Magda Mayas is a pianist living in Berlin. Developing a vocabulary utilizing both the inside as well as the exterior parts of the piano, using preparations and objects, she explores textural, linear and fast moving sound collage. Alongside the piano, Mayas has been performing on a Clavinet/Pianet, an electric piano from the 60s with strings and metal chimes, where she engages with noise and more visceral sound material, equally extending the instrumental sound palette using extended techniques and devices. Magda Mayas has performed and toured in Europe, the USA, Australia and Lebanon and collaborated with many leading figures in improvisation and composers such as John Butcher, Peter Evans, Annette Krebs, Phill Niblock, Andrea Neumann, Axel Dörner, Thomas Lehn, Tristan Honsinger and Tony Buck.
Facts
Im a virgo
Im generally optimistic
I love offal
Questions
What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
other music and art , nature, food , life , solitude
How and when did you get into making music?
my parents are classical string players, everyone at home was playing music, it was a natural thing to do . I started violin when I was 6 and switched to piano about 2 years later. I knew I wanted to be a musician early on
What are your 5 favourite albums of all time?
really can’t answer that…don’t really have favourites but could probably always listen to
Mississippi Fred McDowell
prince
kind of blue
and lately Horatiu Radulescu and string music from Armenia
What do you associate with Berlin?
space, independence, home
What’s your favourite place in your town?
Tempelhof, my flat in Victoriastadt
If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Id probably be a chef
What was the last record you bought?
LP, “Strings, guitar, oud, tar violin and more from the 78rpm era”
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
David Sylvian
What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
as a performer – lots of concerts, especially those with saxophone player Christine Abdelnour and Tony Buck
as a spectator….
Cecil Taylor in Prague around 1995
Prince in Berlin 2010….
How important is technology to your creative process?
hmmm digital technology indirectly, electronic music is a big influence though
Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career?
a brother, who’s a musician and a sister who’s a chef
theres respect and support from my sister
my brother reckons Im doing some sort of music therapy
Our Favourites:
Heartland
The Hanging Gardens
Links: Soundcloud | Magda Mayas nterview with (name of the artist) by Digital in Berlin
