‘Any level of guided imaginative activity teaches you just how difficult it is to reach mastery’.

I remember several creative people in my family. My grandpa on my mother’s side was a tenor who, I’ve been told, was invited to train in Italy but had to turn the opportunity down because he was a railway clerk with a family to support. On a trip to London he recorded his voice at HMV, Oxford Street, which had its own studio. Sadly, the 78 rpm disc he produced has gone missing. He conducted the local choir in his NE seaside town in performances of The Messiah, even changing churches to retain creative control. His wife was a skilled accompanist on the piano and also played the organ. They were like fire and water; he was the leader, she gave of herself and supported. Their front room was a busy place with leading members of the choir popping in, and recordings of Beethoven’s symphonies rising from the depths of the ‘Horn Cabinet’ which he and my dad built in the corner. Continue reading THE CREATIVE SPARK – what do people find to do with their talents? →

“Creativity can turn awful experiences into art, it teaches us to listen more deeply to ourselves and also to ‘tune into’ others” – Daria.

I first saw Daria Kulesh sing ‘Butterflies’ on Youtube and immediately asked her to appear at Berkhamsted Live, our local mixed-arts show. After hearing her, one of the audience told me that her pure-voiced folk style reminded him of Sandy Denny of Fairport Convention.

Russian-born Daria is a deep soul who mixes musical traditions, writes her own material and appears solo on her album Eternal Child, as well as with her group Kara in Waters so Deep. I interviewed Daria to find out more about what shapes her very personal, deeply-musical creativity. Continue reading DARIA KULESH – WHAT LIES BEHIND THE PERFECT SONG? →