INSIGHT NOVEMBER 2019
COMPUTERARTS.CREATIVEBLOQ.COMDISCUSSIONTWEET @COMPUTERARTS OR FIND US ON FACEBOOKLOUISE KYME
Strategy director, Texture
http://www.studiotexture.co.ukSIMON WHITTAKER
Illustrator and designer
http://www.houseofdeadleg.co.uk“The Avett Brothers’ The Carpenter.
I don’t know if it’s the harmonies, the
bluegrass sounds or the easy tunes, but
put that album in my earbuds and my
productivity levels peak. Once I hit play
on the opening track and the mandolin
comes in, my blood pressure drops and
any distractions disintegrate.
The oddity of playing albums on iTunes
is they can become a bit throwaway. And I
feel bad to say, I’m not aware of the names
of songs on this album, I’ve not delved
into the lyrics, researched the backstory.
No, I just click the triangle and it runs.
I could analyse my psyche and say it takes
my worries to a place on the other side of
the sea. Of warmth, and music. But that
sounds too bland to describe the complex
power of music. Then before I know it,
the album has finished, and whatever
stream of consciousness has spewed
through my keyboard, it seems to make
more sense than I ever felt capable of.”“I listen to quite an eclectic mix – on
a typical day, you’ll generally find me
playing some sort of rock or industrial-
type music, something heavy with a beat.
However, it really depends what I’m
working on. For example, if I’m spending
the day playing around in Illustrator or
InDesign then I like to listen to a mix of
music and podcasts, but if I’m working on
a web development project I find the
talking gets too distracting.
When I really need to concentrate
I might switch to something
instrumental – a classical music playlist,
something more ambient like Rainy
Mood or a film score (Hans Zimmer
is always a good choice).
Saying that, sometimes, when I’m coding
and trying to problem-solve or work out
something complicated, I’ll stick on
something fast and electronic so it feels
like I’m a hacker at the centre of my own
personal movie.”What’s your go-to music
when working?
LAURA GREENAN
Freelance illustrator
http://www.paradedesign.co.uk“I listen to music constantly when I’m
working. It stops me becoming distracted
from outside noise and gives me
something to focus on. My mind tends
to idle when it’s quiet! What I listen
to depends on my mood and can be
anything from classical, through 1920’s
jazz, up to modern pop and indie.
When I need to concentrate and ascend
to my ‘get stuff done’ mode, my go-to
choices are soundtracks by Hans Zimmer
and Dan Romer. Zimmer is more upbeat
and dread-inducing, whereas Romer is
more chilled out and beautiful.
For everything else there’s The Beatles.
I’ve been a fan of them since I was a
teenager and their songbook is so varied
that whatever mood I’m in you can bet
they have something to match it.
Whether that’s a calming acoustic ballad,
or something more beat happy that
allows for excellent bopping
opportunities in my seat.”@GILESMARSH
Drum and bass! There’s
no other music with the
same energy like it. Its
pace and production
intricacies helps me
focus on the job.SARA JOY HARMON
I mainly listen to big band
music (1920s-1950s). It can
be peppy, slow, jazzy, etc. I
think it’s the least distracting
style of music and it puts me
‘In the Mood’ to illustrate.KATRÉ EESMAA
Majestic Casual playlist and
everything Spotify suggests
after that. Recently I enjoyed
Tarantino’s Once Upon a
Time... soundtrack and had
a 60’s boogie vibe all day.@MBEMBE
Any Indie/alt music works for
me. Beck, Mike Shinoda,
Everything Everything, Blood
Orange, and Nine Inch Nails.
I like it when a song
changes tempo.ERICK LUCAS
Deep house, chill out
electronic and post-rock.
No words, just instrumental
for better focus. From
Bonobo, Tycho, to
Explosions to the Sky.