Brian Eno pioneered ambient music by blending music with space, softening edges for a nature-like flow.
Eno emphasizes surrender in art for transcendent experiences, balancing control to explore unknown territories.
Deep dives
The Philosophy Behind Ambient Music Creation
Brian Eno discusses his evolution into creating ambient music inspired by his experiences at the Cologne airport, where he felt the need for music to blend with the space. This led to a shift towards creating music that softened edges and invited in external world stimuli, akin to the flow of nature. Eno aimed for music that offered comfort, surrender, and a connection to the environment, emphasizing the importance of creating an immersive experience.
Exploring Surrender and Control in Art
Eno delves into the idea of surrender and control within art, highlighting how surrendering to art allows for transcendence and ecstasy. He emphasizes the balance between control and surrender, noting that relinquishing control in art offers a unique experience of letting go and embracing the unknown. Eno articulates how art serves as a space where individuals can relinquish control and be taken to unfamiliar territories, fostering a sense of creativity and exploration.
Curating a Unique Radio Channel
Brian Eno shares his excitement about curating his radio channel featuring unreleased music pieces with varied styles and tones. He describes the serendipitous and random selection process of the music, offering listeners an opportunity to discover diverse compositions. Eno's approach to curating the channel reflects his desire to provide an ever-evolving and dynamic musical experience that challenges conventional expectations.
Reflections on Belief, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
Eno discusses his approach to spirituality, expressing a preference for understanding over blind belief. He values testing beliefs and seeking evidence, highlighting the importance of uncertainty and accepting limitations in knowledge. Eno emphasizes the value of surrendering to uncertainty, preparing individuals to adapt to changing beliefs and tools, while acknowledging the role of faith in communities and personal lives.
Brian Eno’s 50-year career is teeming with innovation. He started out playing synths in the early ‘70s as a member of the UK glam-rock band Roxy Music and went on to create an entirely new musical genre—ambient music, and later he recorded a series of solo albums and eventually produced career-defining albums for a host of bands including U2, Devo and Coldplay.
On today’s episode Rick Rubin talks to Brian Eno about his new radio station through Sonos Radio HD called The Lighthouse, and his love for the musical space that exists between humans and machines. Eno also recalls predicting the birth of hip-hop in the back of a cab with David Bryne, and he explains why listening to Beyoncé through a wall is strangely satisfying.
