How are you? Who is Max Corbacho? How did you become an ambient artist?
Max Corbacho is simply a human being. The question of who I am is the fundamental question of our life. We are here to remember who we are. So, I’m on it! My relationship with ambient music, began when I heard the great pioneers in the genre such as Steve Roach, Robert Rich and Vidna Obmana., among others.
How is music important in your life?
Music is a form of expression closer to me. In fact any artistic expression, it is. However, the music contains the essence of all and above all, has the ability to introduce us to the great and ineffable mystery of our existence as any other.
Your music induces very spiritual experiences. What emotions do you want to share with your music?
I would like to convey the feeling that everything is within us. The entire universe is hidden deep in there. Often we spend our lives complaining about everything that happens in the world but nobody want to change anything in ourselves. Is the approach we have followed since man is man. Changing everything around us. But we continue like 40,000 years ago. We have gone through thousands of revolutions, wars and conflicts. But we continue like 40,000 years ago. Change, first, ourselves. It is the key. If you change, the world changes. There is only one revolution possible, the Individual Revolution. The world is a reflection of ourselves.
I hope in the emergence of a new global consciousness from the belief that all, are one. Everything is connected.
Where do you get inspiration? Which artists did influence your music?
The inspiration is so volatile that it is difficult to answer this question. Sometimes you must, stay one night in the desert to find it, climb a mountain, and others, comes as you wash the dishes. The question is, why come to us when we are in the desert one night? Well, because at that time, we are ourselves, with nothing, free from the tyranny of our thoughts (which, coincidentally, always refer to past or future, ever, to present). It is in the absence of such a tyranny that we are ourselves. And we are free to create. We must remain at the present moment, minute by minute. The inspiration will be with us. Climbing a mountain or doing the dishes.
There are many artists that influence my music. But fundamentally, on the classical side, Bach, Debussy, Stravinsky and all symphonists of the 20th century.
In the field of jazz, of course Miles Davis, and all masters of the genre.
In electronic music, the great German pioneers, Klaus Shulze, Tangerine Dream, and in the ambient – space music, Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Vidna Obmana and Michael Stearns.
Let´s take a look on your music. You´ve released 9 albums. Which one do you like most? Which one is most important for you and why?
Well, to be honest, I think the work that has made me reach a large number of fans, is «The Talisman». I think not because it is better or worse than others but because, somehow, was an album that all my listeners were waiting, and hit an incredible way with the public.
Recently, your new album Ars Lucis was released. Together with it, your two older albums The Resonant Memory Of Earth and BreathStream were rereleased on CD. Can you tell us shortly about each one of your re-release?
Yes, BreathStream first was released as a digital download-only delivery, at full CD quality through Musiczeit. But during one year, I received many emails from listeners who, I confess, like me, love the physical format, and complaining about the inability to achieve BreathStream on CD. That claim made me decide to edit them in CD format.
And on «The Resonant Memory of Earth», is one of my old works in Space for Music and out of stock. He continued to have high demand, so, too, have made a reissue on our label, ad21music. This time, remastered in 24 bit and with some changes to the artwork.
What is your relationship to eastern spiritual techniques like yoga or meditation in it´s many variants?
Yes, for years I practice yoga and meditation. Thousands of years ago that this knowledge is there, as the only way to free ourselves from our ego, and get to be ourselves. I am an avid reader of Eastern philosophies, but do not stay in the simple reading, because they are only the finger pointing to the moon, not the moon. To make this wisdom, penetrate within, we must practice.
Which synthetizers do you prefer? Do you like pure analog sound, or do you use also digital and software tools and instruments?
I confess that I never had an analog synthesizer. But yes, I have one of that called Analog Modeling, for example, my Korg Z1. I’ve never been an analog purist, I do not like fundamentalism. Surely if ever falls into my hands on a Yamaha CS80 will not say No! I love them! but has not given the opportunity and, frankly, I know friends who have sold them because they are not easy to maintain. My current setup consists of:
- – Korg Triton Extreme
- – Korg Triton (Classic)
- – Korg Z1 expanded
- – Novation Supernova
- – Soundcraft Mixer
- – Lexicon PCM 80 reverb
And an assortment of software sequencers and plug-ins. Most of my music is based on my hardware synths. Although I’ve tried, I could not get comfortable with software synthesizers. I’m an old man!
What are your future plans?
Always continue creating music. It is my vehicle of life. I hope to have this opportunity for very long time. Currently collects new techniques in composition, harmony, and at the level of editing sounds on synthesizers, samplers, etc. Always investigate before starting a new project. I like to offer new things, but always in my style.