Meet Austin Rockman

A self-portrait by, Austin Rockman

Would you rather…

Your phone is the size and shape of a basketball or your bedroom is the shape of a small intestine?

So I imagine in this small intestine shaped room I am smaller, yes? Either way, basketball shaped phone cause then I would achieve my goal of never using it.

Some questions with Austin Rockman

What kinds of places do you like to take your listeners?

The greatest feeling is to take people into a space they have never been before or to unlock a new emotion yet experienced. The ultimate goal of art for me is to awaken. I’m always super intrigued to hear impressions from listeners about what feelings the music conjures up. I can say that "Our Own Unknown" was a therapeutic album for me and tracks like “Illuma” and "All Other Futures" were meant to be a sonic sanctuary of sorts to allow for a healing sound.

Who would be your dream director to work with on a music video?

I would honestly love to do a soundtrack for a film. It would be a dream to work with someone like David Lynch or Alex Garland.

Your 2021 release “Our Own Unknown” mostly utilized layering acoustic guitar sourced sounds. Would you say the songwriting process was more structured and planned or loose and organic?

I would say a mixture of both. I don’t really like to compose if things are too rigid and methodical, there has to be some element of surprise that can exist within a methodical framework. With the guitar, I was utilizing an improvised loop format to come up with phrases that I just kept layering and layering. Eventually these guitar phrases would find their way into some sort of software that would process and mangle them into a new texture. I sort of start songs from the middle and work my way out, my mind has this non-linear approach to music and I’m usually aesthetically attracted to things that are a bit fringe. So all that to say there is a method, but it’s met with musical approaches that allow for new discoveries.

Would you prefer people to be able to see colors or taste your music when they hear it?

Definitely colors!

Do you think tracks from the album ‘Our Own Unknown’ would translate to a live set? Have you performed live using the recording method from this album?

Probably not. It’s definitely a studio album. Think like Talk Talk’s last two albums or Miles Davis. Lots of hours of improvisation cut down to the best parts. I’m actually not particularly interested in live music but that may change in the future.

Are you self taught or did you take lessons / study music?

I am definitely a self taught musician. I picked up guitar at a young age and taught myself through listening to my favorite records. I did study engineering at Berklee but my goals with music have always been to express my ideas freely and not feel limited by an instrument. I could care less about scales or theory, I mainly use them as a way to communicate but never when actually making music. I personally do not believe anyone needs theoretical practice to make music, music is a natural instinct, something that you call upon and cultivate overtime.

What is the current state of the ambient music scene in NYC right now?

All of my collaborations have actually been composed remotely away from those living in the city. I’m not particularly interested in going to shows but Brooklyn has some great spots for live ambient and dance music. I composed my first album “Plum God” in NYC during winter and I think that will always be my fondest memory of the city.

Do you have any routines/rituals during practice

If this mean practicing my instrument? I don’t practice haha. All of my musical endeavors are to make music which strengthens that compositional muscle. I’d be bored out of mind trying to run drills on an instrument. I'm at the point where I can say what I want to say with instruments and am not limited by technical proficiency.

Aside from other musicians, did any other forms of media influence ‘Our Own Unknown’?

Our Own Unknown was made primarily during the 2020 pandemic. I actually don’t think I was listening to much music but I was watching a ton of movies so it’s most likely inspired by visual media. I would compose during the day and watch a lot of Criterion films at night. I was really into Tarkovsky, Kaurismäki, Dreyer, and the new wave cinema coming out of the Czech Republic during the 70’s and 80’s, that stuff is awesome. If i’m influenced by anything it’s all subconscious, I’m not exactly looking to be influenced by anyone or anything it just happens.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

I can say that I’m really interested in collaboration right now and will have some new music with some fantastic artists releasing in 2023. With each release I’m aiming to push into new atmospheres so listeners can expect another very different record than my previous. Much love to all.

Austin Rockman