but I look my flute teacher and mentor, Carol Wincenc, professor at The Juilliard School, for constant inspiration. I have other mentors including Emerson String Quartet violinist, Philip Setzer, San Jose’s own Isabelle Chapuis, Jill Felber, and Elena Yarritu who are always there to give me moral support for my artistic endeavors.  I find that when things get hard, simple positive and moral support from the people you look up to is inspiration enough to get through.


     

What do you think is more important content/finished product or technique/process?
This is a tricky question, because in many ways both are equally important – especially in music.  Personally, I believe that the “content”, or perhaps one’s musical point of view, personality and how they portray it to the audience is more important then the technical aspect of music. This is something that I think is sometimes forgotten in music – but I’m a firm believer that this is most important.


  

Who are some people who influence and/or inspire you?

a.       My flute teachers, Carol Wincenc, Jill Felber, Isabelle Chapuis, and Elena Yarritu.

b.      My chamber music teachers, Philip Setzer, David Finckel, Christina Dahl

c.       Artistic Director of Music@Menlo and CMS of Lincoln Center, Wu Han. Her playing
          never ceases to inspire me.

d.      Soprano Angela Gheorghiu

e.       Joni Mitchell

If you could be any fictional character who would you be?

"Leslie Knope" I would say Leslie Knope from Parks and Recreation because of her dedication for what she loves. I can related to her strong sense of passion for her work and her never ending determination to achieve her highest possible goal.

When do you get your best ideas?
Normally when I’m at a concert – especially when the performer is particularly inspiring to me. As I’m inspired, my mind races ideas pop up like crazy! Also, when I’m walking home from school, through NYC, often ideas will come to me.


 
What materials/tools do you use most to create your work?
It’s just my flute and me!

Are you self taught or formally educated? How do you think that has influenced or affected your work?
I think at a certain point, it is important to have formal training. Especially in music. Of course, there are special cases, and also people who are not formally trained who have become extremely successful – and sometimes there’s something to be said about developing your own artistic voice without the influence or pressure of another’s.

What would your creative work taste like?
That’s interesting. Thinking of how my playing has been described as “ dynamic”, “Artistic statement is powerful” and “Deft virtuosity” I would say that my playing would taste like some strong – yet extremely delicious cocktail! Ha Ha!


 
When you are not creating what do you like to do?
 I am now enjoying exploring the entrepreneurial side of music and the arts. I love to have friends over to cook and have dinner parties. I also enjoy playing with my dog, Newton.

How did you learn to access your creative talents and gain the confidence to put it out there for everyone to experience?
I think as a musician, true confidence – versus arrogance – it takes a lot of performance experience, and time for your musical point of view to mature. I think only recently after 15 years of playing, I have found the true “Ray Furuta”. It takes time.

What advice would you give others just beginning their creative adventures?
Work Hard, never give up, and find inspiration – constantly. ALWAYS be open to learning, and exploring new facets of your creative ventures. Be humble, modest, and friendly, having the right attitude is the best way to develop relationships with colleagues and fellow artists.

Matt Gonzales

Name: Matt Gonzales
Website: See below

What do you do?
I am a musician/producer. I am a multi-instrumentalist but my passion lies within the guitar. I’ve also been a promoter/booking agent/sound engineer for 5 years at South First Billiards and other venues/festivals such as The SJ Taco Festival, Moveable Feast, Pagoda Lounge, Johnny V’s, and much more. I am the live music coordinator for an awesome organization called Bring It Back Tour, which has a stage on the Warped Tour this year. We have also had a stage on the local festival called Left Coast Live. I have also taught guitar at San Jose State for their first ever guitar club. I also have worked at a local elementary school for an after-school program. They had a mariachi group consisted of many kids and I helped them hone their skills in guitar and voice. I have been a freelance writer for El Observador bilingual newspaper. As of 2011 I entered the filmmaking world and became a documentarian. The documentary I am currently working on is called “Scenes Are Temporary, Movements Are Forever” and we concentrate on the local art renaissance taking place in San Jose.

