Meet JohnGalt

One of the exciting features on myNoise is the ability to create your own composite generators. Users can mix and match stems and create their own unique soundscapes. Patrons of myNoise are able to publish these creations in the Community page.

Among our community members, JohnGalt stands out as one of the most prolific creators of composite generators. He has contributed over 100 generators to the community; Anahata Heart, Here Comes That Sound..., and Psychitecture to name a few. His creations reflect his musical background and creative mind. I was really curious to know more about him and reached out for an interview.

Stéphane • Hey JohnGalt! It's a pleasure to have you here. My first question would be about your username. Is it a nod to Ayn Rand's character? And if so, may I ask who's the "John Galt" here on myNoise?

JohnGalt • Hi Stéphane. The name JohnGalt is indeed a nod to the character in Ayn Rand's classic "Atlas Shrugged". Someone once compared me to him in a deep conversation one night with a group of people and they called me JohnGalt for the rest of the weekend and it stuck after that. My real name is Mike.

S •You've been a long-time user and supporter of myNoise. When did you first come across the platform?

JG • I first discovered myNoise back in 2016 when the site was still very young, and the community was inexistent. I was immediately struck by the high quality of the sounds and recordings, not to mention the range and diversity. After reading your bio, it all made sense to me why the quality was so high.

S • I'm blushing - haha. You have a strong background in the music industry.

JG • Absolutely. My past life consisted of 12 years in the music industry. I ran a booking agency, a record label, and promotion companies. I also DJ'd around the world before transitioning to production and releasing records. Here is a link to the releases that got on Spotify under the name Groovy & Prime (these are from 1999-2002).

S • Can you tell us how this background impacts your experience with myNoise?

I love the generators provided and utilise them regularly for passive listening as most do, however I come from a musical and creative background in piano and electronic music so when the new options came out for making your own generators I was pretty excited. So, I use myNoise mainly now as a creative outlet for me that allows me to combine, transpose and tweek stems when I don’t have time to play in the studio or set up my equipment. The quality of your work to me seems to have only gotten better through the years and he continues to diversify and I hope will expand out with even more diverse experiments in the future.

S • I'm always striving to improve, and to be honest, some of my early works on myNoise are hard for me to listen to now. However, removing them would disappoint users who depend on those sounds for sleep or focus. As for what's next, branching out into new soundscapes is crucial. Doing more of what's already on the site won't add value. I love pushing the boundaries of what I can create. So, I hope to keep surprising you in a good way.

Returning to our discussion, I am intimately familiar with the contents of my project, yet you have managed to surprise me on numerous occasions. Your composite generators are fascinating. Some of them are so impressive that I found myself compelled to feature some of your creations on the main index page. We have Inspirational Morning, which caught me off guard with your choice of sounds. It's incredibly soothing and constantly evolving, merging acoustic sources with synthesizer sounds, a combination I personally tend not to favor. Then there's Passing Transition, which captivates me with its subtle rhythmic characteristics.

JG • After creating about a dozen custom generators, I began to wonder what more I could do with these sounds. Given the unique way myNoise operates, there must be more I could explore, especially with beats. So, I started experimenting with some of the drum-style generators available at that time and came up with some interesting creations, I think. These days, I often lean towards drum-based compositions, but it really depends on various factors and my mood at the time.

S • And then there is that thing in artistic duties, inspiration. When it isn't there, you may work as hard as possible, you will not get very far.

JG • I go through phases where I feel a burst of inspiration and can create new generators almost every day for a while. Then something changes, and I take a break before coming back again. My inspiration varies; sometimes it springs from my imagination, and I build a soundscape around that idea. Other times, it's the other way around—I'll hear a combination of sounds that resonate well, and I'll build from there, finding a name that suits the soundscape I've created.

S • Any tricks you use to come with fresh sounding combinations?

JG • I often use the transpose function, as it opens up a whole new world of possibilities, whether sped up or slowed down. The introduction of more percussion in some of the newer generators has also expanded my creativity. I encourage you to create even more of these and push the boundaries even further. Not just for the community but for my own creative endeavors too - haha.

S • One of the most challenging aspects I find, after developing so many sounds for the project, is coming up with generator names (laugh). And you?

JG • Usually, I have no problem coming up with a name, as I have learned over the years how to clear my mind of distractions and get into a zone when I need to. They come naturally. The trick is just the inspiration you mentioned earlier. I've found that forcing something, as with any creative process, no matter how big or small, or whatever it is in the context of, is a failed mission.

I have approached things in many different ways through the years, such as one-offs, opposites, and even series of generators with a theme, such as the Taiko Drum series that represents an imaginary character in different worlds, scenarios, and moods (e.g. Taiko's Acid House). One of my favorites to create, which literally rolled out of my imagination one day after another, was the Chakra series (e.g. Root Chakra).

S • Let's end this interview by thanking you for being such a dedicated and prolific contributor to the community. I look forward to seeing where your imagination and skill will take us in the future!

JG • When I started, I never really had an intention of achieving anything; I was just excited to have my creative and imaginative fix fulfilled. I see now that I have been able to contribute over 100 generators to the community and have an endless supply of fulfillment as long as you keep gifting us with these great sounds and composites.

S • Rest assured, more sounds are on the way!

If you too have something to tell about myNoise, contact me - Stephane - to arrange a brief talk.