Music to their ears
Five leading artists talk to Ramsha Vistro about their favourite things to listen to while they paint
SARAH GRAHAM
I adore Go or Go Ahead by Rufus Wainwright.
I’ve loved Rufus ever since I discovered him almost 20 years ago.
His unique theatrical pop and velvety voice has been the soundtrack to my entire career. This song is just so beautiful, the way it starts softly and builds into a huge, layered sound; I get completely lost in it. Recently I have been obsessed with the singer-songwriter Self Esteem (Rebecca Lucy Taylor). Her music is quite simply brilliant. I nd her music really empowering. It lifts me up, which is so important for me when painting. sarahgraham.info
HASHIM AKIB
The soundtracks to my paintings are generally cheesy 80's tracks. I can listen or paint along to the group Khruangbin all day and night. I’m also a huge fan of audiobooks, anything educational or historical. Some can spread over weeks as 16 hours of listening can be quite a marathon in one go. I feel I can learn passively while painting. A recent great listen was a fantastic audiobook by Will Gompertz called What are you Looking at? 150 Years of Modern Art in the Blink of an Eye. hashimakib.co.uk
JENNY AITKEN
Generally, I need backdrop music: atmospheric sounds where my awareness can happily dip in and out. Classical tends to distract me too much unless it is Vaughan Williams. My current favourite – it might sound predictable, but it’s only been for this last year – is Radiohead and Thom Yorke. A perfect orchestral blanket of sound with plenty of abstract moments for full painting concentration. Hypnotic, ambient soundscapes – but not too dull, because that’s a distraction in itself. I’m always looking for the next amazing thing. jennyaitken.co.uk
GARY ARMER
I listen to quite an eclectic range of music in the studio with anthemic Indie and Britpop bands such as The Verve and James as real favourites. Music also plays a key role in helping me name my paintings as I often use song titles, lyrics and band names such as Fast Car and The Farm.I regularly listen to podcasts too and am a big fan of the John Dalton Gently Does It podcast, which is a must listen for any representational artist. Electronic dance music is the genre I listen to most though. Having either chilled or upbeat progressive music playing really helps me concentrate and get into a ow state when painting. garyarmer.co.uk
GREG MASON
I remember working on a large canvas based on the interior of an earthquakedamaged building in Italy, listening over and over to a piece of modern classical music of chimed church bells echoing over a haunting strings melody. It gave me that feeling I needed to be transported back to the place; it was like a requiem and helped me paint in the mood of the original moment. In contrast, when I need to harness energy and endurance, a dose of Bowie on shue always does the trick. Apart from being a consummate musical artist, his thoughts on the creative process are inspirational for those of us who nd taking risks something of a challenge. As he once said, ’Don’t fake it baby, lay the real thing on me.’ gregorymason.com