tomgromak.com — Writing and music from Tom Gromak — on technology, creativity, and figuring things out as I go.

When I release a piece of music, I consider making the video for it to be just as interesting and worthwhile as the audio. We’ve come a long way from my original experiments with analog video synthesizers, and lately I’ve been busy constructing a new music video “studio” inside my computer. It’s unlocked something unexpected in me: pure joy. It’s like an infinite Lego set, and it’s become one of the most creatively fulfilling things I’ve ever done.

Back in 2023 I was trying to learn how to use my amazing new sequencer, the OXI One (there’s a newer Mk II out now). There’s so much you can do with it, and it’s tons of fun to play with, so I set up a track that included sequenced drums, bass, synths, and some sample triggers. I was inspired by old Cabaret Voltaire and Berlin School electronic vibes, and for the first time ever, I wanted to control everything live. It was exhilarating, but also terrifying, and this cut is my favorite take.

I’ve started making music regularly again, for the first time in years. Before I would sit down and noodle, creating snippets and lots of eight-bar loops, but none of it resulted in a start-to-finish track. I simply could not figure out how to get past a mental block that kept me from finishing, and then I’d get angry with myself and give up in disgust or move on to the next shiny object.

I have a wonderful new group of eighth graders in my Tech Projects class, and they’ve been hard at work brainstorming ideas, narrowing them down, doing research, and finally picking their best one. At that point, I have them create a project proposal that asks them to step back and think about various aspects of their idea, even though they want to dive in immediately. This isn’t easy, and it doesn’t come naturally.

Last week, I got an email from an ed tech company inviting me to a conference that included speakers, a fancy dinner, and ways to explore their products in detail. I get these all the time. I usually don’t click through, but I did in this case and looked at the product. It was an AI-powered graphic organizer for students that had plenty of other things clamped onto it, nothing special.