9 Questions with William Brittelle
Where did you grow up?
Newton, North Carolina
What made you realize that music was your path?
In middle school writing music became kind of a secret world of fantasy for me. Something to do privately, just for myself. A way to process all the complex emotions I was feeling. I think from that point onward I was hooked.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
That's really difficult. I wouldn't say there is necessarily a "typical" music I write. Maybe the strongest commonality is a quest for emotional catharsis - the synthesis of seemingly oppositional forces.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Honestly that changes all the time. But, through the years, if I had to pin myself down, I'd probably say Thelonius Monk, Prince, Berg, Velvet Underground, Frank Ocean, and Oneohtrix Point Never.
Has there been one particular moment in your musical career that you're most proud of?
I think I'm most proud of the premiere of Mohair Time Warp, the first project I ever got off the ground.
What made you want to write?
For me it was more like an instinct, a guttural impulse that started before I even knew composing was a thing that people did.
What is your favorite thing about the work you wrote for Sybarite5?
Future Shock is rare for me in that it has steady propulsion throughout. Most of my work is more collage-based, so this piece's energy and groove really stand out to me.
Where did you get the idea for this piece?
I was listening to alot of groove-based electronic music and also gnarlier modern string music and found myself wanting to meld the two into one cohesive piece.
What’s the next thing for you?
My head is still largely lost in Spiritual America, the electro-acoustic orchestral album I released last year via Nonesuch/New Amsterdam featuring Metropolis Ensemble, Wye Oak, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. That album was almost eight years in the making so I'm kind of in "sponge mode" gathering materials (and courage) to dive into the next big project.