The protagonist of today: George-Denis Ardelean. "When I began to compose my own music, I realized that music was the only thing I wanted to do".
28.06.2022
Our protagonist today is the composer and pianist author of "Unfold".
I knew music would be a part of my life in some shape from the moment I started learning my first instrument. Then, as I began to compose my own music, I realized that music was the only thing I wanted to do.
How and when is your passion for music born and who inspired you to become a musician?
Music has always been a part of my life, but as a child, you don't give it much thought; you just enjoy the sounds. Looking back, I always had music and sounds playing in my head, and my way into music came kinda natural, by itself. It was like a pull into this world, because I've felt the need to express myself through music.
Was it easy to follow this passion for you, or did you have difficulty? If yes, which ones?
I knew music would be a part of my life in some shape from the moment I started learning my first instrument. Then, as I began to compose my own music, I realized that music was the only thing I wanted to do. As time went by, composing for me started to turn into an obsession in that I think of it all the time. Therefore, It didn't seem difficut to choose this path, because I feel like I didn't really have a choice to make.
I usually begin with an intention or a story I want to say. From there, I wander around in the dark, attempting to come up with something to say.
What is inspiration or inspirational to you? How do you live an inspired life?
Everything that happens, everything that I see, read or listen around me I find inspiration in and it's inspiring to me. I really try to be open to everything, good or bad in the same way, to let myself be affected, disturbed even by an idea or event. The result of this that I'll try to express the way I feel about it, and putting it into music is my first reaction, because music is its own language, and it excels at expressing things that words fail to do.
How could you describe your way of composing?
I usually begin with an intention or a story I want to say. From there, I wander around in the dark, attempting to come up with something to say. It's sometimes a linear process, in which I have a concept and then try to come up with ways to represent it. Other times, I'll come across new ideas along the process, and the original concept evolves into something completely different. It's a combination of planning and accident.
What is most challenging about what you do?
I believe that one of the main challenges is to simply remain true to the material you have and follow it wherever it may lead. I try to remain open about what the material can do.
What are your reference musicians?
I've been impacted by a wide range of musicians and musical genres, and I continue to do so. Max Richter, Phillip Glass, Ennio Morricone, John Williams, Alexandre Desplat and, of course, the classics, Bach, Mozart, and Chopin, are among my greatest influences. Artists like Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and even heavy metal bands like Iron Maiden have also a big influence on me.
Recently your new work "Unfold" came out, can you tell us a bit about it?
"Unfold" is a collection of six pieces for piano and strings. For me, music is about telling stories, so I wanted to channel the thoughts and feelings I was having at the time I produced the pieces about various topics that were on my mind, many of which were tied to and inspired by the period we went through the previous two years. I may say that the concept of "time" is an obsession of mine, and each piece captures a feeling on a giving moment in time, and I tried to "hunt down" the sound that to me was closest to what I wanted to say, so when listening to the music, it will unfold that story to the listener, from where also the name of the album - "Unfold".
What is creativity to you? And: what is your creative process?
For me, creativity is a form of expression and being able to put into music what I want to say. My creative process begins with an idea or something that I want to express. Then, I try to find a musical idea, theme or sound that convey the heart of the story I want to tell. From there it's a continuos process of developing that idea, which can be different every time and you can discover new ideas along the way, wich will further deepen and enrich the narrative timeline and the intention you started with.
What do you think about today's music scene?
There is a lot of demand for original music these days in film, TV, series, games, podcasts, concert music so that contemporary music is reaching a pretty wide audience. I think also that social media does offer an extremely powerful marketing tool, if you know hot to use it and have the time to do it. This are all positive things about today's music scene, because there are a lot ways you can express yourself. But I believe that we need also to find ways of engaging the audience into the music itself, because music is one of the most dominant ways of experiencing life, it's more than just hearing. It's about expressing and articulating feelings, stories and experiences.
What are your goals/dreams for the future?
I'd like to do some live concerts with the pieces from my new album "Unfold," and I'm hoping it will be possible this year. In addition, I'm scoring a few films, which makes me very happy and grateful because film and cinema are two of my great passions, and I hope I can continue doing it.
Who is the artist?
George Denis Ardelean is a composer living in Romania. Self-taught pianist, George started learning first learning the accordion at a young age, before starting to study the piano. His compositions capture both sad melancholy and hope which derives from his strong interest for film music and storytelling. His works are marked by delicate combinations of instruments, sounds and textures designed to strike that particular emotional chord in the audience, essential for the musical story and experience to be complete. Each piece of music is a journey to the vastness of his inner world.
Listen to "Unfold"
Digital platforms: https://bfan.link/unfold