Exploring Personal Spectres in Electronic Music

Abstract

In keeping with Derrida’s concept from Specters of Marx, this study reconceptualises hauntological approaches in electronic music composition. Although hauntology has stimulated interest in a variety of artistic disciplines previously, including music (see for example Schofield 2019), this research presents an alternative approach to engage with hauntological themes. It accomplishes this by presenting a portfolio of unique musical compositions that examine how the creative process is influenced by the ghosts of personal connections and influences. The portfolio emphasises how the creative process components serve as auditory signifiers that summon ghosts from the past, generating layers of meaning and exhibiting a positive interaction with nostalgia. These approaches aim to broaden and deepen our understanding of how Derrida's spectres are expressed in electronic music production, highlighting existing practice and offering current and prospective musicians a different creative process methodology that allows them to connect more deeply and profoundly with the music they make.