S o u n d L A B Cologne 2010

Interview: Rie Nakajima

—>
Rie Nakajima (Japan)
soundartist living London (UK)

—>

Interview: 10 questions

1. When did you start making music, what is/ was your motivation to do it?

I made my first sound work in 2002. It was a piano piece based on Mozart’s last letter to his wife. I interpreted the alphabets in the words of the letter to musical notes and played it with piano. I played piano from 4 years old and stopped when I was 17th. When I made the piece, I was taking a sculpture course in London but I suddenly just missed touching piano and producing sounds through my fingers. I think I was looking for something but also quite nostalgic. Since this piece I have been working with sound.

2. Tell me something about your living environment and the musical education.

I played piano from 4 to 17 years old in Japan. My great grandfather was a conductor at Russian church and my grand father learned piano and his sister was a violinist. My aunt does piano too… when I was small I had been told I would be the 4th generation if I continue the piano. However my dad did not like all environment of music education in Japan. After I quitted piano, I decided to study art history in Tokyo and then shifted my subject to sculpture, then moved to London. Now I am ending up with making sound……I don’t know what happened…

3. Is making music your profession? What is the context in which you practice music nowadays?

I am a postgraduate student so it is not my profession. I am taking MFA sculpture course in London.

4. How do you compose or create music or sound? Have you certain principles, use certain style etc?

I normally bring several ideas and materials　which I concern into the space where I exhibit or the work will be actualized and start to make by responding to the character of the space. I believe space and time are the most important materials in my work. I don’t know if I have a style or principles but I enjoy work between sculpture and music.

5. Tell me something about the instruments, technical equipment or tools you use?

For sound installation I use anything which would produce sounds. I have been used mobile phones, paper, fans, whistles, radios, tubes and people. I use computer a bit for editing but not as much as other sound artist do…the way I work is extremely analogue.

6. What are the chances of New Media for the music production in general and you personally?

I don’t know. I feel the chances are infinite. For me sound can be sculptural material also sculptural space can be media for music. All media can be transparent.

7. How about producing and financing your musical productions?
I feel I have just started this area so my thought has not involved enough in those.

8. Do you work individually as a musician/soundartist, or in a group or collaborative? If you have experience in both, what is the difference, what do you prefer?

I do not collaborate. I have been always attracted by the idea of collaboration but it never happened to me in reality. I think it is really difficult concept.

9. Is there any group, composer, style or movement, which has a lasting influence on making music?

Grenn Gould, Grigory Sokolov.

10.What are your future plans or dreams as a soundartist or musician?

Not so much plans but with my work I would like to continue to work with sculpture, sound art and some other fields.

short bio:
Rie Nakajima born in Japan, lives and works in London. She is currently studying of MFA Sculpture at Slade School of Fine Art. She studied art theory in Japan then trained as sculpture in London and now mainly works with sound art.

Login