Composers

Phil Holland Sings of Ancient Greece and the Celts (An Interview)

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 10 Comments

(pictures courtesy of her Myspace site)

Turn off the lights, open your windows. Above the ceiling are glow stars. Outside the crescent moon hangs like a golden boat. The scent of night flowers permeates the air and the stars twinkle above Van Gogh’s indigo sky . A gentle soprano glides accompanied by the majestic harp ,singing about people and places from long ago.

When Cleopatra rode across the Nile river,thousands of years ago; it is believed that she had her barge bathe in perfume and decorated with flowers . People knew then that she was arriving because of the scent. Phil Holland has that same commanding presence with her music .Her harp is the vehicle in which her voice rides on, and her music is atmospheric and beautiful. She could have gone Pop if she wanted to because she is well-versed in what’s happening to the music industry .She also collaborated and performed onstage with a lot artists. She could have pursued playing Classical music and performed in the great venues of the world. But instead, she chose the road less travelled.

This lady has so much to say about music, history and life. When she plays , she evokes the image of a Pre-Raphaelite character or a Madonna. But she is no coy Lady Marian. She is a traveller and an observer. Like an Archeologist, she writes what she stumbled upon through her songs. And they can be love songs…of a different kind. Born in the west coast of Scotland, she is now based in Italy. Over the years she ‘s able to create four albums.

Although she mixes a lot of World ,Jazz and New Age elements in her style, she often resorts to  acoustic arrangements.Instead of relying on technology to offer the sonic effect, she’d rather use natural ambiance to carry her sound. This is something totally missing in a lot of current recordings dealing with the genre. I am one of those who got a rare opportunity to Interview this artist and you can tell it has been a fun and rewarding experience.

I like your approach when it comes to the harp and voice. There is too much clutter in music today and hearing such simple arrangement is a breath of fresh air. Do you go into the studio with a specific formula in mind or are you the type that goes in empty-handed and comes out full?
I love purity of sound and I especially love it when music breathes. So often, musicians forget that, as they must breathe, so must the music. I generally go for an acoustic approach when I record. Just simple harp and voice, as it would be in a live performance. Occasionally I will over-record a violin track, or my voice singing a second time in harmony, but I like to keep things simple, both at the recording stage and at the mixing stage.
There is purity and power in your voice. How did you come out with such singing style? Maybe because from a very early age I sang a lot. At home I liked to go with myself on the piano singing folk songs and a lot of classical songs and arias, whatever I could find really. I also sang in an a cappella choir which did a lot of renaissance music. I think I learnt early on how to support my breathing.
The 26-stringed harp as an astounding instrument. Do you always take it anywhere?

In my earlier recordings I used a lightweight 26-stringed instrument which was light enough to carry anywhere, but it had tuning problems, reacting very badly to temperature and humidity changes, which could be a nightmare in a concert situation. I also needed something with more reach and versatility so I’m now playing a heavier 34-stringed harp. It’s still portable but I do sometimes need a helping hand from some kind-hearted strong-armed knight in shining armour!

The marriage of Greek and Celtic music is a fascinating concept. We know that ancient Celts travelled as far as Italy and Greece. Do you think that your music aims to awaken that collective consciousness buried deep within what we call as long cultural sleep?
Absolutely, yes! I am a firm believer that deep down we are all connected in some way. Years ago, people travelled much more than we imagine, and I think it is entirely possible that there are connections un-dreamed-of between cultures so apparently different. In some Irish folk tales, it is believed that Ireland was first populated by Greeks and Scythians a thousand years before Christ.

I found some curious similarities between Greek and Irish folk lore/mythology, and while it will always remain speculative, it got me thinking. So in my mind really we are all connected all over the world, and music is the one universal language that can bring us together

Other places you are marking down in your map for travel or perhaps musical fusion in future recordings?
I haven’t really got anything marked down. I’ll go where the wind takes me, and if inspiration hits then I’ll know it.

There are a number of mainstream artists today that cater to adult, sophisticated tastes. I think is is amazing especially that generally, it is thought that music buyers are younger people who are into disposable pop music. With this realization, do you think that with good promotion, your music can reach far wider audience than ever imagined?

I certainly would like to think so, who knows? It is strange that the music business not only tends to forget about the great number of people who love music and are curious and sophisticated in their tastes, but also assume that all young children will have the same taste for soulless commercially-produced “products”. It’s all about dumbing down and telling people what they should listen to, the same way the fashion industry tells us what to wear.

Who influenced you musically? And what were the artists you listened to(and still listening to now) whom you think encouraged you to do the music you are doing now?

