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An Artist at the Intersection of Jazz and Electronic Music
In Part 2 of our conversation, pioneering musician Mark de Clive-Lowe shares profound insights on nurturing creativity in a distraction-filled world. From protecting sacred creative time to overcoming artistic blocks, MdCL offers a masterclass in building a sustainable creative practice.
"Even after creating 20+ albums, the creative well is infinite. Perseverance through difficult periods will always lead to new inspiration." – Mark de Clive-Lowe
Who is Mark de Clive-Lowe?
Mark is a half-Japanese, half-New Zealander virtuoso who has masterfully bridged jazz and electronic music for over two decades. Known for his extraordinary piano skills and innovative live electronics performance, he rose to prominence in London's broken beat scene while developing his signature style of real-time sampling and improvisation.
After years of international collaboration and acclaim, Mark recently relocated to Japan to reconnect with his cultural roots. This move has inspired deeply personal projects exploring his heritage, adding new dimensions to his already distinctive musical voice and continuing his legacy of innovation at the intersection of acoustic and electronic worlds.
Key Wisdom for Creators
Protecting Creative Time in a Distracted World
In our discussion, Mark emphasized the critical importance of intentionally guarding your creative time. In a world engineered to capture our attention, establishing boundaries around your creative space becomes essential for productive creation.
The Philosophy of Acceptance
Perhaps the most transformative insight from our conversation was Mark's approach to creative judgment. His relationship with music shifted profoundly when he learned to accept rather than judge moments in his playing:
"When I stopped fighting against what was happening and simply accepted each moment for what it was, everything changed. There was suddenly so much more freedom and possibility in the music."
Overcoming Creative Blocks
Even after 20+ albums, Mark still encounters creative challenges. His advice? "The well is infinite. Keep going, keep exploring, and new inspiration will always emerge. Sometimes the path through the desert is exactly what you need to find the oasis."
Beyond the Music: Lessons for Any Creative
Mark shared invaluable perspectives on:
Maintaining a playful approach to creation despite professional pressures
Non-musical skills that have proven crucial for his independent career
The importance of treating people well throughout your professional journey
Balancing artistic creation with the business side of music
Equipment Failures and Performance Stories
Some of the most entertaining moments of our conversation came when Mark shared stories of equipment failures during international performances:
"There I was, in São Paulo, Brazil, performing for thousands of people when suddenly my entire system crashed. No sound, nothing. In that moment, you have a choice—panic or pivot. I chose to pivot, jumping on the acoustic piano while my tech scrambled to reboot everything. Those moments of improvisation often lead to the most memorable performances."
Episode Guide
For those who want to dive directly into specific topics:
00:00 - Intro to ProducerHead and Mark de Clive-Lowe
01:12 - Community Building
01:27 - Creative Workflow and Time Management
06:41 - Acceptance and Overcoming Challenges
12:10 - Non-Musical Skills for Independent Artists
16:54 - The Importance of Humanity in Music
22:03 - Funny Stories from the Studio
29:06 - Final Thoughts and Advice
Three Essential Takeaways
Protect Your Creative Time: In a world designed for distraction, intentionally guarding your creative time and space is essential for productive creation.
Practice Acceptance, Not Judgment: Mark's approach to music shifted profoundly when he learned to accept rather than judge moments in his playing, allowing for greater freedom and creativity.
The Well Is Infinite: Even after creating 20+ albums, Mark believes creative potential is limitless - perseverance through difficult periods will always lead to new inspiration.
References & Connections
Albums Mentioned:
"Timeless" by Goldie
"Voodoo" by D'Angelo
"São Paulo, Brazil" by César Mariano
"Past Present (Tone Poems Across Time)" Mark's latest album
Artists Referenced:
Books & Films:
"Inception" (film)
"The Matrix" (film)
"The Book of Five Rings" by Miyamoto Musashi (book)
"Mastery" by Robert Greene (book)
"Mo' Better Blues" (Spike Lee film)
Tech & Equipment:
Ableton Live (DAW)
Logic (DAW)
"Touchable" iPad app for controlling Ableton
MPC 3000 (Akai sampler/drum machine)
Maschine (Native Instruments sampler/drum machine)
Connect with Mark
Connect with Toru
This episode was co-produced, engineered and edited by Matthew Diaz. From ProducerHead, this is Toru, and in a way, so are you. Peace.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider subscribing and sharing it with other creators who might benefit from Mark's wisdom.
Support ProducerHead
If you enjoy ProducerHead, subscribing is free and gets you regular updates. And if you want to support what I'm doing here, a premium subscription is just $6 per month (even less if you go annual). Your support helps me keep creating quality content and growing the show while keeping the core stuff free for everyone. For less than you'd spend on a new plug-in, you're becoming part of our community of producers who are all working to level up together.
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