Discover Neoclassical Artists and their background on Nagamag!

Federico Ferrandina Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Contemporary, Electronic, Experimental. Hyperclassical, Federico Ferrandina, Interview, Neoclassical, XXth century|

Federico Ferrandina
Interview

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

Federico Ferrandina:
Neoclassical, Electronic, Experimental. I call my own genre Hyperclassical, which is a blend of classical tradition, XXth century music and contemporary sound design elements and techniques

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Federico Ferrandina:
I was born in a family of classical musicians, that heritage seemed destined to pair my hunger for diverse musical galaxies with non-musical disciplines like literature, modern dance and sociology. This wide constellation shaped my unique and yet multi-layered grammar of sound, where classical instruments are surrounded by a contemporary arsenal of synthesizers, drones and drum machines with the light touch of contrapuntal writing and tridimensional harmonies. I teamed up with artists of all kinds (world music stars Yasmin Levy and Omar Faruk Tekbilek, pop artist Michele Bravi, rock collective Playing For Change, jazz big bands, Grammy winner producers, choreographers and filmmakers). My production gained attention in the entertainment industry, and many of my works are currently part of some of the major movies and tv shows soundtracks, such as the multi-Oscar winner Dallas Buyers Club or renown tv show The Big Bang Theory.

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

Federico Ferrandina:
Even if I was already able to play some piano music, when I was 10 years old I listened for the first time to Yesterday by the Beatles, and that was the deepest feeling I ever experienced in my life, it really touched me. That’s when I understood how a musical emotion could change you.

Nagamag:
What are you currently working on?

Federico Ferrandina:
Some film music: an American mystery/fantasy drama and a Canadian animation movie. I’m also preparing some music for 2023 to complete my Hypermetropia project, Defence will be part of an album with that title.

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

Federico Ferrandina:
070 Shake Body

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

Federico Ferrandina:
Deru The Way Through The Forest

Discover & Listen to Federico Ferrandina

Federico Ferrandina on Spotify

Federico Ferrandina’s Signature Track

Federico Ferrandina on Social Media

Facebook: @federicoferrandinamusic – facebook.com/federicoferrandinamusic

Instagram: @federicoferrandina – instagram.com/federicoferrandina

Federico Ferrandina’s Website: www.federicoferrandina.com/

Gifts From Crows Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Classical, Gifts From Crows, Interview, Interview (osf), Neoclassical, Post-Rock|

Gifts From Crows
Interview

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

Gifts From Crows:
I like to think of my music as classical music for a post-rock audience. Neoclassical is probably the best genre though as it includes a lot of artists, like me, that use classical instrumentation but are not quite classical in the true sense of the word. Neoclassical is a broad church and easily encompasses artists that weave electronics in with the more traditional orchestral instruments.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Gifts From Crows:
Since I was a teenager I have been passionate about composing and performing music and have been involved in many post-rock / electronic bands and studio projects. Whilst I played guitar and synth during those years, my first love was always the piano and Gifts From Crows really feels like coming home.
Writing orchestral arrangements is a relatively new undertaking for me but one that feels very natural and intuitive. Hearing my music performed by the Northern Film Orchestra for the first time was an incredible experience and I have carried the learnings from that into the new album, 'Stories in Slow Light' which features a lot of live performance mixed in with the samples and the piano.

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

Gifts From Crows:
I grew up near and went to school in Macclesfield in the north of England - home to one of the greatest bands of the post-punk era - Joy Division. I can still remember taking home their album, 'Closer' and playing it for the first time. I had shivers running down my spine listening to that music and it still affects me the same way today. That was when I truly understood how powerful music could be and also when I realised that I wanted to try and produce something that gave other people the same feeling. Whilst you never feel that you even get close to those levels, there is always the hope that the next piece of music will be transformational.

Nagamag:
What was the inspiration for the new album, Stories in Slow Light

Gifts From Crows:
Each piece was inspired by a different photograph by artist Helena Whitten. I found that by sitting at the piano with one of Helena’s photos placed where the sheet music would normally rest, I could literally write music to accompany the scene in front of me, as if the score were hidden inside the image.
I find Helena’s photos incredibly emotive. They are simultaneously timeless but also contemporary and speak to so many of the challenges that humanity is facing today – the fragility of the planet, the transience of life, loneliness and mental health. It is all there and these are also the themes that I explore in my music.

