Alexander Nantschev
Alex’s first love was psychedelic music, which he discovered as a young boy through songs like "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" and "Within and Without you". His brother had a collection of Beatles records, while his father played classical music from Vivaldi to Schönberg.
Alex lived between two musical worlds, separated by a balcony: one with his father’s classical tunes, the other with his brother’s studio experiments. Alex still walks that balcony today, exploring different styles from baroque to dance-theatre.
What is the story behind the artist name Alexander Nantschev, and how did music become your passion?
The person behind the artist name Alexander Nantschev consists of multiple selves, which are integral to the concept of my new album, "Selves." People describe these selves as multi-layered, colorful, passionate, humorous, spiritual, authentic, and lovable. I was surrounded by music and art from a young age as my father was a violinist, my mother a ballerina, my uncle a conductor, and my godfather a concertmaster in the radio orchestra in Vienna. Music became my passion when I formed my own psychedelic band called "Hieronymus Bosch" at the age of sixteen.
"The Dynamics" is a song with a lot of depth. How did you create it, and what does it mean to you?
I wrote the lyrics for the song "The Dynamics" after attending a yoga class in India that I didn't like. Feeling frustrated, I incorporated the guru's empty phrases like "You have to know your condition, do you follow me, understand the dynamics."
This song represents the guru self, which I tried to express through the accompanying video. It was a balancing act to capture the various nuances, ranging from darkness and light to craziness, spirituality, and the facade of everyday life.
Your album "Selves" consists of eight songs. What is the theme or message of the LP, and how would you introduce it to our readers?
Each of the eight songs on the album represents a different alter ego, such as the happy self, the Balkan self, the astronaut self, the classical musician self, the romantic self, the guru self, the rock star self, and the hippie self. Viewing myself and others through the lens of multiple selves concept helps me gain a better understanding of the world.
What are the steps or stages that you go through when you make music?
The first step is that magical moment of inspiration. It can manifest in various ways, such as an image, a feeling, a smell, different instruments, or a rhythm. I strive to remain open to receive such intuitions. I love experiencing these creative moments with my fellow musician friends, akin to the Lennon/McCartney ping pong of mystery. Then comes the production part, which I usually handle in my studio, mostly in collaboration with studios worldwide. The lockdowns have shown me the possibility of remote recording, which was a positive outcome of the Covid situation. Producing my album served as an emotional anchor during quarantine. I also enjoy other aspects like graphic design, photoshoots, video production, and organizing events.
If you had the opportunity to work with any artist, who would you choose and why?
I would choose to study instrumentation with Igor Stravinsky. His orchestral works, with their vibrant use of color, give me goosebumps.
Being active on social media is essential for musicians today. How do you feel about that, and what are the pros and cons?
While it is often seen as a necessity, I prefer to phrase it differently: "You are told" that you have to be active on these platforms. I question to what extent I want to become a clown on Instagram. I definitely don't want to be a slave to devices. I underwent some self-promotion training, such as the "Be Your Own Manager" course by Bernhard Kerres, which I highly recommend, even for non-classical musicians.
There are both pros and cons to being active on social media. On the positive side, it allows musicians to connect with a wider audience, share their work, and engage with fans
What are some of the projects or plans that you have in mind for the near future?
One of my near future goals is to continue working with the band I've assembled for my release concert. We are a group of nine talented individuals, and the rehearsals have been incredibly enjoyable. We share a great working dynamic, and I look forward to playing more shows together. Additionally, I have some exciting projects in mind, such as exploring new musical collaborations, experimenting with different genres, and expanding my creative endeavors.
