I've been playing since 1984 - first Accordion, then I tried out a whole bunch of other instruments, followed by a long stretch of electronic music - then Epinette which is my dearest and most inspiring companion now.
What was the first concert you ever went to?
I think it must have been in the Bolshoi Theatre, Do Musicals count? Then Annie, in New York, some time in the 70s.
What are you looking for from Fandalism?
My long-term dream is to find people who will play and perform my music in many ways. I'd love to try working with a choir, or singers. In any case, I hope and dream that one day, I can hear my own tunes interpreted in new ways I never thought about. That's why I use my notation system. Well, that#s my dream anyway.
What gear do you use?
Epinette des vosges, Kantele, Psaltery, Harmonica, Harmonium, Glockenspiel, Whistles, Recorders, Hand Drum, Synthesizers.
Who was your biggest musical influence growing up?
Stompin' Tom Connors, Gordon Lightfoot, The Beach Boys, Wendy Carlos, Kraftwerk, Tangerine Dream, Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Nikhil Banerjee, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, and many more.
Are you in a band? Have you been in bands?
I've played in a few school bands, but I think I am happier playing and composing on my own, and hope that one day, someone will play my songs and like them.
If you could jam with anyone, who would it be?
I'd like to compose a mass, maybe with Hildegard von Bingen. It would be pretty, pretty, pretty good. As Larry David would say.
What's the biggest audience you ever performed to? What's the smallest?
I think that must have been 50 people. And I made some people fall asleep.
You're stuck on a desert island and only get to bring one album with you. What do you pick?
I think it would have to be Summertime Dream by Gordon Lightfoot.