So thrilled to have been a part of this special project with The Beatles. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get to spend an afternoon with Paul McCartney, but it’s something I will cherish for the rest of my life. Thank you @zimmittimusicgroup for the opportunity 🥹
It is with great pleasure that I share the live video for “Twinkling Lights Reverie.” On a rare rainy day in LA last week, Hillary Smith and I gathered around the fire at my childhood home and played this piece - captured in an absolutely magical video by Connor Vance.
Though I met Connor as a violinist many years ago (as the 18-year-old shredding onstage with @dustbowlrevival ), I quickly discovered that he can play just about any instrument, is a stellar string composer, an avid audio engineer, and a very talented photographer. He took some of my earliest artist photos that I still cherish to this day. And I have learned so much from him, as both a musician and producer. He is my go-to set of ears and the most joyful collaborator. When I asked him to record this live video, he agreed with his characteristic enthusiasm and came through in spades.
Special thanks to @ritamusicstudio for letting me play your enchanting Bosendorfer. It’s rare that I’m not singing in a performance, but I didn’t need to here - your piano sang for me.
✨
In the early days after the birth of my second daughter this summer, I sat down at the piano with her snuggled on my chest and began to play a lullaby version of Twinkling Lights. I had heard from so many people that they loved to share this music with their children, and it felt like the natural thing to play for her. I had never tried it on the piano, but an arrangement quickly began to take form, into which I infused my hopes and dreams for her - a tender reverie of love and motherhood.
I hummed a melody but knew I wanted it to be played on the cello ultimately. So I asked one of my dearest friends, Hillary Smith, who had just become a mother herself, to play it. She shaped those lines so beautifully, weaving her love for her own daughter into the music.
The final piece of the puzzle was a friend from my days in Paris, Yaya Chang, whose art I had admired for many years. She created a magical painting of me and my girls looking up in wonder at a twinkling night sky - the perfect cover art to represent this music. And fun fact: she did this entirely the night before having her third daughter!!
I was lucky to have some pretty amazing creative energy on this project, for which I am so grateful. I am much indebted to my friend Ted Wulfers, who came to my house when I had an 8-week-old baby and performed some engineering wizardry to record me playing on my mother’s piano (a gift from her own mother). And to the incredible Connor Vance who has been there every step of the way and shot a gorgeous video that we’ll share with you next week. Darrell Thorp created the mix of my dreams and Hans DeKline mastered it with his golden touch.
I hope this piece finds its way into the quiet moments, the breaths in between, the reveries. ✨
“For Beverly,” the music video, featuring @hillarysmithcello ! Enjoy a peaceful 6 minutes ❤️.
This piece is the last track off of the piano and cello duo album we released this past Spring. It is of course for my Grandma Beverly, one of my all-time favorite people. It is also one of my favorite pieces I’ve ever written, dare I say my actual favorite, and that’s thanks to Hillary.
Generally I’ve tended to write music that is relatively harmonically complex, but I kept this one on the simple side, and I think it works well primarily because of Hillary’s beautiful interpretation. I initially conceived of the phrasing and pacing as a little more driving, a little less rubato, but her way was just so much better, so much deeper. I couldn’t conceive of the subtle nuance and grace with which Hillary performed this, so even though I technically wrote the notes, it feels like she wrote the music.
Though the whole recording session was wonderful (and intense), I experienced a singular feeling of awe when we recorded this piece. There are long stretches where it’s just solo cello so I got to simply listen to Hillary play. It felt like, yes, this is what it’s all about, this is right, this is worthwhile, this is special. It felt like it beautifully encapsulated years of work, energy, and love. Thank you, Hill ❤️.
I first started writing this while on vacation in New Zealand by Lake Te Anau. Though not quite as epic, the nature footage I recorded near home here on the Oregon coast was still lovely and special to me. It’s from two separate hikes at Sweet Creek Falls and Tahkenitch Creek.
Thanks again to Hillary, @ricc_jamzz for recording at @knobworld , @mrdangarcia for mastering, and Grandma Beverly.
Enjoy!
About 12 years ago, I got a call from Nikos, a stranger at the time, asking if I’d like to play in a new ensemble he was putting together. Little did I know that our first rehearsal as Rozalia would be the start of one of my most satisfying musical endeavors, and the beginning of a lifelong friendship with one of my dearest friends.
I love playing Nikos’s music so much. All at once it has depth, light-heartedness, grit, beauty, and more. Just when I think I have an understanding of Nikos’s sound, he surprises me and pivots to something unexpected. I was elated when he asked me about putting together an album of cello and piano duets, and in true Nikos form, he surprised me with seven extraordinary compositions that are wildly different from anything we’ve played together in the past.
Nikos, thank you so much for this album. It’s a beautiful celebration of not only our many years of musical collaborations, but our friendship, which means the world to me. You are such a sensitive, thoughtful, and pure soul, and I feel incredibly lucky to have you in my life.
And of course thank you to our wonderful engineer, Garret Lang. This was a real family affair!
“For Beverly” is out today! Available on all streaming services :)
Had the best time playing for Danny Elfman’s extraordinary show at Coachella! I truly loved every minute of this set, but here is a clip of “True,” the song I was/am blasting at home nonstop :)
Thank you to everyone who made this possible!
Kris Bowers and his team did it again! The soundtrack to King Richard is out today and it’s beautiful! Also thrilled to have had the opportunity to record the cello solos! 🎉
Had such a great time playing selections from Kris Bowers’s absolutely beautiful score to Bridgerton last week. It was extra special for me to finally get to play Strange together. Thank you @krisbowersmusic for having me!
Thank you for the photo @composerschmidt ! Can’t wait to see Javelina Run! Repost from @composerschmidt
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Javelina Run BTS: #concentration and #focus from the talented cellists on @javelinarunmovie - @cecilia_tsan
and @hillray27 . Looking forward to have you both on the next score! #bts #javelinarunmovie #western #comedy #film #cello #cellist #musician #losangeles #composer #composerlife #hollywoodscoring #hollywood #steffenschmidt #composerschmidt
