Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in "Motivation?"

Karl Jaspers came up with the idea of a ‘Grenzsituation’, Grenz could be a Limit or a Border. It’s any situation that jolts us out of ordinary existence and forces us to properly confront ourselves: suffering, guilt/anxiety, chance, death. “Motivation” is about going into one of those moments.

Can you talk about the recording and production process for "Motivation?"

I’ve been trying to write a piece of music each day in an hour for a few years now and “Motivation” was a result of that. It started off as a laid back, almost rnb tune, then I took it apart and rebuilt it once I had the beginnings of the words. It still has a bit of that.

How do you feel this song represents your artistic identity?

It fits in with the rest of the album’s study of doing things and especially when they’re difficult to do. And I think that’s mirrored in the practice of producing a piece of music daily in an hour. I wanted to get better at doing the difficult thing, and to get out of my own way. Also with a mindset of trying to write the way I want to feel instead of the way I do feel.

As for the text, it fits that Einsam notion, the inward focus and of the contest really being you against you. That’s where getting more into boxing, learning more about Muhammed Ali and eventually Floyd Patterson, really joined it all up.

Can you share a bit about your musical background and the journey that led you to where you are today?

I started off as a drummer and then played guitar so I’ve sort of slowly worked my way to this point. I think that’s helped get a fuller picture of producing music. Aside from that, liking a lot of different styles, and just continually trying to be open to wherever ideas can come from.

I left London to go to Vienna, initially for a few months, to try and write some songs and ended up staying for almost four years. That sort of laid the foundations for what I’m doing now. It opened me up to a lot of new art amongst other things, there’s a great theatre and contemporary dance scene there, but also a new language and experiences more generally. I learned often it’s more about assembling the conditions conducive to creating, than it is about the act itself.

What is the best part of being a musician?

I like how music can click instinctively with someone. I initially enjoyed making music for people on their ones and in headphones and didn’t think I was going to do any shows, so I hadn’t seen it during my first releases, but playing live and getting the instant feedback from real people has been such a buzz.

It feels now like a life-long relationship and developing a unique language, the practice of making your own music.

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