Where can we find your work?

Youtube:
With Anya http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa5yTDRuDno
With Aivar http://youtu.be/8VELSNTnXUc

Facebook:
Documentary
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scenes-Are-Temporary-Movements-Are-ForeverDocumentary/205272262892909

Projects I work with
Anya and The GetDown: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Anya-the-Get-Down/268384336515832
The Blank Manuscript: http://www.facebook.com/BlankManuscript
Raul Y Mexia: http://www.facebook.com/RaulyMexia?ref=ts

Article for El Observador Newspaper
http://news.el-observador.com/2011/11/18/ufc-139-como-en-los-viejos-tiempos/

Bring It Back Website
http://bringitbacktour.com/index.html

              

What inspires you to create and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?
I am mostly inspired by everyday life and the random occurrences that take place within it. It could be almost anything I see or hear and I’ll get an idea for a song. My creative process is very simple. I like it that way because it allows me to lay a solid foundation for the intricacies I will put in later. I was in a horrible car accident 2 years ago. A drunk driver hit me and almost took me out the game. But I survived and it was at that moment that I truly started to appreciate life and how delicate it is. It was also at that moment where I learned to never give up and fight through whatever is thrown in front of me. Nothing in life is permanent. There will always be change. There will always be struggle. You just have to have the right mindset to deal with those obstacles when they present themselves. Nothing is easy so be prepared to work hard. And after you are done working hard then work even harder after that.
      

What do you think is more important content/finished product or technique/process?
I think it’s most definitely a balance of the two. If I had to choose between them I would say technique/process because you have to present your art in a professional manner. It’s all about Quality over Quantity.
   

Who are some people who influence and/or inspire you?
My mother has always been a positive light in my life. She had a rough childhood so she learned how to be strong at an early age. My Dad grew up not having much either. Ive learned to appreciate the little things. Ive also learned how to be strong. All my other heroes are dead. Jim Morrison, Rudy Madrid, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, John Coltrane……etc
  

If you could be any fictional character who would you be?
I would be V from V for Vendetta. In fact I plan on actually being like him. Just without the blowing up of federal buildings and all. My bombs and bullets will be in the form of Song and Lyric.

When do you get your best ideas?
Shower and Toilet. I swear to Bog.

What materials/tools do you use most to create your work?
I use my Iphone. Every time I get a melody in my head I record it as a voice memo. I sing it out and then figure it out with a guitar or a keyboard. Then I add lyrics and all if it’s a good idea. I keep it simple.

Are you self taught or formally educated? How do you think that has influenced or affected your work?
I picked up a guitar at 14. My grandma had just died and I remember her always telling me that she wanted me to learn. She was always pushing me but I was too young to really get a hold of the idea. So I went on the Internet and learned a couple chords. I never looked back from then. I picked up keyboards along the way. I have also taught myself how to set up a sound system and record audio. I am a huge believer in being self-taught. I feel that when you do learn something the way you want, it liberates you from constraints of formula and tradition. There is nothing wrong with the two but I am an artist that wants to push boundaries and innovate. In my opinion an artist is restricted by what they are taught by someone else and it takes the fun out of learning whatever you are doing artistically. I do believe in guides though. Rudy Madrid taught me a lot when I was young. I was playing in bars as early as 16. He taught me how to be a professional musician. Tune your guitar, don’t play loud, and listen to everything around you. I was too young to really fathom who Rudy was and we lost contact when I was 20. When he died in 2010 there were so many articles on him and even SJSU did a dedication to him. I didn’t realize what a legend he was and I am truly appreciative of everything he showed me. I have taught guitar in the past and I stressed to my students that I was only going to show them the door. It was up to them to walk through it. I want students that truly want to learn and be self sufficient in doing so. I want to be more of a guide than anything.

