“Artistically, I’m not worried”

Music and technology have always shared a symbiotic – nearly every instrument beyond the most basic stems from human ingenuity, designed to create intriguing sounds or simplify the act of playing. One could say that the digital audio workstation (DAW) stands as the most advanced instrument: a piece of software that can run on entry-level computers and can generate every imaginable musical piece.

But where lies the line between innovation and excess? How much craftsmanship and effort must go into a piece of art to make it valuable? Can it still be called art when everyone can make art?

These questions resist easy answers. In some cases, the result is all that counts. For example, you probably don't care if the photographer spends days in the dark room or hours at the computer to edit your wedding photos.

With music, it is different. In some genres, like jazz, the mastery of an acoustic instrument is paramount. In electronic music, the tactile use of analog gear holds deep meaning for some—and little for others.

Sam Valenti, the owner of the Michigan-based record label Ghostly International, runs a fabulous newsletter, Herb Sundays, that is typically centered around a playlist curated by an artist. Recently, he interviewed Robert Henke, who makes music as Monolake, and happens to be the cofounder of Ableton, a German company that creates music software and hardware.

Their flagship product, Ableton Live, is one of the most widespread DAWs, particularly popular with electronic musicians. Robert says that while most (electronic) music is done in software, working with vintage hardware is still a boost for creativity. “So, in terms of music production, ultimately, what I'm doing is I have a few selected old instruments that are from that time and that I value very much. I play with them. I record some sounds, and then I use those sounds on my laptop,” he explains.

The elephant in the room, however, is AI, and how it affects the artistic process. Ableton Live does not have any AI-powered capabilities as of now, but of course, they are thinking about it. “There are tons of great use cases for AI,” he says, and lays out how AI can help spark new ideas based on what is already there. But when an artist wants to push the boundaries, they still need to rely on their own creativity. “I’m afraid of energy consumption and its environmental impact, monopolies, and the politics of this tech — but artistically, I’m not worried,” he concludes.

We all have the choice of what we enjoy and appreciate and what not. I still believe that the human element will continue to play a major role in art, no matter how sophisticated technology may become.

glamglare favorites

Listen to glamglare favorites on Spotify, Apple Music, or below on YouTube.

The five new songs for the glamglare favorites playlist come from London and/or Brighton artists, who have a musical connection with each other. We have also met them all personally over the years.

• Penelope Isles - Rocking at the Bottom
• Hilang Child - Hey Man
• Wyldest - Secret Garden
• Tusks - Gold
• Helen Ganya - Chaiyo!

Song Pick of the Day

Listen to/watch all seven songs on YouTube. Follow our daily updated playlists on YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify for the 50 latest Song Pick of the Day features, or subscribe here to receive them in your mailbox in real-time. Thank you for following us and sharing the excitement.

• Wanna be iamnotshane's "Love Interest of the Month?" But don't take it too seriously. "It’s an alt-pop synthwave blend of sarcasm and 80s post-punk," he explains.
• ugly ozo's new song "madonna" is a fierce, grungy love letter to a younger sibling.
• London musician Ruti is back with an absolutely gorgeous song, "Maybe I Got it Wrong."
• The Berlin/LA-based singer, songwriter, and producer PHEA shares a new synth-pop gem "Ride or Die" from her upcoming EP "Flowers on Caskets - Teaching a Cyborg How to Bury People."
• Do you know "the feeling you get when you know you're supposed to say no, but you just can't help saying yes?" Canadian artist Nicky MacKenzie describes it perfectly in her new song "I Should Go."
• How long can you deny that you are “wanting someone you know you can’t have?” Isabel LaRosa does not want to give up in her new song “My Girl.”
• When things get "chaotic and absurd," the new song "Life" by London artist Dutch Mustard is the music you need.

Nine Photos from a Lovely Downtown Brooklyn Outing

Last Saturday, we took the ferry to Dumbo and, several hours later, back to Manhattan. In between, we wandered through Brooklyn Heights, down Montague Street, and over to Fulton Street—just in time to catch the happy hour at the gorgeous Gage & Tollner. We sipped on a perfectly named “tiny tini,” shared a dozen oysters, and chatted with fellow patrons who swore by the kitchen’s beef tartare. If you’re in the mood for a beautifully preserved Victorian dining experience—where even the cheeky “historic communication device” sign over the telephone feels avant-garde—you’ve come to the right place. The prices? Surprisingly reasonable, especially during happy hour. And the ambiance? Simply spectacular. We’ll be back!