We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Macrofocus. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Macrofocus below.
Macrofocus, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
Response by Kevin Van Walk
Creativity is inherent in everyone regardless of background, social status, or other variables in personal orientation. As much has been written with scientific certainty regarding our neurological and biological responses to the creative process or humanity’s orientation to it, truly artistic individuals find never-ending avenues of inspiration in their creatio ex nihilo – creation out of nothing. We artists are always moving beyond the rationalism of the scientific realm and into existential territory with our need to express, explore, and decipher meaning in a world that is simultaneously beautiful and gut-wrenching in its pain and ugliness. If this sounds biblical or even theological, it most certainly embraces those disciplines as artists paint, compose, write, act, dance, film, and orient their very lives to embrace these most profound and often seemingly irrational and mysterious pursuits. Why do it? Even in a day and age where artists find it increasingly difficult to make a living, we continue creative pursuits because we realize there is a difference between visibility/fame and success. ‘Success’ is working in the creative realm because we have to, regardless of the marketable or rational outcome. There is no choice; the great Miles Davis called it “a divine curse.” Although we can be accused of being mere dilettantes, these pursuits are not simply hobbies or trivial pastimes. Creativity is kept alive because it is an integral part of our DNA literally defining our lives. At the risk of hyperbole, to ignore this impulse is to deny our very personhood.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Macrofocus is an alternative pop/rock band that was founded by Chris Rorrer (guitar/vocals/cello/keyboard) and Kevin Van Walk (percussion/vocals) in late 2013. While guest collaborators sometimes join on stage or in the studio, Macrofocus has enjoyed the artistic and logistical freedom of working as a group of two: writing, producing, and performing with a true love for the creative process and the friends and fans they meet along the way. The group took a hiatus from 2015 until last year, when Chris expressed to Kevin an eagerness to reignite the duo, resulting in several shows across Southern California and Oregon. The two have never taken each other’s friendship, support, almost telepathic musical intuition, or open-mindedness for granted, especially in an industry and world where dynamic relationships centered around trust and a shared faith can be very difficult to come by. Fans of Sting & The Police, John Mayer, Radiohead, The 1975, and even J.S. Bach and Ludwig Van Beethoven will gravitate toward Macrofocus’ music, finding it a fresh, melodic, and nimble take on a limitless variety of musical influences.
The band’s biography puts it in perspective: “Van Walk’s penchant for creating instinctual, improvisatory music provides a balancing act to Rorrer’s more structured and demanding compositions resulting in music both familiar, dangerous, and sonically exploratory; singer-songwriter narratives meeting prog rock structures with heavy rock intensity.” Their goal is to enrich lives with memorable energetic performances that uplift, inspire, and challenge the audience to think big and show up to life with renewed strength and compassion. 2024 is looking up for the band, with a televised performance with Oregon State University in March, plans to record a full album at Lost Art Studios in remote Lane County, Oregon, as well as masterclass and festival dates throughout the West Coast in Spring and Summer.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Response by Chris Rorrer
I would like to share the artistic, relational, and technical skills and mindsets that have been imperative to my journey.
To cultivate one’s artistry, one must start by finding what their calling is – the purpose driving their work. I don’t believe we choose our passions. Instead, they are already within us and will petition for our awareness. I surmise that many readers (myself included) have had the experience of ignoring this and studying or pursuing something counter to what truly gives them joy. The good news is there is no wasted time as long as we are listening. The experiences we go through in life help us to more finely calibrate our compass to where we want to end up. Take note of jobs you’ve enjoyed, hobbies meaningful to you, and situations you’ve encountered where you’ve felt you can most be of service. Take a temperature reading of how well you will be appreciated (and compensated) in return. Note that not all worthy pursuits pay money. Some pay you back with valuable skill-building and connections. Perhaps before starting your own business or going completely freelance (like I have), build up your resume at places where you don’t have to run the show but can make valuable contributions. Once you’ve found the artistic endeavor(s) that bring you into a focused, flow state through which you can make the world a better place, stick with it! Learn and experience as much as you can.
Next is the art of relationships. For our craft to take on its full expression, it has to be shared, and in many cases created, with others. Be sure to spend time with the people in your life who truly support you, and bless them in return. I have needed the encouragement of friends and family with whom I don’t have to prove or question my worth. A bit more counterintuitively, wish well the people who don’t want the best for you, or who treat you poorly. They likely really need the thoughts and prayers. Then create a boundary around how much time or in what capacity (if any) you will associate with them. You can never have too many good people in your life. I highly recommend having an open mind to network and form new relationships while simultaneously discerning the people you keep in your life. Make friends with people from different walks of life, political views, and creative tastes. It’s often remarkable how much more in common we have with people than we think when we take our “masks” off. Think and act with the long term in mind, but don’t lose hope when life doesn’t unfold exactly as planned. Find people with complementary skillsets to yours whom you can work with and create something where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Reach out to potential colleagues or mentors, and ask insightful questions. Become a fair, knowledgeable, and confident leader who can take multiple perspectives into account and put yourself in other’s shoes. Think about the kind of lifestyle you want to lead, take stock of what you value, and develop a consistent support system.
Once you know where you want your journey to take you, and the qualities of the people you want to go there with, refining your technical skills is paramount. The specifics depend on your field and the creation visions you have. In today’s music business, for example, this amounts to mastering your instrument(s), figuring out the gear, software, and workflows to create quality live shows and recordings, content creation, marketing, and effective negotiation. It can feel overwhelming. There is an equally staggering breadth of knowledge on all of the above available at your fingertips to sort through. Proceed at a sustainable pace and learn the skills you need to connect the dots between where you are now and where you want to go. Remember, you don’t need to be an expert at everything, perfectionism can keep you boxed in. Besides, your audience wants the real you. It’s completely okay, and in some cases even better, to make your living doing work unrelated to your artistic path. Figure out what works best for you, but don’t take everything on alone. If a certain skill is stumping you, find a mentor who can assist and encourage you. Lastly, always take some time to honor your journey as the dedicated artist you are, embracing the creativity that makes you leap out of bed in the morning.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Response By Kevin Van Walk
As a creative person or an ‘artist,’ I would rather focus on my creative philosophies and strengths as they currently exist. Pushing myself into other areas of weakness in order to become more “well-rounded” and skilled will only compromise the progressive trajectory of my current abilities and successful aptitudes which have taken a lifetime to develop in their own right. The creative realm and our abilities as musicians are all about aptitude and a genetic disposition to pursue these areas as they naturally occur independent of musical formality or extensive training. I’ve always found the creation of art or sound is best realized from deep within, transcending formulations, rules, or adhering to strict practice regimens. Though my early musical education was elementary at best, trusting internal abilities provides the best outcome for truly dynamic and interesting art. One cannot teach creativity or sonic innovation; that is an instinctual and deeply personal development from within. I could learn to be a better music chart reader, timekeeper, and master of ever-evolving and more complex drum rudiments. These pursuits however are purely mechanical and not artistic. I would argue that my internal interest in music, sound, and most importantly, the creative process is what has driven me to contribute to a vast array of music, albums, tours, and relationships through the years. These diverse experiences all came courtesy of focusing on my existing abilities and interests, not pressuring myself into new territories or disciplines where I lack sincere and engaged enthusiasm. As I’ve always said, you can’t be committed to everything, because then you’re committed to nothing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.MacrofocusBand.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/MacrofocusBand
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/MacrofocusBand/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@MacrofocusBand
- SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/macrofocus
- Other: Bandcamp: macrofocus.bandcamp.com
Image Credits
Jemima Van Walk