Nagamag:
How did the video for The Empty Mirror come about?

Gifts From Crows:
The song was inspired by a photograph taken by Helena Whitten at Poltimore House in Devon which depicts a solitary figure in front of an oval frame where a mirror used to be.
The track evokes the memory of our ancestors and imagines all the living souls who have passed in front of the now long gone mirror. The protagonist appears to be channelling these spirits out of the ancient walls of the house, at times contorted by the energy flowing through her and then flowing with serenity.

The video for was shot on location at Poltimore House but this time dancer and choreographer Kristine Berget reprises Helena’s role from the photograph and we follow her as she moves around the rooms and hallways of the crumbling mansion.

We worked with Kristine before on the video for 'Without Beauty' and so I knew her choreography was good but her performance on The Empty Mirror was extraordinary and the film directed by Corey Rid really brings the whole work to life.

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

Gifts From Crows:
Joy Division "Love Will Tear Us Apart"

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

Gifts From Crows:
Wim Mertens "Struggle For Pleasure"

Discover & Listen to Gifts From Crows

Gifts From Crows on Spotify

Gifts From Crows' Signature Track

Gifts From Crows on Social Media

GiftsFromCrows

giftsfromcrows

Gifts From Crows' Website

lnk.bio/giftsfromcrows/

Carlos Maya Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Carlos Maya, Emotional, Interview, Interview (osf), Neoclassical|

Carlos Maya
Interview

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

Carlos Maya:
I'm perfectly OK with this "Neoclassical" term to refer music that has a strong emotional focus, as I pretend to do that, to communicate and to express these "emotional ideas" and perspectives that cannot be expressed with words.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Carlos Maya:
I've studied music at the Conservatory of Music of the National University of Colombia. I studied classical music, academic music, composition and music theory. But my interest in music was raised from a very young age, with the music instruction of my father who is a Sax player. Regardless my academic music background I was always interested in genres that are more connected to people than the strictly academic music, hence this neoclassical piano project, I also have great love for the keyboards and synthesizers, and absolutely for the Rock music. I also have a progressive rock project called Cadius in which I am its main composer.

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

Carlos Maya:
My first connection of love with music was when I was very young... I think 6 maybe 7 years old... My father used to play in his turntable classical music and progressive rock music, music from Bach, Mozart, but also Rick Wakeman, Yes and that kind of stuff... I remember that Bach music touched me very deeply, I was really moved in my heart while listen to this second movement of the Harpsichord Italian concerto, touched to the point of tears, and I was like 7 or 8 years old, right then I decided that I wanted to be a pianist.

Nagamag:
What do you want to achieve with your music?

Carlos Maya:
I try to do my best to make beautiful music, I deeply feel that the purpose of each one of us, as human beings, is to bring beauty to this life, the beauty is an ideal from "higher states" and we bring these "higher states" to this world, and when we commit to this purpose I think we make the world a little better.

Nagamag:
What are your next steps in your career?

Carlos Maya:
I am working to put one of my songs as a soundtrack in a movie or a documentary. That would be awesome!

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

Carlos Maya:
Meshuggah "Clockworks"

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

Carlos Maya:
Michael Nyman The heart asks pleasure first

Discover & Listen to Carlos Maya

Carlos Maya on Spotify

Carlos Maya's Signature Track

Carlos Maya on Social Media

carlosmayaofficial

carlosmayapiano

Carlos Maya's Website

smarturl.it/TheReturn.CarlosMaya

SAAH Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Contemporary Classical, Interview, Interview (osf), Modern Classical, Neoclassical, Piano, Saah|

SAAH
Interview

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

SAAH:
Neoclassical, contemporary classical, modern classical piano,

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

SAAH:
I was given an old piano at the age of nine. i immediately fell in love with that instrument(i actually wanted a flute, but I didn´t get one)
since then I loved to improvise and create little melodies.
i also had piano lessons for some years, but I always preferred to play by ear.
that´s why I decided not to study at the music university.
i played in bands and the last years I´ve been composing for theatres and I´ve been creating solo piano pieces in my tiny homestudio. Last year I won the European song writing award in the category: music for motion pictures. since then I´ve been releasing heartfelt solo piano songs. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to do what I love and to share my music with everybody who wants to listen.

