The American jazz musician on the ugly politics of music and facing prejudice by concert reviewers who tend to be “99 percent white men”
In the past decade and a half, American pianist-composer Vijay Iyer has grown to become one of the most celebrated names in modern jazz. He’s just completed writing a concerto for violin, an instrument he’s played since the age of three. He’s also fresh out of the studio after having recorded his 22nd studio album (that number increases if you count his numerous collaborations), a sextet recording which is due out in September.
His music career might be following a dream trajectory today, but things weren’t always this natural for the American-born Iyer, who counts himself in the first generation of South Asian Americans to grow up in the U.S. “I was very serious about music growing up, but aside from that being all of my extra-curricular activities when I was in high school, it wasn’t really seen as a serious thing to pursue... There was no precedent for us, there was no clear series of steps that one would go through to have a career in the arts,” says the 45-year-old musician. He adds, “We were a strongly curated community of Indians, or basically of non-Western immigrants, who had scientific and technical training,”
As a result, Iyer has a degree in physics and mathematics from Yale University. When he moved to California in his early twenties to pursue a doctorate in physics at UC Berkeley, he found a community of Asian-American musicians that accepted him into the fold, but it was the influence of saxophonist Steve Coleman that served as the catalyst for Iyer’s decision to drop his physics program and become a musician.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2017-Ausgabe von RollingStone India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 2017-Ausgabe von RollingStone India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
SPICE WORLD
Ice Spice ignored the haters, commanded our attention, and became a new kind of star. Next up: a great debut album
Pritam: THE HIT MAKER
INSIDE THE MIND OF HINDI FILM MUSIC DIRECTOR PRITAM CHAKRABORTY, WHO RECENTLY WON HIS FIRST NATIONAL AWARD FOR BRAHMASTRA: PART ONE - SHIVA, ON HOW HE CREATES SCORES THAT ENDURE AND SONGS THAT CLOCK MILLIONS OF STREAMS
K-Drama Flashback: 'My Name'
'My Name,' starring Han So-hee in the titular role, deftly subverts gender norms in society via a story of relentless fight for revenge
LAST NIGHT I DREAMT I WENT TO SILENT HILL AGAIN
The 'Silent Hill 2' Remake has you returning to that restless dream from 23 years ago
FIFTY FIFTY: 'WE'LL CONTINUE TO SHOW OUR BEST SELVES'
Fifty Fifty's single 'Cupid' was a viral hit. The K-pop girl group is back with renewed vigor, releasing its new album, 'Love Tune.' The following interview covers details, insights, and anecdotes
EXCISE DEPT: 'IT WAS IMPORTANT TO CREATE STRONG, BOLD CONTRASTS'
From An Armory Of Instruments To Personal Stories Told With An Uncharacteristic Straightforwardness, The Delhi/Goa Band Are Taking Over The World With Their Latest Full-Length
Mali is Heading to SXSW Sydney in October
For the longest time I have known that my music has a significant market outside the country,' says the Chennai/Mumbai pop artist
Ji Chang-wook, Lee Jun-ho, and Cha Eun-woo to Star in Superhero K-Dramas
Features the upcoming 'Twelve,' 'Cashero,' and 'The Wonder Fools' with the Korean stars in exciting new roles
Yoon Seobin Makes a Stylish Comeback with 'Rizz'
The Korean actor and singer well-known for starring in the K-drama Kissable Lips' returns to the music scene after a 10 months hiatus
Markio Tanaldo Pours Out Emotions in 'Mera Koi Na'
The Arunachal Pradesh singer-songwriter's second release is a poignant Hindi song that pays tribute to his late father