Five Minutes with Rodrigo Villanueva
Tell us a bit about how you began playing with the drums at 15? Well I actually started a little before that. I started taking lessons when I was 13 with a private teacher and by the age of 15, I got my first drum set. At the beginning my parents were a bit hesitant,...
Five Minutes with Matthew Sayersz
Describe your singing style. I take some jazz, funk, soul, R&B and a little bit of pop, and mix it all up. If you want to hear what I’m all about, check out my album “Cinta dan Sayang”. You’re born and raised in Bandung. How is it like growing up in a highly musical saturated...
Five Minutes with Chika Asamoto
How is ‘Catalpa’ different than your previous albums? Catalpa is more of an experiment. I’m always influenced by jazz and by 70’s Miles Davis kind of electric experimental music. So this was a blend of it all. Its kind of a homage to my idol Miles Davis. What was it about improvisation that attracted you...
Five Minutes with Diego Maroto
How did taking private lessons playing saxophone evolve to studying art history in university? Do you think your study major plays a role in how you perform now? I have been playing saxophone since I was little. I never stopped playing. I never stopped practicing. I grew up with music. Pursuing a major in art...
Five Minutes with Natasha Patamapongs
Complete this sentence. “This Valentine I wish/hope that…” This Valentine’s Day I wish that people will always be kind and loving to one another regardless of race, gender, social status or any kind of superficial judgment. Was singing your target when you began to study jazz in Carnegie Mellon? How did it begin and how...
Five Minutes with Ti Harmon
Tell us who is Ti Harmon? Ti Harmon is an American jazz and soul music singer. She sings a lot of different styles as it’s important for her to use her voice for those different styles, but she focuses mainly on jazz, folk, soul and blues. She’s always very eclectic. What she sings also depends...
Five Minutes with Madeline Bell
How did the collaboration with The Hans Vroomans Trio come about? Well Hans, Frits and Frans, I know them all from Holland. I’ve known Hans since he was about 19. Hans and Frans also played with the Jazz orchestra in Amsterdam. I’ve worked with Frits regularly for 20 over years. And he being the drummer...
Five Minutes with Az Samad
Explain in layman terms, what is ‘fingerstyle’ technique? Well, some people use a pick to play guitar. I use my fingers. People often lose picks, but I don’t lose my fingers. Thank god. When you play fingerstyle guitar, you get to play multiple parts at the same time. It’s a little bit like juggling. You...
Five Minutes with Louis Soliano
Given that the entire family pays music, what made you choose the drums? Well my father was a great violinist, percussionist and drummer. He always wanted me to be a musician. It so happened that he taught me everything he knew. As a young lad, I was actually not so interested. I was more attracted...
Five Minutes with Barnicle Bill Trio
Can each of you describe your backgrounds in music and how Barnicle Bill Trio came about? Mark: My dad was a piano player. I grew up listening to jazz music although he was a classical pianist. After hearing the music of James Brown, I wanted to play bass. I started playing it then took lessons....
Five Minutes with Xiong
Tell us about yourself and how Musica Popular Brasileira came about. Oh. Long story. Well, it all started when I started playing solo in Langkawi. I found it very hard to play solo for three sets a night. So I started to sing Brazilian music. That was where it actually started. I did that for...
Five Minutes with Isabella Soliano
Could you name your family members that are actively performing today? All 6 Solianos are still performing. There’ Valentino who plays bass, Rizal plays drums, Tristano who’s in Langkawi plays the piano, well, he’s pretty much an all-rounder. I play the piano and sing, Coni plays the trumpet and Irene sings. Tell us a bit...