So these past couple of years I've been watching old reruns of The Joy of Painting, and it occured to me that a lot of the music I've been working on recently was constructed similar to the way Bob Ross paints: back to front, in layers, creating the illusion of depth.
The sounds are the colors; the notes are the shapes. I start out with my chosen palette of instruments and a blank canvas of time, with absolutely nothing sketched out or composed in advance. Then I start making big decisions right away, filling in the sonic background, working my way into the foreground, adding more or less detail and texture where I see fit. Hmm... Let's be bold and put a big ol' organ right here... This happy little synth figure needs a friend, let's give him one... Put some highlights on that rascal to really make it pop... Maybe a few echoes to add distance - tap lightly! Eventually the shapes and colors are blended just right. The mix is done! Let's sign this one and put it out.