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

SAAH:
I guess it was when i first heard some Tory Amos songs (i fell in love with her way to play the piano) and later i really loved the Keith Jarrett´s Köln concert (i was so impressed by the spirit and vibes of his free and harmonic improvising )

Nagamag:
do you have any plans for the near future?

SAAH:
Yes, I have :)
I always desired to play outside in nature or in other special places with my stage piano.
...so I had a stunning handmade piano shell built by a very talented man and now (about 2 weeks ago) a wonderful painter completed this work with a very special and beautiful painting on the cover of the shell, that means a lot to me.
So from now on I will also share some little video clips from outside, playing on Juna (that´s my pianos name;) - it means the desired..... I am over the moon excited about that.

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

SAAH:
INCUBUS "Wish you were here"

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

SAAH:
Franco Roberts (He has a different piano sound, I really like his work) "axolotl"

Discover & Listen to SAAH

SAAH on Spotify

SAAH's Signature Track

SAAH on Social Media

SAAHmusik

saahmusic

SAAH's Website

www.saah.at

Chafa Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Ambient, Chafa, Cinematic, Classical, Contemporary, Interview, Interview (osf), Neoclassical|

Chafa
Interview

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

Chafa:
Piano-led, cinematic, & ambient contemporary classical music.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Chafa:
I began teaching myself piano when I was twelve years old, but I always loved music. Growing up in the Bay Area (California), I was introduced to several different cultures and styles of music.
It wasn't long before I felt the need to express my own thoughts and feelings through art, and piano was the instrument I felt the most connected to.

Before the pandemic, I would perform locally, but after spending time recording and releasing my music during this last year, I have my eyes set on creating music for film and potentially collaborating with other composers and orchestras.

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

Chafa:
Seeing performers on the street as a kid really inspired me. Watching their music move people to dance, smile, laugh, or cry was inspiring. I wouldn't learn an instrument for several more years, but my love for music continued to grow until I felt the urge one day to sit down and play some of the songs I loved so much.

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

Chafa:
Beirut "Elephant Gun"

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

Chafa:
Max Richter "Written on the Sky"

Discover & Listen to Chafa

Chafa on Spotify

Lewis Bolland Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Interview, Interview (osf), Lewis Bolland, Lightly Cinematic, Modern Classical, Relaxing Piano|

Lewis Bolland
Interview

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

Lewis Bolland:
Modern Classical, Relaxing Piano, Lightly Cinematic.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Lewis Bolland:
Performing the piano since the age of 7, Lewis’s home life was filled with music. His formal music education began early with piano lessons given by his grandmother Elsie. By the time he was 14 Lewis was being called up as the pianist & keyboard player in school performances and at the age of 15 he was in the rehearsal room as a student teacher, giving lessons to his contemporaries.

After composing and performing for his GSCE & A Level music exams, Lewis went on to support some of the UK’s biggest artists and toured the country multiple times as a session pianist & keys player. In late 2014 Lewis set up ‘Private Piano Tuition UK’. A modern classical piano school who teach over sixty students per week and currently holds a 100% pass rate with Royal Schools Of Music. During the summer of 2019 Lewis performed as a dinner pianist on ships across Europe and came home to start his residency with the Four Seasons Hotels in September. This has seen him go on to perform in front of celebrities, high profile figures, royalty and in the homes of some of the wealthiest families in the world.

After discovering composers such as Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer and Yann Tiersen in piano lessons with his grandmother, Lewis fell in love with writing modern classical and started working on an EP with close friend Ben Selley. Following six months writing originals and re-arranging well known tracks Lewis & Ben recorded their debut EP ‘TIME’ at Air studios, London and released it on the 19th August 2019 under ‘Bolland & Selley’.

‘Moments’ is the first solo release from Lewis in 2021 and was inspired by the different seasons and the feelings they conjure up during the course of a year.

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

Lewis Bolland:
I remember my grandmother teaching me how to compose and I fell in love with writing piano pieces. Most days I would write a new piece just to get better and better and I still love composing just as much today!

