Produce Electro-Ambient Music

Ironically, it was quite some time after studying composition at a university which only taught electro-acoustic composition, that I found a passion for it.

After finishing university and specialising in composition, I found myself drawn to electronic music. Minimalism had been a major part of what we studied (think Philip Glass, Steve Reich [video below]), and I was particularly interested in blending organic and digital sounds. There was something about that fusion that felt exciting, like exploring a new sonic landscape.

One of the first pieces that made an impression on me was from a Microsoft Origami vision video. The soundtrack had this strange, electronic-acoustic feel to it, almost like whale music but digital. That sound stuck with me for years and shaped a lot of what I wanted to create.

Over time, I picked up different MIDI keyboards and tried my hand at producing in Ableton Live. I made small sketches, played around with ideas, but never quite finished a track I was happy with. The tools were there, but something always seemed to be missing, maybe structure, maybe a clear direction.

Renewed Focus

For my 45th birthday, off the back of a period of gadget-lust for the Teenage Engineering OP-1 Field I bought an Ableton Move device (£400 vs £1800), intending for it to be the push I needed to take things further. My goal now is to properly learn the tools, refine my sound, and finally produce a track that fits within the electro-ambient style I’ve been envisioning for years.

The goal isn’t just to make music, but to create something that feels complete, and to put myself on a path of discovery where the next steps are clearer. I want to capture the kind of atmospheric soundscapes that inspired me in the first place. If I can produce a track that I’m genuinely happy with, that will be the moment I know I’ve reached my goal.