From Symphonic and Chamber works for the Classical Concert Stage, to Children’s Theater, Film and Game scoring, Progressive Rock, Jazz, or World projects, Brazilian-American progressive rock multi-instrumentalist Miguel Kertsman sails across the waves of music genres transcending those boundaries… as he calls it, the Universal Music Continuum…

His latest album, Paradoxes was released in October 2025. It’s a progressive art rock album, recorded live-in-the-space using vintage analog gear, whose songs, expansive instrumentals, and interludes, take the listener on an emotionally charged journey—exploring the contradictions and magnificence of the human experience.

Miguel now joins us to talk about one of those iconic Progressive bands – Genesis.

COMPLETELY DRAWN IN

Choosing one artist or band I love to write about isn’t a simple proposition, because there are too many of them. We all know that music is something which can powerfully take us back to specific times, feelings, and emotions, just as it can inspire us in the moment, or to look ahead. In that sense, music is timeless, but it can also zoom into specific memories, and our experiences – as goes the saying, “the soundtrack of our lives.” I will choose a band I discovered as an eight-year-old child, thanks to my older sister and her friends who constantly listened to rock, and many progressive rock acts. I was exposed to a lot of Classical Music as a kid, and started learning how to play the organ and piano at that time.

When I first heard the music of Genesis back then, I was completely drawn into it — perhaps also due to the fact I heard a lot of classical music undertones in their music. I recall flipping out about the sounds, for example the spectacular sound design on Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. Genesis had a lot of supporting and leading keyboard work in their music, and that of course was a huge point of attraction for me, as I already loved keyboard instruments as a child.

WHAT’S GOING ON…

At eight, nine, or ten, I of course didn’t really quite understand everything that was going on with the music, which later I could more objectively appreciate: For example, the long-form of many of songs, complex rhythms, deceptive harmonic cadences, great counterpoint between the musicians, and such an amazing sense of ensemble. Everyone had a chance to shine as Peter Gabriel’s or Phil Collins’ awesome vocals helped tell the stories:  When say, Tony Banks had the lead on a synth, and Phil Collins would be tastefully answering lines on the drums, Steve Hacket would add tasteful guitar lines, and Mike Rutherford would provide a solid support, sometimes with both accompanying guitar and pedal-played synth bass drones.

COMPLEX – BUT TOGETHER AND HARMONIOUS

The music never got chaotic, nor did it ever sound like any band member had an ego problem. If they did, it didn’t sound in the music, at least not to me. Genesis sounded incredibly complex at times, but always together, and harmonious.

The production aesthetics were fantastic, which further contributed to make the music breathe and shine. I discovered albums such as The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Selling England By The Pound, and a little later, Wind & Wuthering as a child, and those records would go on travelling with me along the way into adulthood. Perhaps because the music always takes me back to beautiful memories, to a space of my own.

That’s what music does. It can take you places inwards and outwards. Music can speak with you that intensely, and the music of Genesis from that period certainly did. I enjoy it to this day, and am grateful to Peter, Phil, Tony, Mike, and Steve for the amazingly captivating music they created. And also, thanks to a music industry then, more open to groundbreaking originality, embracing experimentation, and taking commercial risks, which allowed for new ideas to flourish.

I take this opportunity to share two songs from my new album Paradoxes – Red Blue Sky and Jubilant Anxiety:

You can read more from our extensive archive of Why I Love pieces from a wide array of artists on an even wider array of subjects, here.

Miguel Kertsman:Website

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