I collected my first musical stones on a small beach near Dover.

I carry with me when performing a suitcase full of objects that I see or hear as an extension of my drum kit. I reach for these objects when I feel the need to extend the sonic boundaries and techniques of the traditional kit.

I first started looking for new sounds for my alto saxophone by making reeds out of many kinds of materials such as metal, wood, plastic, and even chocolate (which didn’t last long).

There are many small objects, little instruments, and various pieces of detritus that end up in an improvising musician’s toolbox; there are numerous reasons why and how they ended up there, and why they remain or get left behind.

I’ve tried various plastics—condoms, material from rubber gloves, etc.—but have found that rubber balloons give a warmer percussive sound and you can also rub and bend the membrane, thereby altering pitch.

In my music making, I’m mostly working with analogue media: tape recorders and reel-to-reel tape machines and recently in addition sculptural antennas.

I have a battered piece of metal pipe, about the length of my forearm, which has become a surprisingly regular feature in my music and live shows.