This from the NYTimes today:
Describing his philosophy of studio work, Mr. Eno tries out another big metaphor: cowboys versus farmers. Most of what happens in a recording studio is repetitive monotony, tilling the same soil over and over to make slight improvements — insufferably boring, in his view. Mr. Eno prefers to see himself as a cowboy — or, even better, a prospector — constantly seeking out new territory, never staying in the same place for long.
“In my normal life I’m a very unadventurous person,” Mr. Eno said. “I take the same walk every day and I eat in the same restaurants, and often eat exactly the same things in the same restaurants. I don’t adventure much except when I’m in the studio, and then I only want to adventure. I cannot bear doing something again, or thinking that I’m doing something again.”
He paused a moment.
“Of course, like anybody I repeat myself endlessly, but I don’t know that I’m doing it, usually,” he added, and laughed.
I’m not sure what I find more fascinating: that he dislikes the slow progression of working, wanting more excitement and discovery or that on the other side he makes his day to day life as calm as possible. Making space to work isn’t always about the size of your room but putting space in the every day.
