Peering into "Allow" with Robot Koch

InterviewsWritten by Daniel Aagentah on

Robot Koch is an award-winning artist and composer renowned for his innovative fusion of electronic and ambient music, with science and spirituality. His latest release, Allow, delves into this very essence; serving as a soundtrack for inner journeys, integrating practices like meditation and breathwork to facilitate personal transformation.

This release represents what's possible in the realms of creativity, as a notion to emergence in left-field music.

Today, I am delighted to discuss with Robot the inspiration behind this album, and the creative processes that brought it to fruition.

Hello Robot, it's a pleasure to do this. Could you share what inspired you to create this album?

The inspiration for this album was a desire to create a soundtrack for inner journeys—an invitation for people to look inward rather than outside of themselves. I wanted to explore the kind of music that supports introspection, healing, and grounding, whether in meditation, immersive deep listening, or any personal journey someone might take.

I see music as medicine. It’s a way to connect with emotions, process experiences, and find balance. Creating and listening to music helps me access parts of myself that words alone can’t reach. Music bypasses the logical mind, allowing me to access things beyond the rational mind more deeply.

I am also fascinated by way sound affects the body, how certain frequencies and resonances can evoke calm, release tension, or even create a sense of grounding. In my own work, I try to explore those subtle impacts, hoping the music might offer that same grounding to listeners.

Nice. Could you share a little more on the embodiment here? Have you been involved with any practices during this project?

Absolutely. Embodiment is at the core of this project. Practices like meditation and breathwork, and even psychedelic journeys, which I’ve explored myself, influenced a lot of the album's textures and pacing. These sessions helped me tune into my body and connect with the music on a more physical level. I wanted listeners to have that same experience—a sense of presence that’s felt in the body rather than just perceived by the mind.

And regarding your collaboration with the vocalists and instrumentalists on this album; how did these come to fruition?

Each collaboration was very organic. I wanted to work with artists who shared my vision of music as a inner journey. For instance, working with Kate Fleur Young brought such a delicate, ethereal quality to the tracks, she really embodies the idea of music as medicine. Everyone brought their own energy and insights, adding layers to the music that felt essential to the album’s themes.

I saw "Ionosphere" was based on the Schumann Resonance, relating to Earth's electromagnetic field. What drew you to incorporate scientific phenomena into your compositions?

The Schumann Resonance, often called “Earth’s heartbeat,” is a set of natural electromagnetic frequencies generated by lightning strikes within Earth’s atmosphere. The primary resonance occurs around 7.83 Hz, which aligns with alpha brainwave frequencies, commonly associated with relaxation, reduced stress, and a meditative state.

I met geoscientist Stefan Burns in Costa Rica last year, where he deepened my fascination with the Schumann Resonance—a topic that had already sparked my interest. Together, we went down the rabbit hole, exploring how this natural frequency affects us and how it can be integrated into music to harness its positive effects on health and well-being.

There is another track on the album called Earth Resonance that is also based on the Schumann Resonance, this one features talented Norwegian artist Eirlys, who I collaborated with on for two album tracks.

That's fascinating.

Getting into some practical territory; What tools or gear are you using within your creative process?

It’s a mix of analog and digital. I use tapes, and analog synths to shape textures and sounds that feel more tactile, and I’m also very attached to field recordings. I work with Ableton for arranging but often integrate analog elements like tape delays to give things more warmth and unpredictable beauty.

How do you navigate blending electronic, ambient, and modern classical music within your craft?

For me, genres are like different languages—they’re all tools to express something. The electronic language gives me the freedom to explore soundscapes and textures, while the more ambient and classical-leaning influence brings depth and emotion. I try not to think of them as separate but rather as parts of a larger whole that can flow into each other seamlessly.

Would you encourage listeners to engage in deep listening and introspection?

I think we live in a time when it’s easy to consume music passively. For anyone willing, I’d suggest setting aside time to listen with intention, free of distraction, and letting the music unfold without expectations. The album is called Allow for a reason. I love the idea of music as a space for reflection, and just being fully present can turn listening into a deeper experience.

How do you see your exploration of the convergence between science and spirituality evolving in your future projects?

This is definitely an area I’m interested in delving deeper into. Sound has such powerful, often unexplored effects on our minds and bodies. I’m intrigued by the healing potential of specific frequencies and the ways they interact with our brainwaves. I want to further explore how these scientific principles can create transformative, immersive experiences in future projects.

I really enjoyed playing in London at the The Future is Sound Event at Alexandra Palace this October, it is a visionary immersive event series in London, part Ted Talk, part performance. They are pioneering new frontiers at the intersection of Music, Culture & Societal Impact. This is exactly the type of event I see myself drawn to with my work, so I'm grateful my music finds its way into these spaces.

Any artists (or maybe some up-comers) that are influencing you right now?

Absolutely! I have a Spotify playlist called Ambient Tape Loops, where I curate a selection of both new discoveries and timeless favorites. Recently, I had the pleasure of playing in Berlin with Meredi (Deutsche Grammophon) and Tara Nome Doyle (Fat Cat), two incredible artists to watch. I’m also a huge fan of Nala Sinephro’s work—there’s just so much inspiring music out there. The playlist is probably the best way to keep up with what I’m currently into, and I update it regularly.

I’d also recommend checking out Kate Fleur Young, Peia, Eirlys, Delhia de France, Savannah Jo Lack, and Daniela Mars—all of whom contributed to my album and are exceptional talents. And a big shout-out to Eileen Hall, who painted the artwork for the album and singles; her work is truly something special.

Thanks for sharing this with me today, it's been a pleasure.

Mission Statement

This project is crafted to be open and collaborative. Through this, we seek to explore core themes within a structured framework:

  • Symbiosis: Can artists and communities have better relations?
  • Meaning: What matters in pursuing and preserving artistic influences?
  • Intersectivity: Are there chartable commonalities within art and technology?

By asking questions, we hope to observe something new; and with that, offer our own perspective.

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