We recently connected with Malcolm Jackson and have shared our conversation below.

Malcolm, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on so far is my most recent album, Recollections. This album connects many aspects and experiences into a body of work that acknowledges the past, showcases the present, and a look towards the future.

Most of the compositions that are on the album were written during my high school years at HSPVA. I was able to recall the fond memories, the aspirations that I had, and the importance of being involved and having long lasting connections with my peers. My memories of my time at PVA developed a concept of how I would approach and live life; to be able to enjoy and appreciate the experiences that I encounter and welcoming uncertainties that would give me a different perspective while remaining rooted in myself. And by being rooted in myself, the aspirations that I have are set in the mindset of welcoming others to my experience of life, using the creative nature of music that I gravitate towards as the medium of expression. Through this creative nature, I have been able to meet, perform, build, and collaborate with musicians and artists of various mediums to showcase my experiences and the journey that I set upon thus far. Of the experiences and connections that I’ve had so far, one of the more surprising and welcoming outcomes is the people that I have reconnected with because of my approach and how I was able to leave a lasting memory. Because of that, I’ve been inspired to continue to leave an impact on others by servicing my fellow alums and to work with the current students at HSPVA as a member of the HSPVA Black Alumni Network.
This return to the place where I began to develop full concepts and ideas for my future and how I can continue that path. With this recent album, that becomes another connection to how it reaffirms my aspirations makes this project much more meaningful.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

So, I am Malcolm Jackson, a percussionist, composer, producer, and educator. My start in this musical journey began from the exposure of music from my family and environment, being able to experience the vastness of music, which structured my focus on what direction I wanted to take to pursue music as a career. The experience of formal music education and the inspiration from my friends, peers, instructors, and the inquisitive nature of wanting to experiment with concepts of music, led me to become the musical individual that is here today.

As a percussionist, I am grateful to perform and record with various groups, artists, and musicians of different areas and genres. As a composer and producer, most of my works are for percussion, whether that is recording or performing, though I also enjoy writing for other instrumentation, ensembles and creating new sounds. The creativeness of the works I write stems from various experiences and experimentation of sounds where the goal is to evoke enjoyment first and foremost, as well as presenting a different perspective and thought for the audience and listener. As an educator, the main goal I have is to expose the students to different concepts of music, while ensuring that they are able to develop and progress in their musical aspirations.

I am most proud of the accomplishments that I’ve made so far and how I can continue to create and enjoy myself through it all. The main thing that I want everyone to know and understand about me is that my goal is for you to enjoy yourself when you experience what I present. I want you to have a moment of joy and thoughtfulness when you listen to a recording or view a performance of mine.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

One thing that society can do to best support the creative ecosystem and everyone that is in it is to experience and enjoy our craft. As artists and creatives, we put our uniqueness, our specialty, our quirk out to the world. We as artists have an understanding that our creations may not be susceptible for everyone, but can still resonate with someone and pique their interest. We as creatives and artists are the tools to fill the blank canvas with something worth showcasing. So, if society can remove unwarranted critiques, outside influences pressured upon them and enjoy the creativity that appeals to them, that would certainly support the creative ecosystem.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the process. The process essentially determines everything for the artist. For me, it gives a realistic view of how I work, how I manage, how I handle mental and physical blocks, my resourcefulness, and my dedication to the craft. While there are projects that we have and perceive as end goals for that specific concept or idea, they are ultimately just place markers towards our life’s body of work, meaning that it is a continuous process that we do. I better understand myself during the process, noticing the changes that have occurred and how the approach is different from previous processes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mpinfinite.com
• Instagram: @mpinfinite
• Facebook: @mpinfinite
• Twitter: @mpinfinite
• Youtube: @mpinfinite
• Soundcloud: @mpinfinite
• Other: https://mpinfinite.bandcamp.com

Image Credits

Malcolm Jackson, Richard (W3alth) Robinson, Terrence Turner