Other friends have said, "I don't understand why you've used this trumpet-style sound rather than a real one when you know you can write for trumpet." But it's most important to get the energy right.

I'm less interested in uniqueness than in goodness. I see so many concerts where the program notes are more interesting than the music. I remember talking to one composer who went through the most complicated mathematical algorithm to generate some material from scratch. It took weeks and weeks, and he came up with a C major chord. For me, honesty is more interesting than originality.

Other friends have said, "I don't understand why you've used this trumpet-style sound rather than a real one when you know you can write for trumpet." But it's most important to get the energy right.

Performances are so defined by their venues - it'd be nice for the music to dictate more of the reaction.

I feel happier knowing a starting point came from me. And I like stuff that gives you a physical reaction.

Quite often, when I describe to people what I want, I'll say "overwhelming" - I want it to feel like it's phy

I try to listen to stuff that makes me happy for other reasons, rather than being musically inspiring.