For this series of bloggy interviews – NY Artist Q&A – I’ve shared questions with young artists and musicians living in New York. This time: Cellist Mariel Roberts. She actually lives next door to me in Brooklyn and we will play a couple of shows in the Netherlands in November. (Nov 13, 2019, at Pom Eindhoven and November 15th at Museum de Lakenhal Leiden with ChocoJazz Vervool).
I’m excited that she wanted to be part of this little Q&A – couch session. In addition to the questions, I love to share a 2-minute video of a jam that we did in my place in Brooklyn together.
NY Artist Q&A with Mariel Roberts
* WHERE ARE YOU FROM, WHAT DO YOU MISS ABOUT HOME?
I’m from Denver, Colorado. I miss the sky there… its enormous and the smell of the pine trees. I also miss my family!
* FAVORITE PLACE IN THE CITY
The Met Museum. I wish I could live there.
* FAVORITE NEW MUSIC
Tim Hecker is always a huge favorite of mine- he has two recent albums which are great.
* FAVORITE OLD MUSIC
Been revisiting Schubert piano trios! And slightly less old, I’ve been listening to Alèmayèhu Eshèté.
* WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE NON-MUSIC THING TO DO
Pretty much anything outside, running, walking, hiking, exploring any new city on foot.
* WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON MUSICALLY
I’m trying to integrate improvisation more firmly into my life as a performer, so I’m trying to think about different ways I can approach that which could bring together a lot of the different musical backgrounds and interests I have.
* WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST FANBOY MOMENT?
Definitely meeting and playing with Bjork- I don’t know if I said anything to her that didn’t just come out as a squeak..! Or meeting the composer Helmut Lachenmann for the first time, he’s a giant both literally and figuratively.
* CRAZIEST GIG EXPERIENCE
My favorite gig story is always a wedding I played in high school. It was on a mountaintop in Colorado, I played the theme to “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” on solo cello in the middle of a field while the bride and groom rode up on horseback. They also did their vows from horseback if I remember…
* WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
Hopefully having a happy and healthy life playing music with people I love and respect!
* YOUR WEBSITE
* LINK TO A VIDEO OF YOU
If you like this series of bloggy interviews, check also the one with Louis Alexander Gasser Londoño. Also, if you want to support me, follow me on Patreon.