Over the years so many different and varied artists have inspired me and influenced me that I find it really difficult to pin anything down. I find I can appreciate and be inspired by an artist who is miles away from my own sound. As a teenager I discovered David Bowie. I was blown away by “Offramp” and “As falls Wichita so falls Wichita falls” by Pat Metheny in the mid eighties. I adore Tchaikovsy and Vivaldi and loathe Mahler and Wagner. I listened to hours of Ella Fitzgerald when I was a teenager. I never really sang along to pop songs, except for Kate Bush. I love what Sinead O’Connor is doing getting back to her roots. The list goes on…

I was definitely influenced by the folk song background of my family. I then studied classically and was strongly influenced by all the musicians I met and all the music I played. When I was studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London, I began to feel a negative vibe in the hot house atmosphere and the “preciousness” of the place and that definitely pushed me to try things out on my own. I tried jazz and played with some members of a big band from the 80s London scene called “Loose Tubes”. I got talking to Eddie, the flute player and he took me to the Camden Composer’s Workshop where I experimented some more. I was very aware that my classical training had inhibited my ability to improvise and I wanted to break out of that box. I think at that time I was starting to look for my own voice, the sound I wanted to make. I played with a Mexican Mariachi band, recorded a couple of albums for pop artists, even did a single for a gothic punk group. A long story ensues, but I found myself drawn back to my Celtic roots and when my daughter was born I sang so many songs for her and this pulled me further in that direction. I love writing music. When I’m in a creative mood I stop listening to music completely and I find that silence will inspire me more than anything else. The sound of the sea and the clicking of boat masts and seagulls are all sounds that inspire me, maybe because I grew up by the sea on the west coast of Scotland. Loud, violent sounds upset and disturb me.

You are also doing live performances. How was it like to play side by side with Alan Stivell? I love his music.

I love performing live. Generally-speaking you feel a real bond with the audience. Alan Stivell is a great and fascinating artist. I played in the same festival as him. There were three harp concerts and mine was the night before his. I was interested to hear how he was experimenting with his sound and form and how he obviously did not feel constrained by genres. It was very liberating and ground-breaking.

Let us talk about Greece and Sappho.I learned that in 2009, you launched and conceived the first Sappho Festival by performing on a rock in which she jumped to her death 2,500 years ago. What was it like?

It was amazing. Sappho jumped to her death from Lefkas rock. For a couple of years I had been thinking how I would like to play where she had stood and feel the presence of this great poetess/musician. I had written a song called Lefkadia Sappho which I also performed that night on the very edge of the rock in front of about 400 people. The only lighting was the full moon and hundreds of candles. It really was a very special atmosphere.

You are a master violin and piano player who studied professionally. Tell us about each instrument as to what comes to your mind .

I actually started, as do many children, with the recorder (descant and tenor). Afterwards I moved on to the piano and the violin. I loved them both equally. They both gave me different things. With the violin I could play in orchestras, quartets and trios as well as playing solo, and with the piano I could play alone and still create harmony, accompany my singing, accompany others. I came to the harp later and it seemed the perfect instrument. The first time I touched it I was in love. Where the violin is passionate but demanding, draining you of energy until you feel exhausted,

the harp is a generous instrument that gives energy and serenity in equal measure.

For you, what does self-development means(musically and personally)?

I want to be myself and be happy being myself. Musically and personally. It’s not conscious but I think my music reflects the serenity that I’m looking for. I don’t like to feel boxed-in. If my music reaches out and touches someone, that makes me happy. After one concert in Italy a young Indian guy came up to me and said in English, “Your music has entered in my heart and now I will carry it with me.” That touched and encouraged me more than he will ever know.

To know more of Phil Holland, please click the links below.

http://www.philholland.net/http://www.myspace.com/philholland2

http://philholland-celticharpandvoice.blogspot.com/

Alf Kelty on Joy Is…( Interview)

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

 “My life from the start was filled with the sound of piano. Before I could read I started fiddling with the piano. One day I started playing a song I have heard many times before. It came out of the blue and ever since that day the piano made sense”.

The creative process in music is something that is fascinating to me. I like the idea of being in the studio and knowing what musicians use in making songs.  It is a treat to know what inspires them and what their influences are in creating that distinctive style.

In this Interview, we are going to meet Alf Kelty. Let’s get to know the man behind the The album Joy Is… His music is dreamlike, vivacious and spiritual. There is  this sweet optimism and a sense of control in his compositions. And you can bet he is at home in  a live recording environment. As he mentions in this interview:”  I ‘m a hardcore recording artist that believes in spontaneous musical combustion.”

