Carmen Zella of NOW Art sat down with musician Miguel Atwood-Ferguson for a livestream about his work and collaboration with our Attune project on Instagram (@nowart_la). As a creative art agency, we love to foster conversations around art, sound, design, and innovation around Los Angeles and beyond. 

Below is a transcript of the video: 

Carmen Zella (CZ): Hi everyone! We’re going live with artist and musician Miguel Atwood-Ferguson. Today’s conversation focuses on his journey as an artist and his participation in our upcoming project, Attune, launching on Valentine’s Day. I’m so excited to finally share some of the insights and sound bites from our conversations.

Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (MA): Hi, Carmen! Great to see you.

CZ: Good to see you too. You’re such a multi-instrumentalist and collaborator, working with so many musicians, artists, and visual creators. Can you share a bit about your background and how you started on this path?

MA: I was lucky to grow up in beautiful Topanga Canyon, surrounded by nature and raised by parents from diverse cultural backgrounds who taught me that all cultures are valuable and interconnected. Apparently, I told my mom when I was four that I wanted violin lessons, and I’ve been studying music ever since.

Now, at 45, I still feel like I’m just beginning. My goal is to grow daily, raise my vibration, and create art that encourages others to step into their own magic, to open their hearts and minds to new possibilities.

CZ: That’s beautiful. How have you seen this philosophy come to life through your work?

MA: Every day. It shows up in conversations, emails, and messages, with people sharing how my music helped them through grief or inspired them to heal. Even my five-year-old son and my students remind me why I do this. Those moments, those emotional connections, are proof that what I’m creating matters.

I often think of Kafka’s quote: “Books exist to break apart the frozen sea within us.” That’s what I want my music to do, to melt what’s hardened in us and help people reconnect with their emotions.

CZ: I love that. Speaking of direction, what’s your North Star, your ultimate goal as an artist?

MA: World peace. Truly. I want to help build a world that recognizes everyone’s intrinsic worth and genius, regardless of background, religion, or appearance.

For me, that starts with harmony, with nature, with family, and with the structures we build. I want my work to reflect the equality and sanctity of all life. If my art can influence that even a little, I’ll consider it a success.

CZ: That’s a powerful vision. You’re also an educator, helping shape future artists and thinkers. How do you approach composition? Where do your ideas begin?

MA: I often compare composing to cooking. You start with ingredients, what’s in season, what’s available, and then let intuition guide you. Preparation is important, but so is letting go.

Like Charlie Parker said, “Practice for hours every day, then forget all that and just play.” That’s how I approach creation. I want to be a conduit, not a controller. My best work comes when I let the piece tell me what it needs to be.

CZ: So, how are you approaching Attune, our Valentine’s Day project?

MA: First off, thank you for this incredible concept. Attune is unlike anything I’ve been part of: multi-location, multi-sensory, connecting communities across Los Angeles through sound and light.

My focus is on joy. Joy isn’t just fleeting happiness; it’s deep, connected, and even tied to sorrow. For Attune, I’m creating a 30-minute piece performed simultaneously across 20 locations. Each site will have a performer leading the audience in simple vocal participation, singing, or humming together.

It’s about unity, accessibility, and vulnerability. Not everyone has to sing, but everyone can feel part of something larger. That’s joy to me, creating a connection through sound.

CZ: That’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. The project will run from 4:30 to 7:30 PM across LA County, encouraging people to gather, bring picnic blankets, and experience a collective moment of harmony. It’s about listening, feeling, and reconnecting through art, and I can’t wait to see how your performance brings that to life.

Thank you so much for this conversation, Miguel.

MA: Thank you, Carmen. It’s always an honor.