Getting to know Hidden Sky

Hidden Sky is the ambient solo project of Carlin McLellan, a Newcastle-based composer, music therapist and one half of dream-pop duo Moonsign. We asked him to tell us more:

I am… Carlin McLellan, a composer, registered music therapist, and music technologist. 

Unsurpassed Miracle Beauty is… the fourth and final in a series of works which explore the idea of purposely disrupting the listener’s ability to detect rhythm, structure or any sense of predictability. It is my hope that by interrupting the brain’s tendency of trying to analyse and interpret everything we see and hear, the music will be felt and considered more deeply and truly. 

I’ve approached this ‘disruption’ in the gentlest possible way – it’s an invitation to dissolve away from this straining to understand.. replacing that with Quiet Surrender. 

Home is… Sitting in front of the piano, playing something simple and hearing each note. 

I live in Newcastle (Mulubinba), Australia. But my heart is disloyal… New York, Manila, Helsinki all call my name. 

I spend too much time… Thinking about what other people might think. I hope that by creating music in which I allow the songs be whatever they want to be, I can reflect that good feeling back to myself and others. 

I’ve never… Not loved a good game of Never Have I Ever.

It might surprise people to learn that… I’m a big fan of highly produced pop bangers. One of my favourite songs of all time is Justin Bieber’s Beauty And A Beat – it makes me so happy! 

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Download Unsurpassed Miracle Beauty at Bandcamp.

Interview by Mitch Elliott.