Interview with Magda Mayas

Magda Mayas is a pianist living in Berlin.  Developing a vocabulary utilizing both the inside as well as the exterior parts of the piano, using preparations and objects, she explores textural, linear and fast moving sound collage.  Lately she has also focused on the clavinet, an electric piano from the 60s with strings and metal chimes, where she engages with noise and more visceral sound material, equally extending the instrumental sound palette using extended techniques and devices.  On September 29th at Roulette, Magda joins forces with one of Australia’s most creative and adventurous exports – percussionist Tony Buck.

ROULETTE: Tell us as about the work you’ll be doing at Roulette.

MAGDA MAYAS: Tony Buck and I met in Berlin in 2003 and have worked together since – mostly in Duo, but in the last couple of years in different formations as well (in a quartett with Andy Moor and Christine Abdelnour, with Peter Evans and Clayton Thomas as well as in Tonys project TRANSMIT).  We dont or hardly ever make any plans prior to a concert – we have noticed from the first time we played together, to have a very similiar approach and especially time feel I think, we structure and articulate music often in exactly the same way, to the extent of not knowing where the music comes from even while playing. I think thats also to do with the instruments and the way we play them,  they are very close sonically. Our vocablary has extended over the years – I think  for me, especially exploring and working with the clavinet as well, opended up many possibilities that translate into our Duo. And in the last couple of years engaging with different kinds of music, such as (north)african ethnical music, traditional blues and maybe noise.

R: What was the last music you listened to?
MM: An Algerian groove cd and Chris Abrahams solo piano.

R: Do you consider yourself more a composer or a performer?
MM: I think all performers are composers as well.

R: Is there an event or experience that led you to start in experimental media?
MM: Although I did start playing music much earlier, and being kind of open minded to different styles, attending a concert of Cecil Taylor at age 16 definitely left me totaly amazed and inspired.

R:  Do you do other things aside from music?
MM: I love cooking and photography