One of the greatest privileges of being a musician is occasionally meeting the people who have inspired your own musical journey.
On 11 August 2023, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my musical heroes, the extraordinary Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch. More importantly, we had the opportunity to spend time talking about composition, creativity and music in general—an experience I will always treasure.
For anyone unfamiliar with his work, Nik Bärtsch is one of the most original voices in contemporary music.
Rather than following trends or trying to imitate other musicians, he has spent decades developing a completely unique musical language. Drawing inspiration from minimalism, jazz, funk, classical music and Japanese philosophy, he created what he describes as "Ritual Groove Music"—a style that is instantly recognisable yet difficult to categorise.
That, to me, is the mark of a truly great artist.
You can hear just a few notes of a Nik Bärtsch composition and immediately know who wrote it. His music isn't built around flashy virtuosity or unnecessary complexity. Instead, it demonstrates the extraordinary power of patience, discipline, repetition and subtle evolution.
Meeting him reinforced something I have believed for many years.
Every musician should strive to develop their own voice.
Of course, we all begin by learning from others. We transcribe solos, study harmony, analyse compositions and absorb ideas from the musicians we admire. That is not only normal—it is essential.
But eventually, something more important has to happen.
We must stop asking, "How can I sound like my favourite musician?" and start asking, "What do I actually want to say?"
That question changes everything.
The world's greatest artists are not remembered because they were the best copies of someone else. They are remembered because they had the courage to sound like themselves.
Whether it is Miles Davis, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Hermeto Pascoal or Nik Bärtsch, each created a musical identity that could not be mistaken for anyone else's.
That uniqueness did not happen overnight.
It was the result of years of curiosity, experimentation, reflection and relentless dedication to their craft.
Our conversation reminded me that composing is one of the most powerful ways to discover who we are as musicians.
When we compose, we are forced to make our own artistic decisions. Which harmony feels right? Which rhythm tells the story? Which melody truly sounds like us? There are no correct answers—only honest ones.
This philosophy also shapes the way I teach.
Whether a student wants to learn jazz improvisation, composition or simply become a better musician, my goal is never to create another version of myself. Instead, I hope to give each student the tools and confidence to develop their own musical personality.
Technique can be taught.
Theory can be learned.
But finding your own artistic voice is one of the most rewarding journeys a musician can undertake.
Meeting Nik Bärtsch reminded me that originality is not something we are born with—it is something we build, one thoughtful musical decision at a time.
And that, perhaps, is the greatest lesson any composer can learn.