My Interview with acupofmusic.com

My CD, “Melodia” is sold at a site called acupofmusic.com which specializes in mood music and new age recordings. Below is my “interview” with them where I answered interview questions online. Much of my answers revolve around my music in “Melodia”, but I talk about other stuff too. Here it is:

ACM: From your albums, which three tracks are your favorites and why? Start from the one you like most.

I think my favorite tracks from “Melodia” would be “Out of the Darkness” “Ice Lake” , “Romanza”. “Out of the Darkness” is a simple, but beautifully crafted melody which is backed up by a Bach style accompanment of arppegios and then a string chorale. I imagined a flight of a bird out of a storm into the light. Both “Ice Lake” and “Romanza” evoke romantic mystery and they sound very cinematic. The listener can imagine a specific place as well. For me, “Ice Lake” evokes a large mountain lake, and Romanza makes me think of a rocky windswept coastline.

ACM: How or where did you get the idea/inspiration when you composed your music?

Often I would dream melodies in the early morning, and then wake up and jot them down on music manuscript I had by the bed just for that purpose. One one occasion the music was inspired by a film in which I was an actor. I always start with the melody first, and craft it till I think it is perfect. Then, I begin to arrange, harmonize, and orchestrate it.

ACM: Define your music. Also, what would you like the listener to get from it?

“Melodia” is cinematic music, with various emotional colors which tint each song. I want the listener to feel the ocean of spirit and feeling inside themselves, and resonate to the instrumental sounds they hear.

ACM: What inspired you to become a musician/artist?

My father was an amateur violinist, and had a classical record collection. So I was exposed to music at an early age and took to it. He also took me to symphony concerts in Dallas and I was mesmerized by the sound and the visuals of a live orchestra. (We tended to sit close to the stage.)

ACM: What makes you different from other musicians/artists?

Probably that I am a crossover between classical, cinematic, and romantic pop. Of course, there are other musicians doing this, but my unique lifetime influences and interests make my version of crossover my own.

ACM: What makes you proud about your music?

That it is all well crafted, well performed, and communicates the beauty of emotion and colors that I intended.

ACM: Who are your admired musicians?

There are too many to recall all of them. Growing up, I loved to listen to the Russian violinist David Oistrakh. Today I love the sound of Joshua Bell. Among rock groups I love the 80’s group called “One 2 Many”, and of course loved the Beatles, Led Zepphelin, and the Moody Blues from the ’60’s and ’70’s. My favorite classical composers would probably have to be Rachmaninov and Brahms, though there are so many more I love. Recently I’ve enjoyed listening to “Celtic Woman” and to native American flute music.

ACM: On your private time, what kind of music do you listen to?

Recently, not much. When I’m not performing, I’ve enjoyed being outdoors somewhere quiet and enjoying the silence.

ACM: What is your goal as a musician?

To take people with me on an emotional and visionary ride. Also to enjoy myself on as many live gigs as possible!

ACM: Are you currently working on a new album? If so, what do you have in mind?

Having just finished “Melodia”, which was a year and a half project, I am just resting (and marketing). I have a total of 7 CD titles to my discography, and I feel like resting on my laurels for a while. However, faintly taking shape in my mind is a “meditation” CD featuring unaccompanied violin in an improvisatory melodic flight of fancy. Right