Sam Capo, my venture into modern DAW-based electronic music production, showcases a unique aspect of my musical identity that both influences and is enhanced by my endeavors as a composer and researcher. The guiding principle of my work as Sam Capo is to achieve more with less, focusing on crafting memorable melodies and harmonies alongside compelling sound design. This blend of simplicity and complexity illustrates my fascination with the broad spectrum of electronic music, effectively bridging the diverse facets of my interests through a medium that excites me.
Byte-Sized Beats (2024)
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Byte-Sized Beats is not just a beat tape; it's a fusion of creative exploration and research into human-computer interaction, specifically focusing on collaboration with generative AI models. Central to each track is output from Meta’s AudioGen or Google’s MusicFX, which I edit and expand. Byte-Sized Beats delves into the domain of text-based prompts, highlighting the complex ways in which we articulate music. Terms loaded with subjective and emotional weight, such as “nocturnal” or “uplifting,” guide the creative process, offering a lens through which we can assess how we, and in turn AI, interpret and translate these concepts into sound. A pivotal aspect of Byte-Sized Beats is its exploration into AI's capacity to merge and synthesize (or generate) diverse genres and instruments, testing the boundaries of idiomatic expression and synthesis in the digital age.
Re-Giving (2024)
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To me, Re-Giving has this vibe of musical re-gifting, probably because I often find myself sitting on tracks I've never released. Though most of it was penned in 2023, the journey for the oldest track stretches back to 2021. I dove into each tune with a specific idea or style in mind—think dub, drone, and the like. Yet, perhaps because they all sprung from the same mind, there's a sense of unity among them. They just... gel. So, here's to hoping you find joy in my act of Re-Giving.
Up & Running/Melting Palace (2024)
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These tracks take us back to around 2016-17, a period when I was teaching English in Seoul. The album art is an edit of a photo I took at Gyeongbokgung Palace, inspired by the stunning color palette of Korean palaces. “Melting Palace” was born from an edited ambient improvisation, and it’s always held a special place in my heart. Initially, it was paired with another track, but over time, “Up and Running” has grown on me.