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

Lewis Bolland:
Sigala "Sweet Lovin'"

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

Lewis Bolland:
Ludovico Einaudi "I Giorni"

Discover & Listen to Lewis Bolland

Lewis Bolland on Spotify

Lewis Bolland's Signature Track

Lewis Bolland on Social Media

lewisbollandmusic

Lewis Bolland's Website

www.lewisbollandmusic.com

Maria Grönlund Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Contemporary Classical, Interview, Interview (osf), Maria Grönlund, Modern Classical, Neo-classical|

Maria Grönlund
Interview

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

Maria Grönlund:
Neo-Classical, Modern Classical, Contemporary Classical

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Maria Grönlund:
You may know Stockholm’s Maria Gronlund from her weekly live stream ‘Meet Me At The Piano’ on Facebook. Or from her debut album ‘Songs of a Sad Sailor’, which was a Spotify Classical Pick. Or even from her short collection last Autumn called ‘Colors of my Mind: Pt. 1’, which was the first of three releases that will go to make up her next LP ‘Colors of my Mind’. Part 2 of the collection is nearly upon us with three pieces of neo-classical imagination due later this month.

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

Maria Grönlund:
There was a lot of music and singing in my family, and I was five or six years old when we inherited a big, black, shiny piano from my grandfather. My mother had always dreamed of learning how to play the piano, and she found us an Austrian piano teacher named Helga, who taught us both to play in her house. I was tiny, and I got my lessons at a brown piano in her basement, and then I stood and peeked into the living room with the two grand pianos standing opposite each other, while my mom got her lesson. I was totally fascinated by the instruments and imagined they were like fairy tale ships to another world, since they gave out such amazing sound. I've been in love with the piano ever since.

Nagamag:
Tell us more about the project you're working on right now!

Maria Grönlund:
I'm in the midst of a project called 'Colors of my mind', which will culminate in a full album released both digitally and physically, and with an online album experience which will feature the creation process of the music and all the art involved. Artwork merch will also be an important part of this project.
It all originates from a lengthy, filmed joint improvisation I made together with an artist, Madelene Egerfält, where she painted what she heard me play and i played what I saw her paint. We both came into a state of flow and had a really intense experience. The painting is just amazing, and I feel it depicts both her and me, and the situation it was created in.

I've used the musical material from this occasion and built it out to ten piano pieces that I release in three rounds. EP Colors of my mind Pt.1 was released in the late fall, Pt.2 now in March, and Pt.3 and thus the full album is planned for late spring/early summer this year.

Nagamag:
What's the ethos behind your music?

Maria Grönlund:
I feel so rich having music in my life. It helps me cope with stress and difficulties. I often play to calm myself down and to sort my thoughts and feelings out. My vision is to share the feeling of relief and joy I get from playing with people who might need it.

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

Maria Grönlund:
Imogen Heap "Earth"

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

Maria Grönlund:
Poppy Ackroyd "Time"

Discover & Listen to Maria Grönlund

Maria Grönlund on Spotify

Maria Grönlund's Signature Track

Maria Grönlund on Social Media

MariaGronlundmusic

maria_gronlund

Maria Grönlund's Website

www.mariagronlund.com

Jaap Mol Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Ambient, Electronic, Interview, Interview (osf), Jaap Mol, Neo-classical|

Jaap Mol
Interview

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

Jaap Mol:
My main genre is neo classical. But I tend to expand it to ambient electronic music with some beats where I feel they add something to the music.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Jaap Mol:
I started taking classical piano lessons when I was about 6 years old. I don't exactly remember why it were piano lessons and not another instrument, but I kept playing for years. I even played church organ for while, but discovered I'm way more inspired by a piano.
When I was around 15 years old, I discovered punk bands and that was all I wanted to play from that point on. So I bought a bass guitar, started a band and quit my piano lessons when I was 18. Since then I played in all kinds of bands, mostly pop punk, but also bands inspired on those really cool emo core bands from the zeros which I still love.

But when I finished my study, that musical environment dried up and so did the bands. I went back to my keys, sang in a a capella group and worked on some music on my own but never really got back to it; life happened and I got a job as a teacher. Back then I thought I'd never do any serious music at all ever again.

But then a friend of mine started a band and needed someone to play keys and that's how I got back into music. It worked out really well and I started playing in bands again, but this time no punk and bass guitars, but keys in pop, pop-rock and electro pop bands.

