Mind The Music Episode 019 - Aleksi Perälä talks about Colundi, criticism and beating overwhelm in music-making
Other ways to enjoy this episode
🎧 Listen on Spotify
🎧 Download on iTunes
🎧 Tune in on Mixcloud
🎧 Replay on Reform Radio’s website
Aleksi Perälä started out in the late ’90s recording ambient electronica under the names Ovuca and Astrobotnia. More recently, this Finnish producer continues to put forth what Pitchfork has described as “electronic releases with an ecstatic, body-moving, and curiously serene collection of techno bangers.” In part, he owes his sound to Colundi - which put simply is an alternative tuning system that rejects conventional Western tuning in favor of a number of unusual resonant frequencies, but if you know me, then you know I’m mostly interested in the personal, inner musings of an artist that manifest themselves into reality, in the form of music.
So in this episode, I’m having a conversation with him - not just about him as an artist - who has become one of my favorites over the past few years because his music to me feels suited both for mediation and club nights out, but I’m mostly exploring his mind about the mystical world that inspires him and that he infuses his music with.
We talk about...
Colundi, what it means to him and how he was introduced to it. He also shares how difficult it is to put Colundi into words because he doesn’t understand it fully yet and at times, that can feel quite overwhelming.
One of his first and most favorite childhood memories - exploring his fascination for echoes, which moved him into music-making,
The music he selected for this show - from Contact and Connection, what the process behind those tracks was, the connection to the Giza pyramids and what he did with the existing frequencies that came to him.
Handling criticism in terms of his personal experience with Colundi
Having Colundi pass through and communicating about that has been met with a lot of criticism. People have labeled it a sect. They don’t understand it or defy it because it seems religious or out there.
When enough is enough: where one tune ends and another moment begins
Colundi has also brought up uneasy feelings in relation to his music-making, feelings of overwhelm have popped up regularly. These moments have been ones of great learning and by holding the belief that there’s a timing for everything, Aleksi has coped by trusting in the process.
He continues to look out for the day when he’ll finally make good music. Everything he makes is never good enough. He used to tweak and refine his work until he got sick of hearing it and that’s when he knew he was “done”. Isn’t that something that’ll resonate with a lot of music-makers out there? But now that he’s co-creating with Colundi, he understands and respects each moment and chooses not to mix up different moments together. Once a tune manifests into being, he keeps it as is and moves on to the next piece of music that is waiting to come out. It’s bound to be a continuous curious journey.
Listen to the episode to get the full story!
And if you’re looking for a tool to help you with overwhelm from your music-making, then download my free guided meditation. It is designed to help you stay grounded and focused, and you can do it anytime, anywhere!
Subscribe and review in iTunes
Are you subscribed to my show on iTunes yet? If iTunes is your thing, I encourage you to do that now, so that you don’t miss any episodes.
If you’re feeling extra loving, I’d appreciate your review. Those reviews help others find my show and they help me spread the word and raise awareness about well-being in the dance music industry. So I’d love love love your support on that! Just click here to review, once the link is opened in iTunes, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the show is. Thank you!
Connect with me!
Find out more about holistic coaching and how you can work with me over at theunicornmothership.com.
Follow Mind The Music on Facebook.
Let’s continue the conversation in The Peacock Muster, my online coaching community on Facebook.
Feeling extra loving? Leave me a review on iTunes!