Anton Commissaris Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Jazz Features, Jazz Interviews, The Latest|Tags: , , , , , , , |

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Nagamag:
Which are the genres that describe your music style better?

Anton Commissaris:
Jazz - vocal, with notes of blues, soul, rhythm and blues, and gospel styles.


Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Anton Commissaris:
I am a Jazz composer, pianist, and vocalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I released my first EP - On A Bright Note - in February 2021. I have a new single - Lonely Bay - released on September 24, 2021, and a second EP - Out of the Blue - coming out in October 2021.


Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Anton Commissaris:
I had heard music on the radio but the first time I felt a true connection was when at about 9 years old, I listened to an album by Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends. Cocker's voice was raw, bluesy, and powerfully emotional. It struck a chord with me. Intrigued, I began to play the record over and over. Two songs, in particular, stood out for me - the title track - With a Little Help from My Friends - and - She Came in Through the Bathroom Window. I didn't realize it at the time, but these were both Lennon-McCartney covers. I would later become a huge Beatles fan, impressed particularly by the fact that they composed, played, and sung their own music.


Nagamag:
How did you become a fan of Jazz music?

Anton Commissaris:
My mother was into Jazz music and she played a lot of records that I picked up on when I was young. When I was learning the piano at an early age, she also had Jazz sheet music laying around that I would learn how to play. I remember, in particular, being impressed by - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. During my college years, I picked up on Frank Sinatra and many of the other great singers of the American Song Book. As an alternative to all the other standard pop music of the day, we would play this at parties and have a lot of fun, while others were somewhat confused by our retro tastes. Then after, playing classical piano for a number of years, I drifted back into Jazz and fell in love with that style of music all over again.


Nagamag:
Many artists listen to genres that they are not producing music for. Which track is your favorite that is NOT similar to yours?

Anton Commissaris:
The Beatles "For No One"


Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which is the track from a similar artist you admire?

Anton Commissaris:
Sarah Vaughan "Misty"

Discover & Listen to Anton Commissaris

Anton Commissaris on Spotify

Anton Commissaris' Signature Track

Anton Commissaris on Social Media

Soto Interview on Nagamag.com

Categories: Features, Interviews, Jazz Features, Jazz Interviews, The Latest|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

Soto
Interview


Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Soto:
Jazz, R&B, Funk, Soul, Neo-Soul, Hip-hop. New to the UK Jazz scene, Soto is a trio born out of Brighton with a foot in the doors of Jazz, R&B, Funk & Soul. Blending intricate rhythms and unique melodies, their feel is both a tribute to the scene, and something new altogether.


Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Soto:
Soto aim to make their audiences smile and groove with their work; something which undeniably helps this is the chemistry between the three founding members. Having all met in their first year at medical school, music was initially something of a side-hustle, but as the years passed it became more and more an integral to them as individuals and as a collective. Now, with their time at university drawing to a close, and a debut EP online, there'll be at least a few heads wondering what will be coming next from these guys.


Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Soto:
The feeling that first connected each of us to music is re-experienced on a regular basis. There is a deeply moving experience that arises when hearing the work of artists that touch us, and this similarly is something that is felt when we connect musically as a collective or as individuals. Music is possibly the most significant bringer of joy in any of our lives, which is why we are so determined - even with careers as doctors ready to begin - to make this a central part of our future. A life without music would always feel empty in a way.


Nagamag:
What do YOU enjoy most about writing and playing your music?

Soto:
We are all genuinely dedicated to the musical journey that we're on together. There's nothing better than when we meet for band practice and one of us says 'I've been working on this recently - what do you think?' and plays something beautiful. Many of our songs have come from one person bringing an idea forward for us to jam with, or quite literally just appearing from jams. This makes the process of writing so fun, and something we always look forward to. Similarly, what could be more fun than bringing music into a live setting? We love to improvise and leave lots of room for our songs to be different each time they are played so we can fully express ourselves musically any time we meet - we think of music as a conversation between the three of us and any listeners that may be present.


Nagamag:
Where do you see yourselves going musically?

Soto:
We hope to continue to challenge ourselves. We are always trying to explore new themes, try new things and push each other more and more musically, and this is something we hope to keep going. What we aim to do is continue writing music and hopefully entertaining people with our work. We would love to carve our a career in music, and we are so driven to this that we hope we're fortunate enough to just get that break that we need to make this viable. Whatever happens though, we want to enjoy every step of the way and be present in this journey, wherever it may go.


Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Soto:
Celeste "Both Sides of The Moon"


Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Soto:
Prime Panda "State Your Business"

Discover & Listen to Soto

Soto on Spotify

Soto's Signature Track

Soto on Social Media

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