micro/Maker by Loose Leaf Transmissions

Vanessa Ague shares how her listening habits shifted in high school — from an early contrarian love for classical music to discovering Radiohead’s Kid A and Amnesiac . What started with burned CDs and record store finds led to a broader embrace of experimental rock, and a deeper appreciation of sound’s emotional range. micro/Maker episodes release every Tuesday and Friday! Listen to music/Maker wi...

Sean Hamilton shares the core philosophies that guide his music-making: a timbral approach shaped by Helmut Lachenmann, a fluid rhythmic sensibility influenced by Stuart Saunders Smith, and an immersive spatial awareness inspired by Morton Feldman. In this excerpt, Sean walks Tyler through how these principles inform his hybrid setups, his electronic processing, and even the contents of his “suitc...

Mahdis Golzar Kashani shares how stories, feelings, and visual imagination are central to her creative process. In this excerpt, she discusses how she approaches composition almost like film scoring—following imagined scenes and emotions as if directing a film in her mind. Kashani explains how personal memories, visual imagery, and narrative depth fuel her music and create a vivid sense of storyte...

Composer Daijana Wallace reflects on the complicated realities of increased visibility following 2020, sharing how questions of identity, recognition, and artistic worth shaped her creative path. She and host Tyler Kline talk about balancing opportunity with authenticity, processing the emotional layers of that period, and ultimately emerging with a stronger sense of artistic confidence. micro/Mak...

Carlynn Crosby shares why historical context, cultural awareness, and empathy are essential to her creative practice—and how these values are becoming harder to hold onto in an increasingly distracted and polarized world. She and Tyler talk about what it means to be a steward of the future, how technology can erode our sense of connection, and why writing with care is a radical act of preservation...

Joshua Mallard shares how his journey from wanting to be a chemical engineer to landing on a desire to be a full-time musician was guided by a practical mindset and an openness to multiple creative paths. In this excerpt, he reflects on the generational shift in how composers define their identity, the value of being a “chameleon,” and how exploring adjacent fields like radio, game, or film music...

Phong Tran shares how architecture and emotion form the foundation of his creative process. He walks Tyler through the feedback loop he uses — moving between improvisation, sketching, and reduction — to capture the emotional essence of an idea and translate it across media. micro/Maker episodes release every Tuesday and Friday! Listen to music/Maker with Tyler Kline wherever you get podcasts, or a...

Ania Vu describes how personal hardship shaped her relationship with time and led her to create works that resist its forward motion. She shares how those moments became a turning point in her practice — and how sounds of the natural world, poetic time structures, and bell-like pacing became expressive tools in her musical language. micro/Maker episodes release every Tuesday and Friday! Listen to...

Roger Zare shares how hearing Stravinsky’s Firebird live reignited his love for orchestral sound and sparked an early creative outpouring. He reflects on the excitement of writing for large ensembles and how those formative experiences shaped his approach to texture and musical color. micro/Maker episodes release every Tuesday and Friday! Listen to music/Maker with Tyler Kline wherever you get pod...

Shelley Washington reflects on the pivotal leap she made when deciding to pursue a master's in composition — after a year of soul-searching, unconventional jobs, and weighing big financial risks. Encouraged by mentors and driven by passion, she embraced the unknown and built a new creative life in New York City. micro/Maker episodes release every Tuesday and Friday! Listen to music/Maker with Tyle...

Vanessa Ague reflects on the importance of curiosity in music criticism — especially when tempted by the visibility of writing about what's popular. She shares how thoughtful listening, genuine inquiry, and the willingness to explore beyond the mainstream have helped her develop a more honest and personal perspective as a writer. micro/Maker episodes release every Tuesday and Friday! Listen to mus...

Baljinder Sekhon unpacks how expectations shape our sense of musical “truth” — and how stepping outside of those expectations can lead to deeper listening and creativity. He shares how a performance of Morton Feldman's Rothko Chapel became a defining moment of surprise, and why remaining open to sound—no matter how unfamiliar—can help us stay curious and engaged as artists. micro/Maker episodes re...

micro/Maker is a podcast of short, unfiltered moments from longform conversations with composers and other artists. These bite-sized episodes offer glimpses into the creative process — exploring ideas around craft, inspiration, philosophy, and the often messy realities of making art. If you’re a creator, or just curious about how artists think and work, subscribe and come along for the ride. Episo...