This research adopts a practice-based methodology to address the research question. Between February 2024 and June 2025, I began recording extended solo improvisation sessions in which I explored various sonic parameters of my pedalboard setup (a topic discussed in greater detail in the chapter Choosing the Medium), with a particular focus on a pedal known for its creative range — the Habit by Chase Bliss.

The aim of these sessions was to free myself from specific languages or stylistic constraints, and instead return to a way of playing that embraced surprise and curiosity — to rediscover the pleasure of listening to myself play without prejudice or preconceived structures.

After collecting a significant amount of raw material, I entered a second phase of careful listening and selection, identifying the moments that stood out sonically, technically, or for their creative potential. Once I had captured the essence of my spontaneous creativity, the next step was to give it form and structure — to translate it into something concrete through the definition of specific musical and technical parameters, accompanied by visual elements that, in my view, enriched the interpretation of the work.

This transition allowed me to move beyond a purely extractive phase and begin producing fully formed musical material. As we will see, this material later adapted itself to very different formats and contexts.

About the Documentation

The material collected was initially documented in a research diary (both physical and digital), then organized into audio files, video recordings, and interviews, all of which are included in this research. While the raw materials were shared and discussed with my research supervisor and peers, the final musical outputs were presented to a broader colleagues audience who were not made aware of the research framework behind them.

This was a deliberate choice. I felt a strong need to protect the developing nature of my methodology from external judgment or critique, especially as the process was still in its formative and exploratory stage. If I had presented these early ideas explicitly as the foundation of the work, I might have encountered confusion or doubts that could have compromised the integrity of the process. Preserving a certain degree of privacy allowed me to stay focused and confident while the methodology was still evolving. Part of the research itself it's founding way to express these personal concepts to colleagues, professors and audiences.