Interview w/ Jason Vitelli on Creating Cinematic Music

Jason Vitelli_Ambient Corridors_promo shoot-190a

In this exclusive interview with Jason Vitelli, we delve into the details behind his latest music video, “Night Falls,” a journey through the vibrant pulse of a club night. From the genre-blending magic of his album 1. AMBIENT CORRIDORS to the ebb and flow of his latest single “THE VEIL,” Jason provides a nuanced perspective on his creative process.

You’ve described your new song and video “Night Falls” as a journey through a club night. Tell me a little more about the inspiration here.

Sometimes the music evokes a story AFTER it is written. “Night Falls” is one such example, as the nightclubbing scene came to mind when deciding on a name for it. Once I focused on this vibe, I began work on the video by generating a music visualization and obtaining stock footage of club dancers. Coincidentally, the footage and the dancer’s moves synchronized to the music without much fiddling! I edited these snippets alongside the visualization graphics to build the final video.

Your music often plays with different genres. How do you approach blending different styles of instrumentation to create a cohesive and unique sound in “1. AMBIENT CORRIDORS”?

Most of the recordings use similar sampling libraries, some of which I designed myself. A number of them started their life as film cues and were repurposed as standalone tracks for this project. Others are compositions I developed over a period of years. Holistically, I have collated so many of these tracks, I am able to develop a playlist with a unified style. With that in mind, I plan to release subsequent instrumental albums within the same series. You may consider this one my first opus ?.

Your single “THE VEIL” is described as having an ebb and flow reminiscent of waves crashing on a beach. (I LOVE that description!) How do you conceptualize and then convey this kind of imagery within your music?

To conceptualize it in the easiest way, let’s consider the phenomenon of synesthesia. In simple terms, it is the mixture of sensory perceptions. Some folks with this condition may see sound and hear sight. I am not a synesthete, however, its existence brings to mind connections which can intrinsically be made between aural and visual stimuli. Imagine an audio waveform; it is a visual representation of sound pressure. In turn, try to envision how a shape or color will sound through a musical device. An upwards facing parabola, in one example, could be interpreted as an audio decrescendo going into a crescendo.

With this album being full of instrumental tracks, people might be surprised to hear that it’s the storytelling within your music that I find the most captivating. You reveal so much through your YouTube captions and descriptions of the tracks. Has that kind of storytelling and breaking expectations always been important to you?

Thank you for the compliment! I actively seek out other artists who use storytelling as an impetus to their creations and I aim to do the same. I find narratives can provide a compelling way to structure a musical piece, whether it is a song or instrumental. An artist’s unique life experience will affect the way a concept is expressed, which may defy formulaic expectations. All in all, the art’s meaning is in the eye of the beholder so it will “speak” for itself.

Along the same lines, “1. AMBIENT CORRIDORS,” features “instrumental compositions that express abstract feelings beyond the scope of lyrics.” How do you approach crafting music that conveys emotions without words?

An explanation of this process can be described through my lyric writing. Before committing to a phrase, I roll it off my tongue and reflect upon the visceral impact of the sound. This feeling takes precedence over logic, as my emotion is the architect to my creativity. Likewise, a flute melody may be inspired by a dream or the sound of a subway car leaving the station; the source of lyrics and flute melodies are one and the same. In turn, you may find many of your best ideas appear while taking a shower. Intuition resides in our subconsciousness and you can tap into its flow if you allow your mind to wonder.

The description of “THE VEIL” mentions the use of diverse instruments like piano, cello, and synths. How do you decide which instruments to incorporate in a particular piece, and what role does each instrument play in creating your desired atmosphere?

In more traditional writing, I’ll utilize a keyboard controller connected to my software sampler. The sampler has always been an important tool for me, as I can easily try different instruments to hear what works best within an arrangement. Conversely, many experimental compositions find their genesis in a compelling sound. I’ve created many of those pieces without touching an instrument. The music is instead built by programmed elements within a sequence, similar to the function of a piano roll. I would say that more often than not, I’ve synced video cues to my DAW to create atmosphere and inspire not only the arrangement, but also a musical structure (e.g., beginning -> middle -> end).

What’s next for you?

After releasing 1. AMBIENT CORRIDORS in the first half of 2024, I have a number of newer songs I’d like to put on my 4th songwriting album. I am also in the process of writing a musical with my wife. Incredibly, she has woven together an original narrative just through setting up a playlist of my existing song catalog. I’m looking forward to workshopping some of those scenes and sharing performance videos in the coming year.

Where can fans follow you?

On all the pertinent socials. You can find them listed on my linktree – https://linktr.ee/jasonvitellimusic. This link also has an email list signup form. Anyone who joins can receive a free copy of my first album!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I’d like to thank Concert Crap for having me and I hope it has brought some insights into the creative process. Each of us do it in our own way, but all of us need inspiration in our lives to stay connected to our artistry.

Comment below.