Chris Krycho Music
@music.chriskrycho.com
A working composer in the contemporary classical and neo-romantic idioms. https://chriskrycho.music
Quite surprised to hear that Native Instruments is insolvent. The private equity acquisition doesn’t seem to have gone well. The centralization (acquiring iZotope, etc.) was bad, too. I’d really love to see us get out of this cycle! But it’s obviously going to be a messy few years ahead /w LLMs etc.
January 28, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Quite surprised to hear that Native Instruments is insolvent. The private equity acquisition doesn’t seem to have gone well. The centralization (acquiring iZotope, etc.) was bad, too. I’d really love to see us get out of this cycle! But it’s obviously going to be a messy few years ahead /w LLMs etc.
Listening to the (mockup of the) whole of my in-progress #symphony as it stands today while doing day job work, and… yeah, it definitely needs the revisions I’ve mentioned I’m doing, but I *really* like it.
Which, I should, right? But it’s not a given.
Long way to go, but good so far. Onward. 🚀 🎼
Which, I should, right? But it’s not a given.
Long way to go, but good so far. Onward. 🚀 🎼
January 23, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Listening to the (mockup of the) whole of my in-progress #symphony as it stands today while doing day job work, and… yeah, it definitely needs the revisions I’ve mentioned I’m doing, but I *really* like it.
Which, I should, right? But it’s not a given.
Long way to go, but good so far. Onward. 🚀 🎼
Which, I should, right? But it’s not a given.
Long way to go, but good so far. Onward. 🚀 🎼
Once I finish this revision pass, it’ll be time to dig into Mvt. IV and see if I can get a draft of that across the line this year!
As usual, I also plan to try to write (and hopefully record and release) at least one other piece this year. Don’t yet know what, though!
As usual, I also plan to try to write (and hopefully record and release) at least one other piece this year. Don’t yet know what, though!
January 22, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Once I finish this revision pass, it’ll be time to dig into Mvt. IV and see if I can get a draft of that across the line this year!
As usual, I also plan to try to write (and hopefully record and release) at least one other piece this year. Don’t yet know what, though!
As usual, I also plan to try to write (and hopefully record and release) at least one other piece this year. Don’t yet know what, though!
Back at the steady work of revising the first three movements of my symphony. I did similar revision work on Mvt. I and II last year, but now that I have finished a draft of III and had some space, there’s a *little* that needs tweaking on I and a *lot* on II and III. #composing
January 22, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Back at the steady work of revising the first three movements of my symphony. I did similar revision work on Mvt. I and II last year, but now that I have finished a draft of III and had some space, there’s a *little* that needs tweaking on I and a *lot* on II and III. #composing
I’m on Team Bandcamp for many reasons, but this one definitely goes on the stack! stereogum.com/2485199/ban...
Bandcamp Bans AI Music
AI music has become a big problem on streaming services. Remember the AI-generated psych-rock band the Velvet Sundown and the AI-generated metalcore band Broken Avenue racking up streams on Spotify? Remember King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard getting replaced by an AI impersonator after leaving the platform? Spotify claimed it was cleaning up AI slop…
stereogum.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:18 PM
I’m on Team Bandcamp for many reasons, but this one definitely goes on the stack! stereogum.com/2485199/ban...
Snow day! So what I want to be doing is composing. What I will be doing… is annual and quarterly planning. Glad the snow finally showed up, though!
January 9, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Snow day! So what I want to be doing is composing. What I will be doing… is annual and quarterly planning. Glad the snow finally showed up, though!
Easing back into my normal composing routine after a few months disrupted by back and sciatic pain (herniated discs are bad! Do not recommend) yesterday and today by working on some revisions of the first movement of my symphony—long in mind, and a good way to get back into the rhythm of the work.
January 8, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Easing back into my normal composing routine after a few months disrupted by back and sciatic pain (herniated discs are bad! Do not recommend) yesterday and today by working on some revisions of the first movement of my symphony—long in mind, and a good way to get back into the rhythm of the work.
One of the things I want to do this year is listen carefully and thoughtfully through the entire oeuvre of a few composers whose work I really love, across the sweep of Western “classical” music. Initially under consideration: Tomás Luis de Victoria, J.S. Bach, Jean Sibelius, and Kevin Puts.
#music
#music
January 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
One of the things I want to do this year is listen carefully and thoughtfully through the entire oeuvre of a few composers whose work I really love, across the sweep of Western “classical” music. Initially under consideration: Tomás Luis de Victoria, J.S. Bach, Jean Sibelius, and Kevin Puts.
