"If you're working on a computer and you're editing bass, it looks like a warm curvy, sort of feminine object"
- Colin Greenwood
About this Quote
Colin Greenwood, bassist of the band Radiohead, offers an intriguing viewpoint on the visual and sensory experience of music production, particularly in the world of digital sound editing. In the quote, "If you're dealing with a computer system and you're editing bass, it appears like a warm curved, sort of feminine item," Greenwood is likely describing how acoustic waves appear on digital audio workstations (DAWs). These platforms permit artists and producers to visually manipulate noise through waveforms, which can be formed and shaped to attain preferred auditory effects.
The example of the bass appearing as a "warm curvy, sort of womanly item" invites reflection on how people perceive sound beyond the acoustic level. The idea of warmth in sound typically describes tones that are rich, smooth, and pleasing to the ear, qualities typically credited to quality bass frequencies. Curved waveforms are a sign of consistent and continual sound waves. These are visually enticing, suggesting fluidity and motion, similar to the elegant types typically related to womanhood.
Greenwood's option of words might also echo the intimate relationship artists establish with their tools, dealing with these electronic representations as natural forms instead of simple information. This understanding can add to a much deeper meaningful process throughout production, where visual hints on a computer system interface equate into emotive decision-making. The womanly imagery enhances this connection, presuming a nurturing and imaginative space where music is birthed and looked after similar to a living being.
Furthermore, this personification may recommend a contrast in between the intrinsic coldness of digital innovation and the warmth that artists seek to convey. By explaining digital bass editing in such visceral terms, Greenwood highlights the creative endeavor to humanize innovation, changing calculated electronic procedures into an embodiment of personal expression and charm. This intertwining of technology and sensorial experience underscores how art bridges the space in between the human and the digital.
"There are no rules and regulations for perfect composition. If there were we would be able to put all the information into a computer and would come out with a masterpiece. We know that's impossible. You have to compose by the seat of your pants"
"I think it would be cool if you were writing a ransom note on your computer, if the paper clip popped up and said, 'Looks like you're writing a ransom note. Need help? You should use more forceful language, you'll get more money.'"