@ajlagemaat, ArenJ, Aren Joel Lagemaat, and Joel. An artist profile by Charlotte Telfer-Wan

(Aren) Joel Lagemaat is an artist, composer, sound designer, creator of music, photographer, truck driver, and a man full of drive and passion for creation. Joel is currently a music composition student at Simon Fraser University (SFU). He creates electronic music that soothes and inspires the soul, often for dance, and film, but also exists as phenomenal entity on it’s own.

More paths than one

Talking to Joel was inspiring. He has multiple interests, passion for life within and without his identity as an artist. He is not afraid to take time to see and do other things while relishing in his music. Most recently he has taken a break from music to focus on photography, mostly of the night sky. His confidence in his own music is strong (and getting stronger) enough to be settled in his path as a composer while pursuing other interests.

Joel started his Post Secondary Education at Vancouver Film School for sound design. He then came to SFU where he has been studying for the past 5 years in a degree for music composition. In these years he has also flexed his interest for computer programming and photography. Joel has had jobs outside of art making, as a futon assembler, sewing machine fixer, and as a driver for Foodora.

  “Sea to Sky” composed by Joel Lagamaat

“Behind the wheel when I’m driving I can think better” Joel explained. He also uses his driving time to study his passion as an artist, listening to audiobooks, readings, and focusing in on the music that blasts from his speakers. His favourite place; driving the Sea to Sky Highway. He even named one of his pieces of music after it.

Navigating the transition from art student to professional

It takes a lot of courage to find a career as an artist. I talked to Joel was about his life, work, art and everything in between. Having experienced the stigma around telling people you are an artist, you are expected to have more than “just art” to support yourself.

Untitled photo by Joel Lagamaat (edited for this article)

“Art is a career that does take a lot of time to build up” .. “It can be hard to build that career while scraping by and not being able to pay rent..” Joel explained. This is one of the reasons Joel has submerged himself in other avenues of life that make him happy and make him money. He is also potentially looking into build a career in electronic engineering. The other reason Joel told me he searches for solace outside of art was; when constantly working in creation he often loses sight of what he loves about it, “I find when creating for other people I become less connected with the work.”

Joel and I talked about his adventures working as a composer. Reflecting on the transition from art students to established professional artists. We discussed the somewhat necessary steps in staying true to your art. Young people are easily swayed by others with experience, seniority, and maturity. One of Joel’s formative experiences as a professional that adjusted his view on his career, was a collaborative process that urged him to find more confidence and trust in his art.

One of his goals while in a collaborative composition is “To be more selfish… To know what kind of music I want to create and create that”. “If people know what music I create, they know what they are going to get” Joel stated, proposing that collaborators may find more strength in his art without intervening in the early stages. Joel has a strong internal passion for creation but satisfaction is not as simple as just finishing a project. “When I create for other people I do lose sight of my own heart and soul” Joel said. He feels the pressure of finding how to make music work for others which often transforms his original idea. “It takes on a different life at that point”….“When I let myself get too directed, when it becomes too much of a work product than an artistic venture”.

It’s an art in itself to trust the gut, Joel told me he his goal is: “To get my brain out of it and get my heart and soul into it”. Art that comes from the heart and soul is what may touch an audience through their heart and soul.

A powerful response

“Eclipse” — Joel Lagamaat (edited for this article)

A powerful response is a powerful thing. In my experience people who speak their mind to my art greatly influence the trajectory of it in the future. For Joel there were a couple key responses that have stood out while at SFU. Joel told me our friend Stefan came up to him after witnessing a piece Joel made that accompanied a dance piece and said “He came up to me after and said — Dude that was dope! — That was quite memorable”

In another instance he remembered “One of my professors came up and said — That was an amazing performance and I’m glad to have taught you at some point.” he continued, “To hear that at that moment… Not something I was necessarily proud of” … “To have a prof come up and say that. Even my Fuck It work is good.”

A dream

“My dream project would be…I think ultimately it would be to work on a feature film.” Joel told me. He dreams about scoring a film that is accessible. A film in which many people see and enjoy. Contemporary art is not the most widely appreciated or even experienced by the public. Music scores can be widely appreciated and understood when accompanied by a movie/film with a narrative. “A film where music takes on a more significant role. One of the films that really inspires me is Interstellar because of that score.” Joel explained. This movie is one of his favourites because the score is simple but extremely powerful and fits so well with a story. Joel continued, “The music is what kind of ties it all together.”

I asked Joel what he thinks would help him get closer to this dream. “Getting back into composition.” he said “Getting back into it with new mentalities and a new approach. Coming to terms with recognising that I know what I’m doing and being able to stand up for myself that I can do my work.”

As I wrote this profile I was listening to Joel’s music, I do recommend you look out for this composer. The music he creates is special, organising sounds in ways that curve your imagination for what music can do. I am excited to hear the music Joel creates this year, his revived approach, and heart and soul finding its way to the surface of his art.

You can find Joel’s music on Sound Cloud as ArenJ and photos on Instagram at @ajlagamaat.