Originality in music. Tune your ears for new music

In Facebook someone was wonder howcome my music sounds as original as it does. He asked me to share what kind of music do I listen, where it all comes from ?

“hey man since you are so humble and honestly one of my three favorite musician (of course the first one I try to use your Consultation to learn new thing from you in order to became great some day and I ask you If you became tired of my questioning frankly say it and your help will be always appreciated . You know another question in my mind is that your music is completely a new thing and different from others I mean the taste of that is completely something new ! how have reach them ? by listening to what?!”
B.S.

I don’t think my music is that new. We are all mostly just combining old elements into our soups. I find if important that I try to put in elements that not everyone is doing. I don’t see point repeating the same song somebody else is already doing. I cannot give you a list of all the things I’ve been listening. I do like to listen to what all the instrumental rock guitarist are doing. But most of the time I enjoy listening to everything else. I’m always searching for new music where I can possibly give me some inspiration for new. 
Some of my biggest non guitar – or rock music inspirations for the last 20 years have been coming from Stravinsky (especially rite of spring, petruchka and firebird), Bartok, Zappa, Jan Johansson (folk melodies meets jazz piano) Bjork, Morricone… I love so many film and game soundtracks, ethnic world music. Hell I even love Beach Boys (Pet sounds and Smile era)!

Just the fact that you want to create something unique and not just repeat what everybody else is doing is the first thing. I try to approach the music writing more as if I’m building a world. I want to paint scenes and tell stories with music. The same laws that apply in visual art forms (painting, sculpture, books, film…) also work with music. It’s about drama, expression, shapes and forms, rhythm, light and shadow, contrasts… I didn’t really study music (except on my own), some of my biggest music revelations came from visual arts classes.

I also believe that our human personalities affect our music and playing a great deal. What kind of person you are in real life, can be heard in your music. Try to learn how to channel your emotions and feeling through your music. Then the music can become much deeper, personal.

I’d advise just to start tuning your ears open for anything that sounds inspirational to you. There’s always something to be learned from different music genres, aritists and styles. Now I got a feeling I’ve written about this before…

Creatures of the Midnight (aka Mr. Fastfinger Turns Mark Knopfler)

…Well, for a while maybe:) Happy to let you know that Mika wrote a guest column for Guitar9.com. It’s about mind game methods for creating the right solo for the song…

Go to Guitar9 for the whole story, transcription, audio and analysis on “Creatures of the Midnigt” solo.

Diamonds – pickups as frets