#music
#music
My end-of-year musical review—with a look at the numbers and also a bit of self-evaluation on what worked and what didn’t, especially my composing routine and my use of social media: newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/dec...
🎼 December 2025: How the Year Went
A nice deep dive into both the numbers and my goals and outcomes for the year.
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:23 PM
My end-of-year musical review—with a look at the numbers and also a bit of self-evaluation on what worked and what didn’t, especially my composing routine and my use of social media: newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/dec...
Hahaha yes. There are *still* albums in my library, my best efforst notwithstanding, that sort… *oddly*.
December 13, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Hahaha yes. There are *still* albums in my library, my best efforst notwithstanding, that sort… *oddly*.
The lesson, as always, is buy music from places that give a darn about music and artists. Sure isn’t these days. Was never Spotify. Choose Bandcamp or directly purchasing from the artist whenever you can: the artist makes more money and the source respects you a lot more (and no DRM!).
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
The lesson, as always, is buy music from places that give a darn about music and artists. Sure isn’t these days. Was never Spotify. Choose Bandcamp or directly purchasing from the artist whenever you can: the artist makes more money and the source respects you a lot more (and no DRM!).
We live in a world where downloading albums you have purchased from Apple Music doesn’t work consistently. You click the “Download All” button for the Albums or Songs not in your library and sometimes it does: nothing.
I miss the days when iTunes was *all about* your library of music.
I miss the days when iTunes was *all about* your library of music.
December 12, 2025 at 11:19 PM
We live in a world where downloading albums you have purchased from Apple Music doesn’t work consistently. You click the “Download All” button for the Albums or Songs not in your library and sometimes it does: nothing.
I miss the days when iTunes was *all about* your library of music.
I miss the days when iTunes was *all about* your library of music.
A few of us are thinking about how we might wrangle some conference room tables at Vanta’s annual in-person company kick-off in February… to play Fish Pong.
If you don’t know: github.com/fishpong/doc...
If you do know: references to lawnmowers were made yesterday, which is how we got here. 😂
If you don’t know: github.com/fishpong/doc...
If you do know: references to lawnmowers were made yesterday, which is how we got here. 😂
Primer
FIPP documents. Contribute to fishpong/docs development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
A few of us are thinking about how we might wrangle some conference room tables at Vanta’s annual in-person company kick-off in February… to play Fish Pong.
If you don’t know: github.com/fishpong/doc...
If you do know: references to lawnmowers were made yesterday, which is how we got here. 😂
If you don’t know: github.com/fishpong/doc...
If you do know: references to lawnmowers were made yesterday, which is how we got here. 😂
Publisher made very good choices by matching the typography on the cover to the by-now “standard” typography for Tolkien’s own published works.
Definitely let us know how this is! I’ve finally started digging through more biographical stuff on Tolkien this year, so this looks interesting!
Definitely let us know how this is! I’ve finally started digging through more biographical stuff on Tolkien this year, so this looks interesting!
December 5, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Publisher made very good choices by matching the typography on the cover to the by-now “standard” typography for Tolkien’s own published works.
Definitely let us know how this is! I’ve finally started digging through more biographical stuff on Tolkien this year, so this looks interesting!
Definitely let us know how this is! I’ve finally started digging through more biographical stuff on Tolkien this year, so this looks interesting!
And here’s the written essay version of this! newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/nove...
🎼 November 2025: Writing for Your Performers
On music and photography and listening and looking and singing and writing well.
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
And here’s the written essay version of this! newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/nove...
Here’s the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVZk...
Write for Your Performers
YouTube video by Chris Krycho
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Here’s the full video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVZk...
An excerpt from my latest video essay on musical composition… by way of talking about composition in photography, and teaching people to appreciate street photography!
(Full video linked in thread)
#music #composing #photography
(Full video linked in thread)
#music #composing #photography
December 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
An excerpt from my latest video essay on musical composition… by way of talking about composition in photography, and teaching people to appreciate street photography!
(Full video linked in thread)
#music #composing #photography
(Full video linked in thread)
#music #composing #photography
Translation: I spent a good ten minutes extremely frustrated while trying to do the second take of after the first one got completely screwed up in a *different* way. Video is hard. Really hard. 😂😭😅 youtu.be/dVZkAXRutEY
November 30, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Translation: I spent a good ten minutes extremely frustrated while trying to do the second take of after the first one got completely screwed up in a *different* way. Video is hard. Really hard. 😂😭😅 youtu.be/dVZkAXRutEY
Those new notes are: all on SoundCloud, because that’s what you do, right? Right. You can listen to them as a coherent tiny little piece here: soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/...