You can hear traces of Classical, Celtic and Folk influences in his instrumental pieces. To hear his songs, simply visit his page at myspace: http://www.myspace.com/alfatlastree

Tell us a little bit more about the place where you live in South Africa.

I live in Hartenbos a suburb of a picturesque coastal town called Mossel Bay (Bay of Mussels). It forms part of the Garden Route, which is one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in South Africa. I love it here. If there is one South African town where one should live it is Mossel Bay. It is a tranquil place with lots of sunshine, beautiful beaches and mountain views. It does not get any better than this.

You are a self-taught pianist. What is it about the piano that spoke to you as a child?

I grew up in a nature reserve called the Kruger National Park. The community was very small and my mom happened to be the local piano teacher. As a child many a morning I woke to the sound of my mom playing the piano, and in the afternoons the children came for piano lessons. My life from the start was filled with the sound of piano. Before I could read I started fiddling with the piano. One day I started playing a song I have heard many times before. It came out of the blue and ever since that day the piano made sense. It happened without any rhyme or reason. I think certain people are born with a musical intuition. And in the right circumstances it comes to the fore. It can’t be explained. I feel very blessed that I was raised in such a milieu. I think it is easy for people to miss their callings in life. On the other hand my mother tried to teach me to read music and play from the book many times since then.  It never worked out. I always loved playing by ear and making my own melodies. I was a bit hard headed and here I am today still doing my own thing. I must say – sometimes I wish I listened to my mother. It would have been wise to get some proper classic training. It must be very fulfilling to sit and play an intricate piece of classic music from the book. I look up to those musicians.

What’s the creative process in writing a song?

First of all I never start a song with a specific image or theme in mind. I try to keep it as spontaneous as possible. Usually it starts with a few lucky notes, which leads to the right emotions or imagery. I want my music to be without pretension. Spontaneity takes center stage in my music. I let the notes run their course. Afterwards I will select the best parts of the recording and weave them together. Usually I leave a recording for a few days and come back to it. If it makes sense and awaken the right emotions I will work on it more and refine it. Rarely will I add anything to it. Just clean it up a little and play around with the material. In reality the final product you are listening to is the core of an elaborate jam session. That is also why my tracks are so short. It stops where the emotions and imagery stopped. Rarely will I perform a piece twice. It is once-off musical snapshots that you are listening to. I ‘m a hardcore recording artist that believes in spontaneous musical combustion.

What are the musicians you listened to as a child and then growing up

My earliest memories of music were ABBA and Boney M. Later on I listened to Kylie Minogue, Suzanne Vega, Sandra, Madonna, Cindy Lauper. The usual 80’s play list. Most importantly I discovered Enya and Andreas Vollenweider in the late 80’s.

Tell us about your album Joy Is..

My album “Joy is…” was released September 2008. It consists of 21 instrumental tracks. It is available at CDBABY.COM in mp3 format or CD.  It is also available in mp3 format through ITUNES and various other portals.

What’s the timeline in creating this album?

“Joy is”… was made over the course of many years. When I came to the point where I decided, “Now it is time” I had to go and select from a bunch of compositions old and new. The tracks that made it onto the album were the ones that held the fondest memories and moments of joy. Some compositions were more than 9 years old. I see “Joy is…” with its many imperfections as a scrapbook documenting the core of my musical self-discovery. I am glad today that I recorded and kept those joyful musical moments. Not only for posterity’s sake but also for the joy it brings me to share it with those willing to listen.

Did you work alone in the studio?

Yes I work alone in my home studio. I wasted some money on fancy studio time in the past. But I have discovered that working on my own, with my own unconventional ways works best.

Tell us about the instruments and gear you used in this recording…the mixing…simply the whole process.

My home studio consists of a very basic electronic music setup. I find that it works well with my spontaneous ways. It consists of a music keyboard, Midi Interface, Soundcard and Midi Sequencing Software. All my music is done electronically. So I do not work with live audio recordings. All the sounds are electronic in nature, triggered by me playing the keyboard. I tend to work with ethnic instrumental sounds. I love Celtic harp and Oriental instruments. I find it challenging working with these sounds electronically. I always aim to keep the sound as acoustic as possible. I think it is a key factor in keeping my tracks sounding as spontaneous, unedited and live as possible.

You credit Enya, Andreas Vollenweider, Vangelis, Yanni and Deep Forest as part of the mix in your music. What an interesting mix. Tell us more about them and why you love their music.

