in conversation with tarun balani

What question do you keep coming back to in your arts practice?

“What is my artistic expression, choice and reason for my aesthetics, and is my work relevant?”

What discipline, other than your own, do you draw most from?

“I draw inspiration from design, photography, and architecture, as a lot of the same principles apply to music as well. Recently I’ve been reading Jon Berger’s text on Understanding a Photograph, and watched Dieter Ram’s documentary on design.”

How does your arts practice allow you to respond creatively to conflict/crisis around you?

“Being an improviser and a sonic story teller, adapting to new musical environments and being aware/able to listen to fellow musicians/artists has allowed me to cope and respond to conflict/crisis in a similar way. It’s not necessary to respond creatively to all situations but with awareness and an open heart/mind is something I strive towards through my practice.”

What do you enjoy most about the process of creating new work and what recurring challenges do you encounter?

“New works are really exciting for me as I am often surprised by the initial spark of creativity. However, as I begin to unravel the track/art it’s often challenging to take it to the finish line where it feels complete.”