What would your creative work taste like?
SUSHI

When you are not creating what do you like to do?
I never stop creating. It is a 24-hour job for me. But on downtime I play pool, listen to music, and watch documentaries.

How did you learn to access your creative talents and gain the confidence to put it out there for everyone to experience?
I think it’s just a series of repetitions. Practice makes perfect. Its cliché but it’s very true. I learned how to just go out there and give it my all. I’m not worrying about who is there or the size of the audience. I am envisioning how it is going to sound. I am thinking about every note and how the music is going to make me feel. I get in this zone. I’m outside of myself. When I get on stage there is nothing that can touch me. I am in my element. This is where I thrive. My soul is content. If you project positive energy, then that is what you shall receive.

What advice would you give others just beginning their creative adventures?
Be Independent. Be Yourself. Work Hard. Learn everything and anything. Don’t give up. Innovate over imitation. And…………..fuck what everyone says, no one can stop your inevitable greatness.  

Amanda Mikaelsson

Name: Amanda Mikaelsson       
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/amandamikaelssonart/

What do you do? 
I write/play music and do pencil drawings. I am a music composition major at SJSU.

Where can we find your work?
https://sites.google.com/site/amandamikaelssonart/
My music has been featured at local concerts and performances. Upcoming dates: March 28th 7:30pm at Le Petit Theater downtown SJ, and April 11th 7:30pm at SJSU concert hall

What inspires you to create and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?
Creating is my passion. When I create music or art I am excited and happy.  The tough times just fuel my creativity.

What do you think is more important content/finished product or technique/process?
I think the technique and process is important. As an artist, the process is the part that gives me joy. The experience of creating is exhilarating. The finished product is also important because it can convey a message to the audience.

Who are some people who influence and/or inspire you?
My younger brother passed away a few years ago. His memory always inspires me. Different people in my life inspire me everyday: family, friends, and people that come and go. Everyone has a story and I like to use that in my art.

If you could be any fictional character who would you be?
Spongebob because he is carefree, fun, creative, and happy.

When do you get your best ideas?
No specific place or time. If I see or hear something that strikes me I get inspired.

What materials/tools do you use most to create your work?
I use a Pencil for art. I use a piano and the computer to write my music.

Are you self taught or formally educated? How do you think that has influenced or affected your work?
I was self taught in music and applied to music school at SJSU. After making it in the program I began learning about music theory, music history, and new applications of music. It broadened my expectations for myself in music and music composition.
I am self taught in drawing. I have never taken an art class. I have participated in forums online to get new insight. Being self taught keeps my art very personal. One could argue that not being educated about pencil drawing can keep me from growing.

What would your creative work taste like?
A buffet. There are many different things you can eat and try and experience. There are so many styles in the music I like to create. My art would probably taste like sushi. I draw portraits, and you can expect a clean picture.

When you are not creating what do you like to do?
I like to see my friends and family. I like to cook, swim, play the piano, and watch movies.

How did you learn to access your creative talents and gain the confidence to put it out there for everyone to experience?
My family was always supportive of my art.

What advice would you give others just beginning their creative adventures?  
Believe in yourself and your creativity. 

Underneath

Todd Elliott, aka "Toaster"

Name: Todd Elliott, aka "Toaster"
Website: http://toaster.bandcamp.com/

What do you do?
I make music under the poorly chosen name "Toaster". Occasionally, I DJ/make sound collages/goofery, but I'm primarily focused on producing music.

Where can we find your work?
http://toaster.bandcamp.com/ and http://soundcloud.com/toaster-1 .
I occasionally post mixes to http://www.mixcloud.com/toastergroup/

What inspires you to create and how do you keep motivated when things get tough?
Music in general is undergoing an interesting set of changes; the tools to make and release it have become incredibly democratic, and are becoming more and more so over time-- just recently I was reading about a bunch of artists creating a specific kind of music ('drag'), and with a few minutes of searching, I was downloading a bunch of releases-- all legitimately, some paid, some free, directly from the artists themselves. I can't think of a cooler thing. The ability to do this all without needing record labels, etc., or that record labels can form around an aesthetic, not a need to make money is a great source of motivation.

