SJF

SJF is a newsletter by Simon James French, traversing his explorations in music composition, inspirations from literature, daily life insights, and personal growth. It reflects on creativity through the lens of composing, reading, and living, emphasizing mindfulness, inspiration, and authentic expression through various forms of art and self-reflection.

Music Composition Literature and Reading Personal Growth and Mindfulness Art and Creativity Cultural Exploration Emotional Expression through Art Nature and Serenity

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways
137 implied HN points 19 Jan 24
  1. The new track 'Gloaming' showcases a change in composing style since 'Meditations.'
  2. Attention to frequencies and layering helped improve the sound quality of the music.
  3. Blending electronic and orchestral instruments adds an organic feel to the music.
117 implied HN points 12 Jan 24
  1. The author finds inspiration in reading Tolstoy's War & Peace and using a Hobonichi Techo notebook for daily journalling.
  2. Subscribed to The Idler magazine for a slow, good life perspective and enjoyed reading An Idler's Manual by Tom Hodgkinson.
  3. Explored the Voyager Golden Record images and learned about the robot 'There's Waldo' that finds Waldo in different countries.
98 implied HN points 09 Feb 24
  1. The author shares things that have recently inspired them, such as a magazine website with beautiful imagery and a moving video about living a fulfilling life as a craftsman.
  2. There is a reminder about minimizing unnecessary mental clutter by re-evaluating how we use social media during work breaks.
  3. An interesting website called Tree.fm allows users to listen to sound recordings of forests worldwide, offering a serene escape.
98 implied HN points 02 Feb 24
  1. Living in Japan enabled the author to achieve personal growth and creative pursuits.
  2. Japan's foreign population is diverse and offers opportunities for inspiring interactions.
  3. The author reminisces on Japan through videos, capturing beautiful moments of life in Tokyo and Kyoto.
78 implied HN points 26 Jan 24
  1. The beauty and significance of orange blossoms in Tunisia
  2. Alternative ways to share work and life outside of social media
  3. Exploration of ethereal ambient music like the self-titled record from Christina Vantzou, Michael Harrison, and John Also Bennett
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58 implied HN points 12 Jun 23
  1. Discover new inspirations from music, animations, and books.
  2. Appreciate the value of mindfulness in reading at places like the British Library.
  3. Improve personal growth and writing skills by practicing the art of noticing small details in everyday life.
58 implied HN points 26 May 23
  1. The importance of creating a Root Document for self-understanding
  2. Exploring the creativity of artists like Taylor Deupree and Ryuichi Sakamoto
  3. Learning about the construction of a replica of the Sutton Hoo ship from the 7th century
39 implied HN points 12 May 23
  1. Noh masks in Japan date back to the 14th century and play a crucial role in conveying emotions and personalities in Noh theatre.
  2. Artisans who craft Noh masks utilize traditional techniques and hand tools like chisels, saws, gouges, and knives to create intricate pieces.
  3. Nakamura Mitsue demonstrates the detailed process of fashioning Noh masks from a solid block of wood, showcasing 40 years of skill and expertise.
39 implied HN points 12 May 23
  1. The artist is working on a new album called 'Meditations' set to be released on July 21st.
  2. The album will contain about 40 minutes of new music.
  3. Listeners can pre-order the album on Bandcamp and support its creation on Patreon.
19 implied HN points 23 Jun 23
  1. The album 'Wander the Night Japan' is now available on streaming services.
  2. It is a collaboration between sound artist Simon James French and photographer Cody Ellingham.
  3. The music and images aim to inspire a journey and convey emotions through stillness.
0 implied HN points 29 May 23
  1. Soundscapes Radio is a series of music composed by the author while living in Tokyo.
  2. Composing music quickly and without doubt helped the author improve their skills.
  3. The author learned mixing and mastering by working on 600 minutes of music for Soundscapes Radio.
0 implied HN points 11 May 23
  1. The author is inspired by a video of Japanese craftsmen building a house with hand tools.
  2. The author appreciates a field recorder by Teenage Engineering called TP-7 for its beauty.
  3. The author recommends a book 'Material: Making and the Art of Transformation' by Nick Kary for its deep exploration of creativity.