Meanwhile I discovered that my love for pop music and my interest in quiet piano and string music could be mixed pretty good and I started experimenting with what turned out to be the neo classical ambient music I create now. But I am always tempted to try new styles and experiment with other genres. Right now, for example, I worked on a live show for which I remixed all my tracks into an ambient electronic hybrid DJ-set.

That's what I love about music the most; I get bored quite easily, but never with music. It's an endless source of inspiration.

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

Jaap Mol:
I think, funnily enough, that first feeling when I heard a punk track on the radio has been one of the most important moments to spark my music career. I waited for weeks, glued to the radio, to record that one song to tape, because I never heard anything like it. That was a really important moment, because that was when I realised that it was actually possible to create something myself.

Nagamag:
What inspires you to create new music?

Jaap Mol:
Everything I create in music always starts with a sound I love. That can be the sound of a beautiful old piano, something I come up with when tweaking a synth, or just a sample from a plugin in my DAW.
I'm not a very technical player, and at first I saw that as a limitation. But I learned that to be really creative, you have to set boundaries and limitations, and mine forces me to really dive into a sound I love, and create something beautiful from that. I'm embracing that now, and I'm really happy with how it turns out.

Nagamag:
What does your creative process look like?

Jaap Mol:
I like to do a lot by myself. I'm kind of a control freak, so when I didn't find what I wanted to create elsewhere, I wanted to master the whole process. I compose and produce while writing, just like pop records.
Sometimes I ask other studios for help because they have better equipment, but most parts I record at my own place. I like to do the mixing myself as wel, because a lot of mixing happens during the production.

I like to work with concepts for my music, so that's why I prefer to do al the artwork, photography and video's myself as well. To master all theses parts of the creative process takes a long learning curve, but I like to be curious and just love discovering new things to improve. It's an infinite playground.

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

Jaap Mol:
Sufjan Stevens "A Little Lost"

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

Jaap Mol:
Jon Hopkins "Echo Dissolve"

Discover & Listen to Jaap Mol

Jaap Mol on Spotify

Jaap Mol's Signature Track

Jaap Mol on Social Media

jaapmolmusic

jaapmol

Jaap Mol's Website

www.jaapmol.com

Kristine Bratlie Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: film, Interview, Interview (osf), Jazz, Kristine Bratlie, Musical, Neo-classical, Piano|

Kristine Bratlie
Interview

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

Kristine Bratlie:
I like to call my music style a cross over between classical piano music, film, musical and jazz. It stretches in multiple directions, often even inside one song.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Kristine Bratlie:
I am a norwegian classical pianist that developed into a composer, curios about HOW I could reach peoples heart with my music.
My musical education is from academies in Oslo, Norway and Salzburg, Austria (the birthplace of Mozart).
After turning back home, doing concerts and teaching with classical piano literature, I eventually started publishing music, both piano, chamber music and singing.
Now I live in Sweden, in a small town called Aneby.

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

Kristine Bratlie:
I started to play piano at the age of 9, and had many fine years developing. But what I think gave me that boost, that feeling of joy and meaning was when I began singing (and playing) in a gospel choir at 13. I felt this inspiration from the harmonies, the rhythm, the joy. It became really a manifestation of music in my soul.

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

Kristine Bratlie:
Tiziano Ferro "Lo Stadio"

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

Kristine Bratlie:
Ludovico Einaudi "Una Mattina"

Discover & Listen to Kristine Bratlie

Kristine Bratlie on Spotify

Kristine Bratlie's Signature Track

Kristine Bratlie on Social Media

kbratlie

kbratlie_composer_pianist

Kristine Bratlie's Website

www.kristinebratlie.com

Andrei Poliakov Interview on Nagamag

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: Andrei Poliakov, Interview, Interview (osf), Neoclassical, Piano, romantic, Soundscape|

Andrei Poliakov
Interview

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

Andrei Poliakov:
The foundation of my works is a well-educated neoclassical, romantic soundscape, but as soon as the music begins, it starts looking for cross-over opportunities to develop into an exciting house-party, jazz, pop, or electronic music, all these easily transforming to warm classical follow-ups – hence the eclectic style which I hope helps me tell better stories without words.
Essentially, I treat a musical genre as an additional color for the compositions, like seasoning in food; these colors help me get the emotions across and tell the stories to the listener with better precision and stronger impact:

