Spirituality Meets Science: Composer Robot Koch on Reimagining His Album ‘The Next Billion Years’ and Finding Inspiration in the Underwater World of Jacques Cousteau
Robot Koch.
The life of composer Robert Koch is a study in contrasts.
Raised in the same area of Germany as the Brothers Grimm — with its foggy forests and medieval castles — he now lives among the sunny splendor of Los Angeles. And although Koch leads a monk-like spiritual practice of yoga, meditation, and pranayama breathwork, he relies on digital technologies to produce the lush, atmospheric sounds of his electronic music.
That unique perspective — balancing ancient tradition with modern innovation, spirituality with science — lies at the heart of Koch's new album, The Next Billion Years (Foam and Sand Reworks). An ambient reimagining of the orchestral songs Koch originally released in 2020, the album is a testament to Koch's evolution as an artist and the many ways we can engage with music.
"I like to experience all aspects of how sound can be portrayed and presented, and let the audience experience it in different ways," he says on the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast. "Be it with eyes closed listening to a Dolby Atmos mix on headphones, or at a planetarium show, or in a philharmonic venue, I think there's not just one way music can be or should be experienced."
Koch's approach to making music is clearly resonating with listeners across the globe. His music has been streamed more than 75 million times and can be heard on numerous films and television shows — including Netflix's hit series You, ABC's How to Get Away With Murder, and Amazon's We Children from Bahnhof Zoo.
In this discussion, we talk more about the new album, and how discovering a speech by the French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau on a second-hand cassette tape inspired him to create an album exploring the long-term future of humanity. Plus, Koch shares how his daily meditation practice makes him feel like he gets to live two days in one, his fascination with quantum physics and cosmic consciousness, and his favorite breakfast spot in New York City's East Village.
Listen to The Next Billion Years (Foam and Sand Reworks) on Spotify, Apple Music, or wherever you stream and download music.
Follow the Classical Post podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or other platforms.
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