Part 2

Could you describe your creative process on the basis of a piece, live performance or album that's particularly dear to you, please?

For me it is often a product of who I'm collaborating with. I always want to find the repertoire that will work well for us as a group. My most recent album, As Bright as the Skies are Blue was kind of my "pandemic project." The solo and duo sections are a sonic representation of that time — we were so often alone or with only another person or two during that time. I didn't plan that to happen, but as I reflect on it, it seems that one or two voices was all I could stand during those long stretches of quiet at home.

Listening can be both a solitary and a communal activity. Likewise, creating music can be private or collaborative. Can you talk about your preferences in this regard and how these constellations influence creative results?

I like both! I have been an ensemble player for most of my career, and I love the energy working with really great musicians and hearing how they approach music. It fills up your creative palette with so many new options and it is a very fulfilling experience. It has only been the last 5 years or so that I have spent some time really focusing on my solo work. I honestly think that it was the right time for me. I feel more at ease with myself now than I did when I was younger, and I don’t know that I would have enjoyed it as much as I do now. I now have much more confidence to trust my judgement and musical voice.

How do your work and your creativity relate to the world and what is the role of music in society?
    
I have been very lucky to perform for people from many walks of life, ages, cultures, and positions in society. What has brought more pride and joy than anything else is when I’ve managed to choose something to perform that offers comfort or momentary escape. We all have those favourite moments in our careers… I have many, but three that have been in my heart all had something in common. The feedback after the performance was that the people I played for felt seen and acknowledged in some way. That is all I hope to do.

Art can be a way of dealing with the big topics in life: Life, loss, death, love, pain, and many more. In which way and on which occasions has music – both your own or that of others - contributed to your understanding of these questions?
    
I don’t know that I would ever set out to deliberately examine any of these topics and try to make a statement on them with my music. I think how I am performing is often affected by these very human “big topics.”

There seems to be increasing interest in a functional, “rational” and scientific approach to music. How do you see the connection between music and science and what can these two fields reveal about each other?  
    
The connection between these two fields is curiosity. It’s only what we do with that curiosity that diverges our paths. There has been ebb and flow in the interest to make music more “scientific” - and I think that is natural. It’s impossible to not notice the world around you, so when society is excited about space travel, microchips, and modern forms of clean energy – it’s going to be in your mind when you’re creating.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you feel as though writing or performing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

    I have talked with friends before about how interesting I find it that any person will take the opportunity at Christmas to express themselves through decoration… they often may not decorate, craft, or create any other time of the year, but then they may have the biggest and brightest displays. It feels like Christmas decorating is socially acceptable, and it gives anyone the chance to express themselves in a way that doesn’t draw any undue attention.
    That is kind of what being a musician feels like to me. I may have a heart overflowing with love, and it would be slightly uncomfortable or out of the ordinary to express that with words or actions - but if I sing about it, no one will think I’m having a life crisis. Music is a licence to express yourself.

Music is vibration in the air, captured by our eardrums. From your perspective as a creator and listener, do you have an explanation how it is able to transmit such diverse and potentially deep messages?

Music certainly has the physical advantage of reaching your body with seemingly tangible vibrating energy - and these vibrations do affect you both physically and emotionally. Other than the vibration itself, it’s the context of music that will really transmit messages. Playing a melody that reminds someone of a certain time in their life is going to bring those memories to the front of their mind and they will likely have an emotional response to not only the music, but the associated memory.