At the end of the day, what motivates extra technical preparation is the same thing that drives musicians to practice scales or work long hours in the studio: that extra discipline can pay off in real freedom of expression.
So, it’s moving to hear St. Vincent talk about musicality as the end point for onstage computer-based coordination. In the behind-the-scenes video, you can see how the band combines Ableton Live, a loaded rack of instruments in Propellerhead Reason (presumably running via ReWire into Live), and a whole big mess of pedals. Interestingly, MIDI triggers for those pedals helped focus on performance and not on foot switching, a reminder that computer tech can benefit guitarists, too.
And the results are wondrous: that technology isn’t just there for the sake of it, but because it’s a set of instruments for the band. The tech is keeping pace with their expansive musical imaginations – both Annie Erin Clark and her talented band. More: