With Spitalfields Music Festival 2017 just around the corner we’ve been catching up with the artists and ensembles involved to find out about what to expect at their performances and what inspires them to create.
Here’s Sam Beste, Rahel Debebe-Desselegne and Alex Reeve talking about their involvement in the festival…
How have you found working with André as a part of this festival?
We were thrilled to be asked to contribute towards this really interesting event with Andre at the helm. We’ve worked with Andre before on a few previous projects for other artists such as Matthew Herbert and it’s especially exciting to be collaborating with him as Hejira this time.
What’s your involvement in the festival?
We will be reinterpreting Schumann’s Am Leuchtenden Sommermorgen, Dichterliebe No. XII as part of Schumann Street.
What can audiences expect from your performance in three words?
Intimacy, community, soulfulness
How do you define the music you create?
With difficulty! 🙂
Our music is centred around melodic songwriting without being pop music, it is soulful without being soul music, it has harmonic complexity without being jazz music, and it has a broad dynamic range without being classical music. Our sound is somewhere in the cracks between those traditions and arises out of a deep and longstanding friendship between us.
Other than the event you’re involved in, which Spitalfields Music Festival event are you looking forward to the most?
Even though this answer doesn’t exactly stick to the terms of your question, with so many inspiring artists involved we’re very excited actually to see the other people perform in the Schumann Street event and hope that we will find the opportunity for this.
Best gig you’ve ever seen?
Our friend Eska’s show last year at the Roundhouse was epic and spellbinding but it’s very difficult to choose a best gig ever!
Sam Beste, Rahel Debebe-Desselegne and Alex Reeve will perform at Schumann Street Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 December, 5 & 7.30pm. Book Now!