‘Next Light’ is the beautiful, haunting new album from ambient experimental artist CoastalDives, composed with analog synthesizers – Sequential Prophet 6, Sequential Prophet Rev2, Elektron Analog Four – and computer manipulation.
The music was inspired by his father’s emergency brain surgery and slow recovery through his 75th birthday. Inspired by this intense personal experience, CoastalDives employed elements of ambient and drone with neo-classical composition in an effort to create something unique, transportive, and melodic.
WWD: Thanks for talking to us at When We Dip. Where are you at the moment, how are you spending the day?
It’s bright and early in the morning. Just getting started with some coffee. Whether it’s composing new music or doing an interview like this, I find that’s the best time of day for me to have a fresh and clear mind.
WWD: What are your earliest memories of music?
My parents always had music playing in the house when I was very young. I distinctly remember hearing a lot of Wham played by my mother. I remember my first concert was REO Speedwagon at a state fair and I couldn’t believe I was at a “real” concert. Otherwise, piano lessons were a big thing. I got started on those very young and that sort of set the course for my future musical interests. It shaped my understanding of pitch, contour, scales, and basic music theory.
WWD: What were the first records you can remember being into, the ones that really made an impression on you?
My friend in elementary school showed me his cassette of The Beatles “Abbey Road” in third grade. I fell in love with it and slowly collected the rest of their albums. “OK Computer” by Radiohead was also a landmark album for me. One that had the biggest influence was “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd. I distinctly remember hearing “Welcome to the Machine” for the first time in high school and being enamored with the synthesizers. That song and aesthetic has stuck with me ever since and is probably a big reason why I’m composing with synthesizers to this day.
WWD: For people unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe your sound?
It’s definitely experimental electronic. But it has a lot of classical influence and is a bit orchestral at times. The goal of CoastalDives is to not be tied down too much to one type of sound or genre. My new release “Next Light” is very ambient and dense with analog synths. The release prior to this one was very minimal and lofty, relying mostly on simple piano melodies and sparse synth lines. I also do score work for film, and that’s always unique depending on what’s needed. The film I did most recently is a horror film, so there’s a lot of dissonance and terror in the music. A far cry from what I’m used to.
WWD: Congrats on the release of your album! How was the writing and recording process for it?
I started writing little bits of melodies and chord progressions. I’d just bought a Sequential Prophet 6 analog synthesizer, and was experimenting with it and getting to understand its sonic character and capabilities. These little ideas turned into full songs over the course of a year, and the result is what you hear on “Next Light”. Everything was recorded in my little home studio. Once the songs and textures were where I wanted them, I had a lot of mixing finesse from my friend Danny Kalb and then sent it off to Rafael Anton Irisarri of Black Knoll Studio for mastering.
WWD: It’s clearly been an emotional process, what with your father falling ill, and that emotion permeates the album. Was it a cathartic process to produce it when you were going through such a challenging time?
My mood at the time was very anxious and solemn. Nobody knew what was going to happen with my father’s illness and recovery. And that influenced everything I wrote that year. The pieces on this album are dark, and a little unconventional in their structure and meter. But that was a reflection of how I felt. And there’s always a sound of hope and light scattered into the songs. We’d get little bits of good news and positive results with my father’s progress, and that kept us all optimistic in otherwise heavy times.
WWD: Making an album is clearly a deeply personal endeavor, so now that it’s almost out in the world, how do you feel?
It’s always very exciting to show the world what you’ve been working on, holed up for a year. And creating original music is one of the best feelings in the world for me. I have learned to temper my expectations though. Art is so subjective, and I realize that my music isn’t for everyone. Regardless, honest and creative expression is a wonderful thing to give and receive, so I’m happy that it’s finally ready for listeners.
WWD: When you’re not working on your music, how do you like to spend your time?
When I’m not home working on music, I try to socialize with friends to keep me balanced. Music is such a solitary endeavor for me, and the longer I’m alone the weirder I get. Maybe go to a friend’s show, or grab a beer, or whatever will pull me out of my solitude for a bit. And a little bit goes a long way. I know I have a small social battery, so I’m always happy to refocus and start the next musical project.
WWD; Finally, for you, what’s the greatest ambient record of all time?
Right now, I’d have to say ‘Above All Dreams’ by Abul Mogard. I’ve never heard anything quite like it. It’s experimental, challenging, colorful, balanced, pretty, dark, unique – I could go on and on. And it’s all done with modular and analog synths so it sounds very unique. I haven’t heard music so novel and inspiring in a long time.
CoastalDive: Facebook // SoundCloud