"We're looking to help our guitar buddies do their thing while at the same time we try to create something we might enjoy listening to ourselves. If anything we are trying to develop a vocabulary so we can converse more fluidly"

Pat Mastelotto’s reflection on musical collaboration reveals a philosophy centered on mutual support, personal fulfillment, and collaborative growth. The phrase “help our guitar buddies do their thing” emphasizes the importance of facilitating each other’s creative expression. It reflects a spirit of teamwork in which each musician is invested not only in their own performance, but actively nurtures and encourages their collaborators to shine. This approach undermines the idea of music as an individual pursuit; instead, it positions music as something inherently social and dialogic, where each contributor elevates the collective effort.

Concurrent with this supportive attitude is Mastelotto’s personal investment in the music’s outcome: he and his colleagues are trying to “create something we might enjoy listening to ourselves.” Here, artistic integrity and sincerity play a key role. Rather than tailoring their output to external expectations or commercial demands, the musicians are guided by their own aesthetic sensibilities and emotional responses. If the music resonates with them, there is a strong likelihood it will resonate with listeners as well. This self-referential measure of success suggests a focus on authenticity and the organic emergence of musical ideas.

The final sentence introduces the concept of developing a “vocabulary,” highlighting the ongoing journey of musical communication. Like learning to communicate in a spoken language, musicians seek to expand their sonic vocabulary: a collection of rhythms, melodies, motifs, and techniques. By doing so, they can “converse more fluidly,” implying that music functions as a language between performers. The richer the collective vocabulary, the more nuanced and engaging their musical conversations become. Mastelotto’s words illustrate a process of shared exploration, empathy, and growth, a commitment not just to performance, but to deepening the connection between musicians and, by extension, between musicians and their audience.