Interview
How long have you been making music and how did you decide to start?
I've been involved in music since I was 4 years old, but since I was little I've always felt a connection to rhythms and sounds. Just before I started university I became close with a group of musicians and through that company, I started to see and feel all the cool things that happen around being involved in music. I've always been a fan of collective activities because I played volleyball for 7 years and being in a group with close friends, making music that you all like is something special.
What song do you remember most vividly from your childhood?
One Step Close - Linkin Park. Whenever we went on holiday in the car, my dad would play 'Hybrid Theory' - the Linkin Park album - over and over again.
Who are the artists you've listened to and played the most?
Alpha Mist, A Tribe Called Quest, Meshuggah, The Pharcyde, Suicide Boys, Code Orange, MF DOOM, Gojira.
Which musical style are you most advanced in?
I've been playing metal for the longest time, but I've been playing a lot more alternative hip-hop and jazz for the last year.
What does music give you?
So much freedom for expression. A better connection between soul, body, and mind. A way to fix your mood, to forget about everything bad that happens to the world and around you. Just to surrender to the moment. It really makes you feel alive.
Why did you decide to start teaching music?
I had a very good math teacher in high school who was not only very good at explaining, but also showed me that anything is possible if you are persistent, hardworking, and patient. He was also a very good life mentor. I believe parts of my character formed because of him. After high school, I believed that really anything is possible as long as you give it enough time and most importantly, desire. A year ago, I started taking drum lessons with Professor Hristo Yotsov from the conservatory to expand my vocabulary in other genres. He was also a very good mentor. From his lessons, I absorbed many of his super helpful methods of teaching and developing a rapport with students. It motivated me tremendously to teach.
What is the most important thing to learn in music?
You have to build a habit. You have to play every day, it might only be 10-15 minutes, but playing is how you develop essential muscle memory. Patience. To believe in yourself. To keep learning new things. To listen to a lot of music.
What is RockSchool for you?
A place for development, fun, a place where young musicians can develop their potential. A place to relax after a long day, go to a lesson, or book a rehearsal because you want to play so much.
What music is valuable to you?
As a musician with a taste for many genres, I believe any music that comes from the heart and soul is valuable. Music that's performed with great feeling and desire, that energy is felt by the listener. Even through a recording, you can feel the energy resonating from the performer. In short, any original music that is made with desire and passion has value in my opinion.
What's the most extravagant thing you've listened to lately?
PoiL, Car Bomb, Mark Guliana
Do you have a dream related to music?
I want to one day work in my studio and do everything related to it. Lessons, recordings, rehearsals, production, in short - playing. I would really like to go on an international tour with my metal band one day. I'm working on a drum teaching project that would be very interactive, even through a screen. I really want to play on a 3 piece kit, in places with unique scenery. To play in jazz bars.