I think Enya and Andreas Vollenweider’s music had the greatest impact on me musically and psychologically. Their music opened the doors to a whole new world of emotions. Their music has a magical quality to them. As a child their music took me on the most amazing journeys imaginable. Their music took me to new emotional heights and today it still does. I think Enya and Andreas Vollenweider were unique. They were musical pioneers in their own right. The world of music would have been a much poorer place without them. They are my Idols. Other artists like Vangelis, Yanni and Deep Forest should be credited because I feel many artists like me composing music within the new age/world genre should be thankful for the influence they had on the music industry. These artists gave something fresh and extra ordinary to the music industry and opened the minds of many people to a different kind of music. I think each and every New Age/ World Musician is attempting in some way to follow in their footsteps. Aiming to gain as much success and respect as these pioneers did. We should be forever grateful for their works.

I love your take on melodies. I think melodies are your strong point in song writing. Where did you get this gift of magical melodies?

To me the main purpose of music is to create positive emotion and well-being. One of the main means of achieving that is through stirring and striking melodies. Personally I do not like mindless music with a lack of melody. Nor do I like aggressive or negative music. I think it is evident in my taste of music that melody is important. Enya is a great example of what can be achieved with simplistic melody. I have found that composing striking melodies are in the luck of the draw. The longer you play around and scramble through the notes with a fine tuned ear the sooner you will strike a piece with potential. The trick is recognizing the beautiful parts and rejecting the bad parts. That is why I leave a recording for a few days and come back to it again. If it stirs good emotions like before, it will get attention. If not it will be scrapped. But there is always a little bit of magic included in the whole process. I think every musician ever so often stops and ask him or herself  “How did I come up with this? Where did it come from? It must have been my muse?” Who can say why or how it happens? But it remains one of my driving forces to make music. The unknown of what will be next in this endless universe of sound.  Constantly striving to discover the most beautiful and divine melody of all time. That challenge keeps me going. Like Natasha Bedding field sings in her song – These Words – “tryin to find the magic, tryin to write a classic ” That’s what it’s all about really.

What’s your ideal time of the day to compose music?

Mostly I compose at nighttime. I am more relaxed and less distracted. But the creative urge can hit at any time. So one needs to follow the natural flow of things and it will lead to useful material. No use in pushing it. Weeks or months may pass between compositions. So the trick is to let it fly at the perfect time.

Do you get inspired by places or landscapes when you write music? What are the places you’ve been to?

Yes. Nature is one of my main sources of inspiration. I tend to zoom in on the little things in life. Be it a bird in flight or a flower growing in the back yard. I draw inspiration from those mundane things knowing at the right time they will aid me in making music. I also believe that many a new age musician has a special fantasia from where they create. A place where every thing is at peace. Where everything is possible. A mental utopia that needs to be unlocked each time they compose. I have found it to be one of the major keys to my creativity. Entering a special place where the world disappears and where I can reach new emotional heights. It is a combination of these experiences that inspires me to make the kind of music I do. It has been like this since the start.

I have traveled to Egypt, Israel and Mozambique. I would like to encourage everyone to go and visit these countries. Each and every one of these countries is amazing.

Any touring plans in mind?

Music wise. Not soon. They way my music is constructed makes it nearly impossible to perform live. Unless I totally redo them more simplistically which in my mind will kill them and me all together (laughing out loud). Like I said most of my tracks are spontaneous snapshots. And I think it is better we keep it that way. But with future projects I might just (small might) end up on stage doing a little tour. Traveling wise there are so many places I would love to go and see. Just sitting here thinking about it makes me HIGLY depressed so lets not elaborate on that any further.

What’s your message to our readers?

It may sound like a cliché. But people get disheartened too easily. I think a lot of talent goes to waste because people stop dreaming. I am nowhere near where I see myself. But I have dared to keep to this dream of making and sharing my music. And each tiny step has brought me a deep sense of satisfaction. Today I am much further than I ever thought I would musically be. In a nutshell, I would like to say… never stop dreaming. And if you did, it is time you start again. You will be amazed what you can achieve when you stick to your dreams. God Bless and Thank You!

 

Lisa Gerrard’s Website

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

518993 Hi folks. It’s a lovely morning here. I just heard the King Of Pop has passed away. My condolences to his family and friends. Anyway I took a peak at Lisa Gerrard‘s website and it is undergoing construction. Maybe something big is coming up. But the picture is shocking. I looks like she is underwater and dead. Look here Well, it looks like our Gothic Queen is still Gothic after all. Been a fan of Dead Can Dance ever since I got hold of their Into The Labyrinth album . It’s a mixture of Middle Eastern/Goth/Celtic and other stuff. Very inventive.  Lisa Gerrard an Australian of Irish descent won more converts when she actually lent her compositional skills to the movie Gladiator.