Composing Flow – Spatial Composition & Orchestration | Behind Immersed: Episode 25

So, “Flow” – this is the first track on the record, and man, it’s a wild ride. I started with this little motif on the piano, just playing around in G minor, and suddenly this whole world of sound just started unfolding.

I’m not really thinking about instruments, I’m thinking about people. Like Todd Pentney – we go way back to Humber College – and I knew he’d be perfect for this piece. And Morito Marquez with his kalimbas? Incredible. We literally created this intro with 15 different kalimbas spread across speakers, which is totally inspired by traditional African music practices.

The whole piece is about creating this immersive experience. I wanted listeners to feel like they’re inside the music, not just hearing it. So we’re playing with space – brass in the back, saxophones up front, synthesizers expanding in these wild, creative ways. When I tracked my bass solo, it was this really vulnerable moment. I hadn’t practiced, hadn’t even played over the track before. But something just… happened. Three takes, totally unedited, and it felt like exactly what I wanted to say.

It’s not about technical perfection. It’s about capturing a feeling, a moment, a conversation between musicians. That’s what “Flow” is all about.