"This zone I think of as "inner space", the internal landscape of tomorrow that is a transmuted image of the past"

- JG Ballard

released November 13, 2024
Written, Produced & Mixed by Claremont.
Mastered by Ruud Whiting (Metrodome).
Artwork by William Francis Green / Escha.

Inner Space

If a person spends their entire life seeing only in black and white, is it possible for them to truly know what it would be like to experience color? Philosophers have debated this for decades, but one thing they have often overlooked is the power of the imagination. It is a skill, and like any other skill it can be honed, perhaps enough to allow one to achieve deep knowledge of an experience they’ve never had.

Episode guest is Amy Kind, professor of philosophy at Claremont McKenna College. Produced with the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies and the Salvatori Center at Claremont McKenna College.


The Imaginary 02: The Knowledge Argument

Given the option to plug into a world totally free from conflict and struggle, most would choose to remain in their current reality. A true utopia would be too boring, stifling—with no problems to solve, there would be no outlet for creativity, for the imagination. 

Episode guest is John Farrell, professor of literature at Claremont McKenna College. Produced with the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies and the Salvatori Center at Claremont McKenna College.

The Imaginary 03: Utopia

While the U.S. Constitution is constantly invoked to justify how the country should be governed, it actually provides very few specifics on how that should be done. Instead, the designed ambiguities of the document require the imaginative powers of its citizenry to interpret it and decide which laws should be implemented and how they should be enforced. 

Episode guest is George Thomas, professor of American Political Institutions at Claremont McKenna College. Produced with the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies and the Salvatori Center at Claremont McKenna College.

The Imaginary 04: The U.S. Constitution

"This zone I think of as "inner space", the internal landscape of tomorrow that is a transmuted image of the past"
- JG Ballard

'Inner Space' is an exploration over the course of an EP of the psychology of the self and of the attitudes that are created towards past, present, and future incarnations of body and soul. 

This is the culmination of several years work on and off, and I'm incredibly grateful to be able to share these songs with you that I've been so excited about for so long. 

Thank you to Maya for her spellbinding vocals on Plant, to Beeg for his jaw dropping remix of the title track, to Ruud for doing a beautiful job of the masters and to Will as always for providing the artwork and design to complete the trilogy of releases that started with the 'Meeting Mushi' tape 8 years ago. 

The EP is accompanied by a 6-panel embroidered cap with hollyhock insignia to the front, EP title to the back.  100% organic cotton 'dad' cap with low-profile design, pre-curved beak with tri-glide buckle. Limited run of 20 in powder pink and desert sand designed by William Francis Green. 

Thank you as always to Kizzy, for her unbelievable support and love and for continuing to help me to be my purest self, and to Evelyn and Rosa for showing me a love that words cannot possibly describe.

A New Phase

Plant (feat. Maya Alessandra)

Inner Space (Beeg Remix)

'Rosa' is the first full piece written and recorded in its entirety since the  birth of my second daughter,  Rosa Lydia, who the track is named after.  

The melody that plays throughout speaks to the peace and love that has settled over us since she arrived, the frenetic amen breaks that run alongside the bass detail the energy and drive that she inspires in us daily.  

We love you Rosa. 

Rosa

New ways of thinking about the world, brought to you by the humanities and The World According to Sound. 

We’re working with universities to translate academic research into sound. Each season has a radically different format and topic. You’ll never hear the same kind of thing twice.

We’re independent and ad free. Patreon is the best way to support our work. https://www.patreon.com/theworldaccordingtosound

Northern producer of rhodes-driven electronica.

Caught Up Toghether (In The Clouds) is out now! 

Co-headline show with Paltin at The Talleyrand, Levenshulme this Thursday 22/10/2025. 

https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Manchester/The-Talleyrand/Claremont--Paltin-at-The-Talleyrand/41223882/

https://james-claremont.bandcamp.com/merch/inner-space-hollyhock-embroidered-cap
https://james-claremont.bandcamp.com/merch/inner-space-hollyhock-embroidered-cap

New tracks tagged #claremont