An insightful compliment

Some of you may have occasioned upon Steve Loya's 'Go Flying Turtle' blog, linked via March-pane (on the right hand column folks..) and will know that Steve and I share a common love of electronic music. We exchange compilation CD's across the Atlantic, and we've built up an online friendship based on that shared appreciation of all things electronica. In my most recent package to him, I popped in a compilation of my Straightman own stuff. He seemed to like it, but the breakthrough came when he was driving back one night from a long hike, he said the context of that drive home really helped the music.

This was flattering in itself, especially as Steve definitely knows his Plaids from his Autechres.

Steve is also a teacher of art at a school local to where he lives in Leesburg, Virginia, USA. A few days ago he set his class of 6 and 7 year olds a project. He played them two of my tracks; Not Today and Dead Not Sleeping (Roman 4 mix) and told them to paint what they heard. Again, this was flattering enough, but the results blew me away!

I really urge you to check out Steve's blog on this, dated 28th April, and have a look at the work these kids produced:

Click here for Steve's Blog

Steve told me in an email today:

"I played "Dead not Sleeping" and "Not Today" for them. They enjoyed both a lot but wanted to hear "Dead" over and over again. Heads were knodding, kids dancing in their chairs - wish I had a video - you would love it. I only told 'em that this is electronic music that my friend Bob from England sent me, so they thought that was pretty cool."

I find it very insightful that kids of that age have so completely hit the nail on the head in terms of what they say and paint, and can't help but think that these kids, untainted by adulthood and its tedious formula, could teach us all a thing or two about seeing the world unbridled. I am extremely tempted, appropriate permissions granted, to put some of these pictures in my next sleave. Brilliant - thanks Steve.