JOHN SCOTT SHEPHERD – My joys in Music Electronica
1. How did you become interested in science?
I always had a love and strong interest in electricity to start. Later on I leaned electrical devices and how they function and from there on to electronics when I was 16.
2. Do you hold any university degree related to science ?
No.
3. How did you decide to send music into outer space?
I have been a fan of classic science-fiction shows like “The Outer Limits” and “The Twilight Zone”. The idea came to me after watching the early TV series “The Outer Limits” and the pilot episode: “The Galaxy Being”. I could never shake off the impression that the pilot episode made on me. In 1972 at an age of 21, I set about designing and constructing electronic equipment to launch a private search for extraterrestrial intelligence. My first set-up, built as an ultra-low frequency radio transmitter, soon expanded to fill over 100 square metres of my grandparent’s home. I also assigned an acronym: Project S.T.R.A.T. Special Telemetry Research And Tracking to the operation.
4. What type of gear did you use for reaching the outer space?
I built most all of my own equipment and transmitters from scratch and or surplus. There were systems that would be similar to what a powerful radio station would use except that the freq. was in the U.L.F. bands between 40 & 24,000 Hertz. The transmitter consisted of a two story tall array of voltage amplifiers with large transformers and capacitor banks used to step up the audio signal to between 60,000 & 150,000 volts.
5. Do you remember the playlist of the songs that you used to reach into outer space?
Yes. I have a copy or two of some of them left. The music was broad in the sense that there was jazz, ambient, space, and even rock & roll along with world music. Some reggae music as well.
6. Netflix recently broadcasted a documentary about your research which is called “John Was Trying to Contact Aliens”, did you enjoy it and are there any important scenes that never reached the final version of the documentary?
Yes I did enjoy the documentary a lot. It is a bit of a tear jerker in a powerful way yet it details my life story
in a short 16 min. film. If there was something that should have been in it, it would be some of the friends and family that were supportive of my many creative efforts over all of those years.
7. Is this project still active, and do you have any other scientific projects that are still in progress?
The project ran out of money back in the 90s and has not been in operation since, although some of the equipment is being used in the production of electronic sound effects and music today. I am also persuing new energy sources for a better future. I vigilantly watch what research is going on in the field of LENR and other cutting edge sciences.
8. How do you approach a research issue from a methodological point of view?
My methods are analytical, logical and scientific in nature. I employ the scientific method, often using the process of elimantion. Sometimes I go a little further and ask others in my field for their view.
9. How does science relate to music from your own perspective?
Science & Music both employ mathamatics and patterns. They are both involved disciplines that offer insight into the world and universe around us.
10. How did you start your career in music, and what is your current discography?
My career in music started with the documentary and the Covid crisis, although I have been involved in music for most of my life. I played with signal generators and electronic sound effects and using nature sounds in recording since I was in my 20s. My discography includes 3 albums one titled: “Realms Beyond” on the Cyclical Dreams label and 2 full length self published albums along with 57 singles on Bandcamp
https://johnscottshepherd.bandcamp.com/music
11. Do you use any scientific gear for your recordings?
Yes I do. I use sinewave osscilators along with analog ossciloscpes and other electronic instruments for creation of and the visual realization of sonic paterns in music creation and recording.
12. Do you think that you can approach space through music?
Most certainly. For me space is the inspiration for my music and the visions I have of space and other worldly places are part of what makes my music so meaningful for me.
13. Are you familiar with the philosophical concept of musica universalis/ “music of the spheres” by the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras?
Yes. It is one of the elements of what has inspired my musical creativity and I desire to communicate that with fellow beings of earth and any others out in the cosmos.
14. Please let us know about your latest music effort and your next plans.
I am ever expanding my horizons in music creation. Looking to nature & the depths of the cosmos for deeper inspiration and ideas. I recently had a release published on the Cyclical Dreams record label titled: “Realms Beyond”. I am now working on my third self published album on Bandcamp for release in 2022 titled: “The Beautiful And The Strange”. Hope to start on my fourth soon. My music flows like a river and my mind seeks out the exploration of new musical concepts far into the future.
Copyright of the images by JOHN SCOTT SHEPHERD.
