Field Studies Artist Residency: Jim Godfrey

Meet Jim Godfrey, a pianist, composer, and producer based in Southwest England. He has an extensive live performance background but lately he's been working on location-inspired original music from time he spent in Northern California, Japan, and after this visit, who knows - maybe Eastern Finland? Here is a bit more from Jim in his own words:

What did you work on during the residency?

I was really interested in stripping back my setup and working on some simple ideas. Over the past three years I’ve been lucky enough to accumulate a fair amount of equipment and technology, but that can sometimes make composition a bit overwhelming. The set up in the Meteorite was perfect and allowed me to work on new ideas without distraction, and in a really focussed way. I tried to compose without judgment and editing.

The experience was great - a bit like only cooking with seasonal ingredients - I just used what was to hand (including a Kantele - a unique Finnish stringed instrument) and just pressed record. I was getting through 2 or 3 demo ideas a day, which was really productive.

How do you think this kind of environment can inspire creativity?

I love the idea of using restrictions (ie lack of usual equipment) as a way of stimulating creativity - add to that the inspiration that comes from traveling to a place of such natural beauty. I was there at the end of winter and the sheer amount of snow on the ground gave the entire location a beautiful eerie and silent quality. It definitely influenced the sounds and music I was making. Sleeping near to my recording area also made it really easy to be up early, or late at night, capturing ideas - that’s something that is really hard to do at home.

Anything else you want to share about the experience, the space, or the area?

Jonathan and Ulla were brilliant and ideal hosts - both really supportive and in tune with the creative process I was following. I had enough space to work on ideas on my own, but lovely moments to check-in, eat amazing food, and meet new people. The whole experience was highly nourishing!