Last time I saw you, your single ‘New Earth’ debuted on Enormous Tunes which is such a great milestone. What have you been working on since then?
AG: Yes, such great times meeting you, Nina! Since then I’ve had quite a few things in the works. Two more releases with Enormous Tunes. Then my first sample pack ‘Feminine Frequency’ came out on Splice with my amazing collaborator Luna Maye. She & I also partnered with the Field Trip App and released four meditation tracks on the app. I got to score a short film for the very first time in my life. I was chosen by Netflix to be the lead violinist in The Queen’s Ball: A Bridgerton Experience Los Angeles, which was such a unique experience and so much fun! And finally as the world was opening up I got to play a number of amazing shows & events all over the US & a few outside. Some of them include SXSW, events in NY, Miami, Hawaii, Panama. And of course continued to write more music!
When I saw you play the violin, you looked so in the zone and ready to play your heart out. What inspires you and your ideas for music?
AG: Thank you! Playing my beloved instrument has always been the most natural and rewarding thing in my life. My biggest inspiration when I perform is love. Love for the moment, the music, my instrument, people in the audience, and life in general. My ideas often come when I simply play around in the studio, or during meditation. And oftentimes I get inspired by the music I hear in movies or when listening to various artists.
I met you during the pandemic and it has been hard to get together again. But you are a beautiful soul and I know we are always connected. How have you grown since we last met?
AG: This makes my heart melt! I do feel so deeply connected to you, and cherish these connections in my life very much. The Pandemic has definitely forced us all to re-evaluate and make changes. I feel I’ve grown in many ways. The most important thing is that I feel I have finally learned how to truly love myself despite what’s going on around me or in my life. And it is still an everyday journey but I certainly feel I was able to develop the tools that I didn’t have before.
How are you feeling about your new release ‘Into The Woods’?
AG: Like a kid on Christmas morning! This project turned out to be so much more special than expected. ‘Into The Woods’ is a fairy tale like melodic house piece that can transport you into a magical world of imagination if you let it too. I want to use this opportunity to express my gratitude for all the amazing people that enthusiastically showed up for this project to come to life the way it did. Releasing with the Luscious Vibrations label has been an absolute pleasure, they’ve been so generous with their care and support. Joshua Moreno who created the best remix I could possibly imagine. Cameron Paris Cloud who did the beautiful cover art. George Kuznetsov , incredible videographer of the ‘Into The Woods’ music video.
Joshua Moreno’s remix explores a resonant noir experience to your original track while retaining its core motif. How was it working with him and how do you feel about the “day and night” versions?
AG: Working with Joshua is a dream come true. We connected online a few years ago, inspired by each other’s artistry and we’ve become really good friends & colleagues. I absolutely love the “day and night” versions. It’s a beautifully done remix, which is a polar opposite of the original but compliments it so well, like yin and yang.
As a multi-talented musician and performer, is there anything you think you wish you could do more of?
AG: As a performer I have to be very mindful of safety of my body and hands as this is my bread and butter. And I’ve been told this by my parents & teachers since i was 5 years old. Therefore I miss out on a lot of fun activities such as skiing and anything like that. However I’m trying to change that and trust that I could enjoy more of these activities and still keep my body safe.
Is there anything you thought you would do differently in your musical career so far?
AG: This is a great check in question to ask yourself from time to time. I feel quite fulfilled with how things are in my musical career, if anything I didn’t expect I was going to do things like scoring a film or writing music for an app, which is pretty amazing!
You’re traveling so much! How are you balancing everything from producing, branding, and everything in between?
AG: It is very hard to balance all these things, and I definitely feel overwhelmed at times. I found that having days blocked off for certain tasks is the most effective way, asking for help is a big one too. But sometimes I just have to do it all at once and on the go.
What is something you like to do for fun when you’re not always working?
AG: I love to spend time with people I love and in nature, and as an introvert I love reading, journaling, cooking & simply being.
I’d like for the world to get to know a little bit about where you are from and your journey as a musician. Could you please share some history with us? Is there anything you miss back home?
AG: Originally from Sochi, Russia, I moved to the US in 2009 after I received a full scholarship to study at Temple University for a Violin Performance Major. The transition was challenging, especially the immigration process after finishing school, and doing it all on my own was extremely difficult. I do miss my family and friends of course, as well as my home town. But I definitely don’t regret my choice of moving overseas to pursue my dreams.
How did it feel moving to LA? It is a fast-paced, entertainment centric place that can take some getting used to. How is it compared to other places you have lived?
AG: LA is a very unique place with an interesting energy. No regrets but still getting used to it, not sure if this is my forever city but excited to see what more will come out of this experience. I think the biggest difference from other places is that people move in and out continuously and everything is so spread out, I didn’t realize the degree of these things until I moved here.
The world is changing quickly now. The digital age is booming and I think it’s getting harder to find a place to settle down. Where do you see yourself in two, three, five years?
AG: I think after a few years I’ll be ready to live in a place way less hectic than LA for sure but still continuing to do what I love, and explore the world on my own terms.
I know you’re following your passion, and it’s super admirable as I admire you for it. What is something you would say or advise to those wanting to do the same?
AG: Thank you for these beautiful words, appreciate you, Nina! Universe rewards the brave. My advice is when following a passion and wanting to make it a career, showing the universe we are serious about it by acting and being that new person. Even if it is not a full time job yet, even if you don’t see the full path yet, acting and being internally sure that this is who and what you are from this point forward is absolutely crucial. And it starts with one simple moment of making this decision with yourself, no need to ask anyone’s opinion or permission as oftentimes other people will project their own insecurities onto our vision. Just be it.
Last thing I want to ask: what is your dream?
AG: For us as human race to live in harmony and love with one another, work together and help each other to fulfill our purpose. Wouldn’t that be a dream come true?
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Alfiya Glow
Website | Instagram | Listen to Her Music
Credits
Label Luscious Vibrations: https://www.instagram.com/lusciousvibrations/
Remix by Joshua Moreno: https://www.instagram.com/jomo_official/
Photography/Cover Art Cameron Paris Cloud: https://www.instagram.com/cameronpariscloud/
Videographer George Kuznetsov: https://www.instagram.com/gg_maan/