November 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Those new notes are: all on SoundCloud, because that’s what you do, right? Right. You can listen to them as a coherent tiny little piece here: soundcloud.com/chriskrycho/...
As usual, there’s also a video version of the essay in this newsletter: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVZk...
🎼 It features a few new notes, quite literally, in the form of a bit more actual music—both some music for illustration mid-video, and also new (ongoing) music for all the videos! 🎵
🎼 It features a few new notes, quite literally, in the form of a bit more actual music—both some music for illustration mid-video, and also new (ongoing) music for all the videos! 🎵
Write for Your Performers
YouTube video by Chris Krycho
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:50 PM
As usual, there’s also a video version of the essay in this newsletter: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVZk...
🎼 It features a few new notes, quite literally, in the form of a bit more actual music—both some music for illustration mid-video, and also new (ongoing) music for all the videos! 🎵
🎼 It features a few new notes, quite literally, in the form of a bit more actual music—both some music for illustration mid-video, and also new (ongoing) music for all the videos! 🎵
Also in this issue, some comments on:
• Brooke Fraser’s new live album
• The Mountain Goats’ new album (!)
• More Kevin Puts and Time for Three and Joyce DiDonato
…and why I didn’t write almost any music this month. 😩 But there is hope for December!
• Brooke Fraser’s new live album
• The Mountain Goats’ new album (!)
• More Kevin Puts and Time for Three and Joyce DiDonato
…and why I didn’t write almost any music this month. 😩 But there is hope for December!
November 29, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Also in this issue, some comments on:
• Brooke Fraser’s new live album
• The Mountain Goats’ new album (!)
• More Kevin Puts and Time for Three and Joyce DiDonato
…and why I didn’t write almost any music this month. 😩 But there is hope for December!
• Brooke Fraser’s new live album
• The Mountain Goats’ new album (!)
• More Kevin Puts and Time for Three and Joyce DiDonato
…and why I didn’t write almost any music this month. 😩 But there is hope for December!
Monthly music newsletter is out! This time: on (failing to?) writing for your performers with some reflections inspired by street photography?
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/nove...
Happy Thanksgiving—I’m grateful to those of you following along here and elsewhere and supporting my work!
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/nove...
Happy Thanksgiving—I’m grateful to those of you following along here and elsewhere and supporting my work!
🎼 November 2025: Writing for Your Performers
On music and photography and listening and looking and singing and writing well.
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Monthly music newsletter is out! This time: on (failing to?) writing for your performers with some reflections inspired by street photography?
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/nove...
Happy Thanksgiving—I’m grateful to those of you following along here and elsewhere and supporting my work!
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/nove...
Happy Thanksgiving—I’m grateful to those of you following along here and elsewhere and supporting my work!
At some point I’ll probably host the archives myself, with fully custom styles—but for now this is a nice improvement.
November 27, 2025 at 1:38 AM
At some point I’ll probably host the archives myself, with fully custom styles—but for now this is a nice improvement.
A small thing, but I took the time this afternoon to update the template for my music newsletter to use the typography from my music website. See newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/apri... for a good example!
🎼 April 2025: Instruments
Conveying an idea musically is challenging; doing it with multiple arrangements far more so… which makes it fun, of course. Also: Dorico 6 and Austin Wintory!
newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:38 AM
A small thing, but I took the time this afternoon to update the template for my music newsletter to use the typography from my music website. See newsletter.music.chriskrycho.com/archive/apri... for a good example!
Reposted by Chris Krycho Music
I’m back on Glass—it’s all @chrisfreeman.bsky.social’s fault—so I’ll be sharing photography semi-regularly from there. glass.photo/chriskrycho/... The social media previews are good but you’ll always want to click through (limits of the way every platform renders the social media tags)!
I’ve been experimenting off and on for the past few years with using Halide to shoot RAW photos in my iPhone and edit in Lightroom just like I would w…
Chris Krycho on Glass
glass.photo
November 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I’m back on Glass—it’s all @chrisfreeman.bsky.social’s fault—so I’ll be sharing photography semi-regularly from there. glass.photo/chriskrycho/... The social media previews are good but you’ll always want to click through (limits of the way every platform renders the social media tags)!