Ancient Astronaut
For some, ambient music is an escape. For Eric Allietta, the French composer behind Ancient Astronaut, it was a way back to himself. It started with meditation, with a restless mind searching for stillness, and with the quiet revelation that the sounds playing in the background carried more power than he had ever noticed. Inspired by the vastness of space, the beauty of nature and ancient legends of cosmic beings who crossed the universe to help humanity, he began crafting his own sonic journeys using Reaper and software synthesizers. His music is gentle, expansive and deeply personal, built to transport listeners the same way it transported him during those first moments of inner calm. We spoke with Eric about the path from overthinking to creating, his view of a scene navigating the rise of AI, and why love and community still matter more than anything.
Who are you ?
I’m Eric Allietta, a French composer of ambient music. I enjoy creating various forms of ambient music, mostly inspired by the vastness of space or the beauty of nature.
How did you get into music? What is your musical background?
Music has always been part of my life, I listened different genres depending of my mood, like electronic music (jungle, idm, experimental), free jazz (John Coltrane), world music, and then I discovered ambient music and I listen almost exclusively ambient music now.
How did your ambient project begin ?
I begun to practice some forms of meditation to calm my mind and overthinking brain, and I was transported by the atmosphere of the music that was playing in the background, I felt it was time for me to experience more with softwares on my computer to manifest ideas I had in my mind and create ambient music that maybe would touch and transport listeners too.
Where does the name/pseudonym of your music project come from?
My pseudo Ancient Astronaut is inspired by ancient legends of special beings who came from far away to planet earth 10,000 years ago to help humanity.
Does ambient music accompany you in your everyday life? What role does it play?
Ambient music is the genre of music that works the best for me to calm my mind, remove stress from living in this hectic world and take the time to reconnect with myself and refocus.
What tools do you use to compose music?
Reaper and mostly software VST synths and plugins.
Things become very weird with AI, or self-centered artists just seeking ego recognition, but I am confident that the ambient community can stay a loving and friendly community, putting love in music first, and thanks also to the support of loving supporters like on Bandcamp for example.
What’s new with you, and what are your upcoming projects?
I have plenty of tracks that are just waiting for me to decide that they are well enough and are ready to be released.
