A Demisemiquaver Rest

Asha Mevlana Builds a Teeny Musical Habitat

- Michael Molenda

 IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE THAT SUCH a huge personality could fit into such a small home, but, thanks to savvy design and a “scorched-earth policy” regarding her personal effects, Trans-Siberian Orchestra string director and soloist Asha Mevlana is living large in a house that takes up just 560 square feet.

“Being a musician and touring quite a bit, I wanted a place to come home to, but I didn’t need something huge,” says Mevlana. “I love the idea of living with just what is necessary. At one point, I had storage units in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and it was getting hard to keep up with all of it. One day, I simply decided to get rid of all the things I didn’t need, which left my music equipment, instruments, books, and clothes. Everything else went to Goodwill or the trash.”