Finding Andrew's Voice: Factor Eight on His Latest Album, II
Andrew Bennett
There's an interesting dichotomy baked into the act of composing. Although the music that composers write reflects their own thoughts, emotions, and perspectives, they need to hand that music over to other people to bring it to life.
But for Andrew Bennett, a Canadian composer of experimental electronic music who records under the moniker Factor Eight, his own voice is the driving force behind his 2022 album, II. Although that was never Bennett's plan for the album — it proved to be a creative breakthrough.
"Throughout the creation of that record, I was also trying to create a sound that was entirely my own, something that felt more authentically me," Bennett says on the latest episode of the Classical Post podcast. "I didn't really set out to create music using only my voice, but when I look back it's sort of serendipitous that these things happened in tandem. There's a parallel in the album between my artistic sound and my personal story behind the record."
By manipulating the vocals using a raft of technologies, he created a vast, mystical soundscape that's profoundly personal to Bennett. The new album became an avenue for revealing his struggles with mental illness and raising awareness of the stigma around bipolar disorder. Mental health advocacy has always been part of Bennett's mission as an artist, and he is donating proceeds from digital sales of II to the Canadian Mental Health Association Saskatoon.
In this episode, Bennett and I talk more about the creation of the album, and how the process inspired him to continue using his voice as the primary canvas for his music. Plus, he shares how the act of collaboration fuels his creativity, why a Vitamix blender is the most important gadget in his kitchen, and the importance of the visual arts in his sound-based work.
Listen to II on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, or wherever you stream or download music.
Follow the Classical Post podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or other platforms.
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