I was first introduced to Cosmo Sheldrake several years ago when I stumbled upon a cover he did of Mimi and Richard Farina’s The Falcon for Mahogany Sessions. It was after that glorious cover of one of my favorite songs that hooked me instantly. The harmonizing, the clear passion, and love that I felt while watching this video made an instant lover of anything Sheldrake would come to do. Sheldrake’s work as a multi-instrumentalist is unlike anything I’ve personally been exposed to.
I had the pleasure to touch base with London-based musician, Cosmo Sheldrake. Enjoy my brief conversation with him where we talked about his creative process, the gear he uses while recording, and more. If you haven’t already, check out his most recent album, The Much Much How How and I out now!
For those who might not know much about you, please take a second to introduce yourself?
My name is Cosmo Sheldrake, I am a composer and a producer. Much of my work is engaged with play, nonsense, and ecology.
What first got you interested in sampling sounds like you do to create your songs vs the traditional guitar, drums, bass set up?
It was just what I had around me. I was recording sounds with a portable recorder as a way of documenting moments and travels. So I just started making music out of the things I was recording as a way of journaling. That then started me on a scent trail that took me through things like music concrete and soundscape ecology and I guess it’s all developed from there.
Can you take a moment to discuss your creating process? Is it a matter of hearing a sound and working off of it? Or is there a general idea in your mind beforehand?
A little of both but very often it’s a response to a sound or a rhythm I find in a field recording. I think the hardest thing is starting something. Once there is something there I find it much easier to just add to it. Each thing triggers something else. So it’s a kind of collage process I guess.
Was music always a career path you saw yourself pursuing?
Not always. For a while, I thought I wanted to be a visual artist. But I guess I just fell more and more in love with writing music and composition.
Where do you find yourself being the most inspired? It could be a city, country, etc.
It really depends, often when listening to live music. Or walking in the countryside, or sometimes a certain sound will trigger something.
Talk a little bit about the gear you use to perform and record?
I use a loop pedal and a sampler and a microphone to perform, I often have lots of little percussion instruments and toys. I would bring more instruments along too if they were not so big and hard to carry around, I try to keep my set up small enough that I can travel with it all on my own without a car.
I also have a field recording set up, with a couple of different mics and a portable recorder which if often carry around with me. And then I write most things using logic and a fairly simple set up with a mic, a keyboard, a whole room full of instruments and toys to play with.
If you had three albums you would want the entire world to listen to before their demise which would they be?
Just to pluck three off the top of my head. Sketches of Spain by Miles Davis. Revolver by the Beatles. Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, Charles Mingus
Any words of wisdom for musicians?
Have fun! Be honest!