I do not feel bound by a genre or a style, and instead I use and abuse the variety of styles to paint a deeper and more colorful, meaningful musical picture. Nevertheless, the Piano is always staying as a centerpiece of my compositions as I believe the richness and diversity of sounds of the “king of music” easily trumps any other instrument I know

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Andrei Poliakov:
I am a professional musician, composer and producer, received a fundamental classical music master education as a pianist and an oboist in Russia, and then continued with the professional musical career performing with world-renowned orchestras. Later I diversified my musical taste and capacity into jazz, rock, and pop genres, performing and recording with various bands and solo.
Since 2012 I have been living in Switzerland, Geneva, engaging into various professional activities both in artistic and business domains.

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

Andrei Poliakov:
I started learning piano at a very early age of 3 or 4 years old: my parents are pianists and music has always been in the center of my life.
When I was in school (yes, seriously underage…) my favorite pastime while cutting lessons was to grab a couple of friends, buy a box of beers, go to a nearest abandoned building (which we had a lot in Russia in the 90s), sit down on a window sill, take a sip of a cold one, and put the 6th symphony by Tchaikovsky, or the 2nd (no, 3rd… any of them!) Rachmaninov’s piano concerto on a Walkman and basically drown in emotions and thoughts… and beer.

Hence, the music that has influenced me the most, comes from the second half of 19th – first half of 20th century – and I must admit, most of it is Russian music or music with Russian roots. Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Skryabin, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Stravinsky – but also Mahler, Bruckner, Richard Strauss – these composers influenced my taste the most. Depth of thought, wide array of emotions, unimaginable soundscape and extremely clever and elegant arrangement solutions; beautiful harmonies and melodies…

Being a teenager, I of course dived into the world of rock and pop music, starting with The Beatles - the band that still remains my all time favorite, and all the usual suspects: Queen, Michael Jackson, Metallica... and this journey continues to date.

Nagamag:
Is there a story behind your latest release "Moonlight" and would you like to share it?

Andrei Poliakov:
I dedicated this short piano essay to the Moon and to the most beautiful village in the world: Céligny - a tiny little place in Switzerland, where I live.
Céligny is inhabited by incredibly kind, smart, and very warm people, has an unbelievably rich and beautiful nature, and stunning views along with very old historical houses drowning in floral multi-coloredness, and there is #MontBlanc 🏔 on the horizon... and don't get me started on the birds' chirping and singing...

Once it was a home for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, the latter is buried in the old cemetery of the village.

Céligny is an unfathomably cozy place on this planet, and I feel very blessed to have had a chance to engrave my very intimate memories of this village.

I have actually composed the Moonlight in the heart of a former water mill!

And then one early morning in February I woke up and couldn’t fall asleep again. I decided to go for a walk and took along a video camera, and there was a full Moon in the skies! I was so enchanted and intrigued by mysterious flair of that morning that I couldn’t stop the camera running - and then I decided to use some of that footage for the video of this track.

Nagamag:
Is Moonlight going to be a part of a bigger project you are working on right now?

Andrei Poliakov:
Yes, this new solo piano release “MOONLIGHT” is continuing to form my live album “Moonlight & Sunshine”, and it follows the previous releases of 2020: “Declaration of Love”, “Lullaby”, and “La Promenade in Paris”
The “Moonlight & Sunshine” album has an uncommon approach for the neoclassics genre: every next release features 2 different versions of one motive, coming to life as a piano solo piece, interpreting a narrative in the moonlight, and as a fully arranged piece, revealing the same story under the sunshine.

The album has been evolving live on the major streaming platforms as a playlist (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and others), thereby gradually forming the full album as new pairs of tracks are released.

The album Moonlight & Sunshine on Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/3MCyNWldBXCbZdLKehspn2?si=882c2e2dc09d4074

In a few weeks I am planning to follow up and release the fully arranged track called "Sunshine", which is inspired by the melodics of Moonlight, but features a duet of piano and violin (played by a very talented violinist from Russia) and other instruments.

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

Andrei Poliakov:
The Beatles "Here comes the Sun"

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

Andrei Poliakov:
Ludovico Einaudi Una Mattina