Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
We gained the honor to sit down and ask composer and multi instrumentalist Miguel Atwood-Ferguson a few questions, continue reading to dive into the mind of one of the worlds most prolific musicians right now.
MAF: Honored to hear from you Wolfgang, I hope all is well!
Thank you! Glad to be speaking with you! Let’s jump right in. At what moment did you realize that music was going to be your profession, and was there ever any push back from those around you to settle into a “stable” career instead of music?
MAF: I started weekly violin lessons at age 4 at my own request and had music around me from all angles growing up. I guess i've always thought I was going to have a life in music. My parents did give me consistent push back once they realized that I had an intense love for jazz and wanted a career outside of Western European Classical music. They incorrectly assumed that a life in classical music and the studios was the most stable. They had good intentions.
What recent album has influenced you the most?
MAF: I love all genres of music, but especially love Jazz and Western European Classical music. at the moment, I find Thomas Adès and Immanuel Wilkins the most fascinating in those fields, so any of their releases I love. I'm also super into what trumpeter Peter Evans is doing with his jazz quartet featuring vibraphonist Joel Ross.
What other forms of art, if any, inspire you and in what ways?
MAF: I love all forms of art and consider our life itself art. Besides music, I especially like the visual, literary, and culinary arts. They inspire my imagination and drive to develop my humanity and ability to tell stories through music.
What has been the defining moment of your career so far?
MAF: I don't know. I've had a couple and am not sure which one is more influential. Writing and conducting Suite for Ma Dukes, my work with Flying Lotus, performing with Quincy Jones at a young age and seeing how he conducted the orchestra, conducting Floating Points' 'Promises' last year at the Hollywood Bowl, releasing my first official album 'Les Jardins Mystiques Vol. 1'....
You have written hundreds of compositions, how do you generate new ideas and avoid burnout or writers block?
MAF: That's easy to answer. I consider myself a servant of the music. Even my original music is bigger than me in my opinion. I never try to tell it what it has to do. I just want to be a facilitator of magic, the music, and empowerment for all, so I stay in that vibration of intentionality. I don't recall having writer's block once in my life. I think writer's block can happen for a variety of reasons, but one reason might be when we are placing demands or expectations on the music. To me, magic is like a butterfly. I don't want to capture it, I only want to appreciate and amplify it's happiness.
You are also an extremely talented multi instrumentalist and composer, For those out there who are inspired by you, what would be your advice to those who want to get themselves into a similar position as you as a performer/composer, especially those who have started music at a later stage in life?
MAF: Thank you for the encouragement. No matter our age, the time is always now and full of infinite potential. Every age has it's own inherent challenges and benefits. It's never too late to create good and amplify health and happiness. My humble suggestion is to accept that infinite multi-faceted genius resides in all of us at all times regardless of age, IQ, training, background, anything. Just jump in and work it out. It's simply a matter of unlocking and cultivating it. It's a problem however if we don't know it's there in the first place, so understand it truly is there even when we don't feel it or see it. One great way to unlock it is to realize that fun is connected to it. Fun is severely underrated. I'm not talking about reckless or destructive fun. I'm talking about the fun that lights people up and gives them wings. I actually think having fun is a spiritual act and is connected to something divine that is inherited designed to help us grow and enjoy challenge. It's easy to demonize challenge, but we need challenge and obstacles in order to grow. All the more reason to gravitate towards the things that light us up and are fun for us, because challenge and hardship is inevitable. Lastly, develop a multitude of infrastructures and ways to develop and facilitate one's fun and passions. Create a well oiled infrastructure and community to support daily development. Grow everyday. Be kind to yourself, which includes opening up one's ability to be honest with oneself and being disciplined. Don't define oneself by past blunders or negative narratives.
