U.S. Soldier Composes Aural Landscapes of Iraq
"If you're in a war... that definitely comes out in your music... it just emanates from you," Thompson says. Courtesy of William Thompson hide caption
"If you're in a war... that definitely comes out in your music... it just emanates from you," Thompson says.
Courtesy of William ThompsonSgt. William Thompson IV, a reservist who was deployed in Iraq, is a third-generation jazz musician from New Orleans.
But during his time in combat, he turned to a different musical form: Using his laptop, he records the sounds of war and incorporates them into compositions that he posts online.
Music from Thompson
'Follow Our Leaders'
'CPFX'
With the III.IV.I. kolective: 'What Is This Thing Called Love'
Thompson, who was called up for duty just before he was to graduate from the University of New Orleans, faces a bittersweet homecoming after 18 months in Iraq. Hurricane Katrina's aftermath has posed obstacles to his return.