When things get tough-- if I'm not inspired or whatever, I usually just take a break; making music is a compulsion, of sorts, and if I step away from it a bit I'll just sort of find myself back at it. I'm usually quite prolific; but not all of it's good. Reminding myself that good stuff can come out of bad stuff keeps me going.

What do you think is more important content/finished product or technique/process?
The finished product. With music, process can be very interesting. but you typically have to explain it to people in order for them to 'hear' it. I'm happy to discuss process with people, but it's not always possible to do so, which makes the product more important by default.

Who are some people who influence and/or inspire you?
John Cage, the dudes in Autechre, Scanner (Robin Rimbaud), the people who make up Throbbing Gristle, Pink Floyd, a small stable of other electronic musicians I know through twitter. Cage and Autechre taught me to think about music in vastly different ways; Pink Floyd was the source of my interest in things avant-garde, and their production 'tricks' taught me to really *study* tracks-- they are the ultimate source of my music obsession. Throbbing Gristle taught me that even the most resolutely uncommercial thing can find an audience, if it's good enough. (Not that what I do is resolutely uncommercial, it's just inspiring to see that occur).

If you could be any fictional character who would you be?
Milo from The Phantom Tollbooth. He learned the way.

When do you get your best ideas?
I get my best ideas after a 2nd martini; I do the best executing of them after a second cup of coffee.

What materials/tools do you use most to create your work?
A variety of softsynths (too numerous to list here), Abelton Live, Maschine, a Machinedrum, an Octatrack, caffeine, gin, vermouth, olives, cats, beer, hamburgers.

Are you self taught or formally educated? How do you think that has influenced or affected your work?
Self taught. It's affected it in that it's made development a tad slower; eventually I had to hunker down and learn about things like key and whatnot, I probably would have been able to do more, faster, if I'd learned that up front.

On the other hand, being self taught means that I take the time to get to know and understand things that I might take for granted with a more formal background, and I'm always building on that-- I suppose it's true for anyone who loves what they do, formally taught or not.

What would your creative work taste like?
Well, it's not a food, but I'll say cigarettes (if they weren't bad for you, anyway). Something you take in, which adds some hard to describe, but pleasant thing to your day, and then you let go of.

When you are not creating what do you like to do?
Hang out with my wife. She's pretty cool. I also play a whole lot of video games.

How did you learn to access your creative talents and gain the confidence to put it out there for everyone to experience?
As I said above, making music is something of a compulsion for me; I'm not sure I have any sound advice as to how to access one's creative talents. If you're doing something creative, and you need to keep doing it, you've accessed your talent. As for the confidence to put it out, I'll tell a story:

I used to belong to a mailing list that discussed John Cage's music. One of the people on there was a fairly famous pianist who had interpreted a lot of Cage's works. I thanked him for working on a specific CD of Cage's music. He railed about it, claiming the record company had picked the works for him, that it was all 'aural wallpaper' (why that was bad, he never did say), that real fans of Cage's work hated that CD because it de-emphasized Cage's more radical side in favor of more pleasant, new-age-y sounding things, and so on. The person who had performed the work hated everything about it, aside from the fact that he was apparently paid musician's union scale to make it.

The thing is, that CD introduced me to Cage's work, and I bought more of it, including his most experimental things; I still think of it fondly. Your perception of your own art as an artist is skewed. Do your level best, put it out there, and let people enjoy it, and don't worry if it sucks, if it's good, or it's somewhere in between. The next one is what you should be paying attention to.

What advice would you give others just beginning their creative adventures?
Do something creative (in your chosen field) every day. If you write, write. If you paint, paint. If you cook, send some over to my house, please. I'm hungry.