Seven questions with ... musician Danny Clay

According to Danny Clay's Bandcamp page, he is:

"...a composer and sound artist from Ohio, now based in San Francisco, drawing upon elements of American folklore, genealogy, art education, children's theatre, improvisation, digital media and everything in between to make music."

Clay has a new recording on Mathias Van Eecloo's excellent Eliean Rec. label. It is entitled "Archive" and is well worth a listen.

Mathias Van Eecloo caught up with Clay recently and asked him my wee blog interview ... this is what he had to say:

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1) Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Danny Clay. I create situations in which sounds are made - either by myself or with friends, in a concert space or in a classroom.

2) What are you working on at the moment?

A piano solo that will be played in the middle of the woods and accompanied by kid-invented sound sculptures.

3) Who inspires you? 

- Name an artist who has inspired you.

I'm inspired by anyone who takes the initiative to make something, and likes it enough to share it with people. (I'm a sucker for cassette tapes.)

- Name place that has inspired you.

A small cemetery deep in the woods of rural New York, where my oldest known relative is buried.

- Name some "thing" that has inspired you.

The phrase “if you can’t get out of it, get into it.”

4) What drives you to do what you do?

A want/need to connect with people without words, in a more visceral way.

5) What values do you wish your creativity to express?

Patience, kindness, love, compassion - those would be great.

6) What role does community play in what you do?

I’ve learned everything I know from other people, although sometimes it’s hard to admit that. without people to share ideas with, I don't think it'd be possible for me to grow.

7) What is next for what you do?

To keep following threads, and staying afloat!

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"Archive" by Danny Clay is available now to download from Eliean Rec. If you like glitchy, organic ambient soundscapes then it is well worth checking out ... have a listen below: