Charlie Musselwhite chats to Lu Cozma, Bucharest (re-published)

Delta Blues at the Hard Rock Cafe Bucharest

“ THE BLUES OVERTOOK ME”. Charlie Musselwhite, Interview 17th May, 2009.

As is mostly the case these days I’m venturing from music place to watering hole in search of good music and great atmosphere. It’s all new to me. I suppose I could be likened to a wide eyed child, due to the fact that while finding these little gems in the city I am taking the opportunity to experience genres of music I might not necessarily have been exposed to, even in London.
The Hard Rock Cafe has found a home in Herastrau Park, Bucharest slap bang in front of the river, spitting distance from the main car park entrance and at the tip of the amusement park. Hard Rock Cafe holds blues evenings most weeks and has had an array of local, national and international acts.
Charlie Musselwhite’s in town. He’s a guy who ‘hung out’ with his peers, the likes of whom were Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. Dan Aykroyd as a student heard Charlie play in clubs about town and was so enthralled by his charisma, slick playing, dark suit and shades that he conceived the ‘Blues Brothers’ with Charlie in mind.
He describes his music as ‘a conversation’ that communicates to different generations and genres, which is probably why I witness so many people of mixed age and walks of life in the audience at the Hard Rock Cafe, on the 17th May.
I strike up my own exclusive conversation with the great Charlie Musselwhite...

LC – You’ve had a busy day today flying from your gig yesterday (16th May) from Piacenza Italy. Now you’ve had a busy evening here at the Hard Rock Cafe. How are you feeling?

CM - Ooh I feel good, we’ve had a good night and everyone’s happy.

LC – And when are you next flying off?

CM - In about 2 or 3 days. The band is going home in the morning, but my wife and I are staying.

LC – Are you going to have time to sight see in Bucharest?

CM – That’s the plan. We’re gonna eat a lot...

LC – That’s a very good plan...

CM – I wish there was a flea market to go to... Well if there’s no flea markets maybe there’s some stores that are second hand, used things, thrift stores...

LC – You missed the big one it’s on Saturdays and Sundays... Have you been to Bucharest before?

CM – Before what? (Chuckles) That’s a joke... No I’ve never been here before, but I hope it’s the first of many visits.

LC – You’re on an extensive tour that takes you back to the US. What keeps you motivated and touring?

CM – Well all those people can’t come to my house, so I go around to where they are.
It’s rewarding. I mean, it beats working in the factory... and it keeps me outta trouble.

LC – What inspires you to keep the music alive and to keep going?

CM – I love the music. Even if I didn’t have a career in music, I’d still be playing it. It’s something I do. It never was a goal of mine. I never had a plan to be a musician... it just happened. The blues overtook me.

LC – When were you first exposed to music and at what age did you take it a step further?

CM – I always liked music even since a little kid. I can’t remember not hearing it, it was on the radio. In Memphis, Tennessee where I grew up there was the street singers that played blues and I was fascinated by them. It was just all around me. I like all kinds of music, gospel, rockabilly... Johnny Burnett was a rockabilly guy... in fact Johnny and Dorsey Burnett lived across the street from me.

LC – What a neighbourhood!

CM – Oh yeah, I mean, I went to school with Johnny Cash’s brother Tommy. I used to see Johnny all the time. I had Elvis’ phone number to find out where the party was at... I’d call up Elvis and say ‘where’s the party tonight’, cos he’d rent a theatre and he’d show the latest movies or he’d rent the fairgrounds where all the rides were free or he’d rent the skating rink. It’d always be from around midnight til 6 in the morning or something.

LC – You have really happy memories of your early years in the neighbourhood...
CM – Yeah, I just wished I’d been paying more attention. It just seemed... well you know, like Elvis was a poor boy from Mississippi just like me, you know. The thing about Elvis was, he was a guy, that combed his hair like we did and dressed like we did...

LC – Just an ordinary guy, who never really changed...?

CM – No he didn’t. Yeah, he was just one of us. And then when he got famous, it made us poor boys from Mississippi say ‘hey, we’re OK’.

LC – Why is Mississippi so special? Is it the rugged terrain, the river, the Delta...

CM - I don’t know. People talk about it all the time and you can’t really get, it’s something you can talk about and talk about but you can’t ‘get it’ unless you go there. And then you go ‘Oh, yeah!’ It’s beyond words. Some of my earliest memories are from there, cos my mom grew up around there and we had friends, relatives there...

LC – Your mums been very influential in your life hasn’t she?

CM - Well it was just me and her growing up. My daddy left. My mom and dad split up when I was four years old and I had no brothers or sisters, so it was just me and my mom. She was never prejudiced and she always taught me not to be prejudiced. The way she put it was, ‘ God made everybody and if you disrespect somebody cos of their colour, whether they’re rich or poor or for any reason, you’re disrespecting God’s work!’ And she was a Delta girl, she was born in the hills where I was, but she grew up in the Delta.

LC – Can you tell me about the link between you and the Blues Brothers?

CM – Well, what Dan Aykroyd told me on several occasions, was when he was at college in Canada, there was a club that he’d hang out at ‘The Owl’ and I used to come and play there regularly and he would see me there. We didn’t know each other then, we didn’t talk or nothin’. In those days I wore shades and a black suit... he saw that look and then adopted that look for the Blues Brothers. He had me in the movie, ‘Blue Brothers 2000’ and I’ve been to his home and we’re good friends. He’s a good guy.

LC – Tell me about your Cameo appearance in the film ‘Pighunt’.

CM – Well it’s a horror movie... (chuckles) Lot’s of people get hurt!

For more information on the legendary Charlie Musselwhite, please log onto :-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30fEfCmtUU0&feature=related
http://www.charliemusselwhite.com/
http://www.myspace.com/charliemusselwhite
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0615846/
http://www.hardrock.com/Locations/cafes3/cafe.aspx?LocationID=467&MIBEnumID=3

Lockdown EP on iTunes

Dear fellow Cozmanauts, The long awaited Lockdown EP by Lu Cozma and Steve Askew will officially be released on iTunes on the 4th March, 2013. All EP & album release info, concerts, support gigs and festival updates can be found by logging on to http://www.facebook.com/LuCozmaOfficial & http://www.lucozma.com/ We’re also happy to announce being guest support for the John Young Band http://www.johnyoungband.com/ and Fish (former Marillion frontman) http://fish-thecompany.com/ Looking forward to meeting up at a gig near you and bringing our music to you via iTunes … Lu Cozma xx

Earth Hour Film by Cristi Enache....

Hi y'all,

Cristi Enache from Total Image Solutions (www.totalimage.ro)has recently completed a short film summary of the Earth Hour event in Bucharest, 2010.

Follow this link to find a brief insight into what is behind the event and what happened on the evening. http://exposureroom.com/earth_hour_bucharest

Many thanks Cristi.

World Vision & LU...

LU has teamed up with World Vision to help the welfare of children and families in rural communities.

Full details can be found on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lu-Cozma/267440988509

LU's album RED is now available through http://www.charitygift.ro/ and costs 25RON. All proceeds will be going to World Vision Romania to help children from the 'Colinde' group in Ialomita make their first CD of Romanian folk songs.

Please support this worthy cause and buy a CD. Charity comes naturally and only takes a few minutes to go online and make an order...

There is also an article on LU's partnership with World Vision with Avantaje magazine http://www.avantaje.ro/Timp-liber/Stiri-si-evenimente/Lu-Cozma-canta-pentru-familiile-din-comunitatile-rurale.html?a=6023/1258636

Many thanks for your constant support and friendship...

LU

LU's music clips available on e-cards...

Lovers, lovers, lovers...

Valentine's day may be over but the lurv month of Feb' continues in Romania with Dragobete.... Whoohooohooo!

Music clips from my album RED are available on e-cards through http://www.feminis.ro/

Scroll down to the end of the page on audio clips/photo's and take your pick, then send to your loved one.

Cu dragoste...

LU

English translation of Eugen Istodor Interview with LU...

Why are you singing?

My father is a singer and I’ve heard his voice in my ear since the time he hushed me to sleep as a baby. He left the family home when I was very small, but the connection of music and singing has always been strong between us. The Irish have a strong affinity toward music, so I guess it’s in my genes too.
I sing because without it I feel not total or whole. It’s more than enjoyment – it’s a need.

What are you thinking when you’re singing in public?

I’m very aware of course of the audience and paying public who come and see me perform, so I get nervous before-hand because I care about what I’m doing and want everyone to enjoy what I do. But there comes a point where I totally become the song, where I become absorbed in the words and the meaning and somehow become slightly oblivious to anything but the story, words and music.

How is it helping you the thing that you’re British and you’re singing with Romanescu in Romania?

I assume no preferential treatment because I’m British. My main criteria is quality in everything I do, which means who I chose to work with and associate myself with and that also can be said vice versa. Romanian musicians top in their profession see that I am a good performer and chose to work with me. Being British is irrelevant. Sorin Romanescu and I have a good synergy and we read each other’s next move musically, so every show is slightly different because we can improvise or divert from our routine. This is terribly exciting and keeps our performance sharp and fresh. It’s a joy to work with such an artist as Sorin Romanescu.

In which language are you thinking? What do you think about Romania in this language?

I think, dream and speak in English! Romanian is a beautiful language and pleasant to hear - I wish to speak it more fluently. Presently I’m able to understand a little more than I can speak.

How would sound a song about your Romania?

Romania has been good to me over the years and I have had many wonderful memories and experiences here. So my song of Romania would quite naturally be one about friendship, good times and happiness.

What kind of music do you use in order to inspire you for your music? What kind of music do you forgot in order to build your music?

Music with emotional content, words with meaning and story are also important. I listen to a very diverse range of music. I’m influenced, I suppose by many genres of music – music from my youth and from my family. There are many ingredients to how I write music, sing it and perform it, but primarily I am ‘me’.

How can you be a brand new presence in a world made of Xerox copies?

It’s not a question of how I can be a new presence. I already am.
Commerciality is important, the same can be said for finding your own niche and to have awareness of market value, but I also hold a firm belief in making music that is true and has meaning with individuality and integrity.

What’s more important: your voice or your person?

The two can’t be separated but if one day I have the terrible misfortune of not being able to sing, then I hope my character would be strong enough to carry me through the rest of life!

English translation of Kudika Interview with LU ...

1. Coming from Britain, where the industry as far as alternative music’s concerned, is a lot more competitive than here, how do you find Romania in terms of your own opportunities to get seen, “discovered” as it were? Do you think you’ll have to work for it less than you would’ve in Britain?

All genres of music are highly competitive in Britain and Alternative is no different. The music climate has changed there purely because artists are frustrated with the way the industry operates. Artists are therefore doing a lot more for themselves and taking control of their own destiny rather than waiting for a record deal that might never happen! I think the same is true for artists here in Romania. But of course there are problems with this - the difficulties primarily are having to deal with self promotion, self funding, finding the gigs, making contacts etc. It can become quite wearisome and actually absorb a lot of time and effort that could be better spent actually creating and making music! I share the same challenges as Romanian artists have in this regard.
I haven’t the luxury of working less here for my opportunities. Making music and selling it is never easy. I came to Romania not knowing anyone in my profession, so I had to find my own path. There is a curiosity about my music, who I am and where I come from. But I don’t assume any preferential treatment or easier way in, just because I’m English.

2. Do you consider this relocation experience a success, and would you do it again, pick up and move, if you had to?
Relocating is pretty stressful at the best of times. I knew more or less what to expect in coming here due to having a long connection with Romania, but still, living in a different country no matter how prepared you think you are, always brings surprises!

For the most part the move has been a success. I’ve made some brilliant friends here and from a professional & personal view point I’ve had a fruitful time so far and expect lot’s more exciting things to come.
Would I pick up and move again? Hmmm, I’m settled here, so I have no plans to uproot again, not for the foreseeable future anyway!

3. Tell us about your daughters! Are they old enough to be proud of their mother’s career? What do you most love/ find most challenging about being a mum... and in a new country, with a different educational system and so forth?

My eldest is thirteen and my youngest is eleven.
Although they are half Romanian, my daughters were born and brought up in England, so they are very English in their character. I can see so much of my husband and myself in them but they are both equally individual. They’re artistic; creative and intelligent kids and have me laughing out loud with their sense of humour. We’re a close family. We love each other’s company – we make a good team the four of us.
It’s something I haven’t really asked them, but I think they’re proud of what I do. My daughters except their mums got a different job than most. I was singing whilst pregnant and was working within days of having my babies. I selected my work more carefully of course when they were very small, but basically what I do is so normal to them.

I chose to give birth to my second daughter at home. The pregnancy and labour were healthy & I really wanted to have a natural birth, so that’s what I did. Motherhood is important to me and my kids take priority. A happy mum makes a happy child, so although I felt it important to be at home for the children as much as possible – I felt strongly about this - I also felt it necessary to continue to sing and write. Doing this certainly had its difficulties and frustrations, especially when I was writing songs and rehearsing. It’s hard to find inspiration and head space when you have a baby and toddler crying and demanding your attention, but for our family it was the right decision and I have no regrets.

Both girls have adapted very well to being in Romania and enjoy being near family and being more connected to their father’s culture. They do miss England and get homesick sometimes but they get on with it and usually it doesn’t last long. They’re being educated through the British school curriculum as they will eventually return to England to study at University.

4. I have to, absolutely HAVE to, ask you this, since I have a feeling my readers won’t believe their eyes when I post a photo of you along with this interview – how do you do it, what’s your secret to looking like a 20 year-old?

Gosh, I’m very flattered. Erm... I’ve aged well I suppose, like a fine wine?! I can’t quite believe that I’ll be celebrating my 40th birthday in a couple of month’s time. Time certainly flies when you’re having fun.

I’m enjoying my life much more than I did when I was in my twenties and actually feel better in myself. Maybe I’m confidant more, happier to be in my own skin, less self conscious and generally able to just go with the flow easier with life.
I was happy for my teens and twenties to pass to be honest. I woke up on my 30th birthday and felt relieved and very ready for a new era of my life – I embraced it. Now I’m approaching another pivotal era in my life and I’m quite excited about what the next ten years might hold. God willing.

5. Did you have any knowledge about the whole ‘faulty childcare for orphans’ debacle, the dim view Baroness Emma Nicholson took of Romania’s handling of international adoptions etc. – when you decided to come help the orphans in Vaslui? And if you had heard about this, did it play any role in your decision?

Frankly speaking, at the time I wasn’t terribly interested in what was said, who said it, how things came to be or who was to blame. Seeing the children’s plight through media compelled me. So I decided to find a way to come here with a determination to do what I could, even if it turned out to be miniscule in the grand scheme of things. It was probably very naive of me and not terribly well thought out, but often good things come out of spontaneous reactions to situations.
Furthering the protection of vulnerable children worldwide is of paramount importance. What measures are taken to ensure this, often become quite complex in the process. Focus should always be in firm position and done with sensitivities to the wider issues.

6. If you were to characterize yourself and your music in just one word (or phrase), what would you choose to sum it all up? What drives both you and your music to constantly evolve, progress? In other words, what’s your “muse”?
Attitude - on stage, definitely that’s the word. Sometimes off stage too!
I am my music and music is me. When I sing, I become the song. It’s something that I don’t really think too much about because it just ‘is’ and always has been. Singing and performing are integral parts of my being - for me to be whole and fulfilled I have to feed this part of my need.

7. I was reading your MySpace profile and one of the things that caught my eye was your definition of heroes – you say that they’re those “who can survive life and still smile.” How is it that you’ve come to such a deep, and ultimately dark, understanding of life?

Most people have a story to tell and most people have encountered tragedy of some kind in their lives. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who hasn’t been untainted by life. To see life as beautiful and smile through the bad times as well as the good is heroism and I respect and admire such people – ordinary people; neighbours, friends, teachers, hospital workers, train drivers, rocket scientists...
Superman is a hero, but he’s fiction! AND he wears his underpants outside his leotard... need I say more ;)

8. Seeing that I’ve only ever heard you sing live on stage twice, and both times you were sharing the limelight with the Romanian band byron, I was wondering how you guys found each other, musically in tune as you are; also, where do you see this collaboration going – a joint album perhaps?

A good friend of mine is a fan of byron and asked me to go to a concert with her last spring. I’d never heard of byron, but thought I’d go for a night out. Well, I was blown away, so much so that I sat down that very same evening and wrote a gig review about the show. I’d managed to speak with Dan Byron after the gig and get his number with the intention of arranging an interview, which we did about a week later.

We hit it off immediately and after the interview we chatted for ages about music, our view points and experiences and actually realised that we had many things in common. We stayed in touch and later in the year I got a call to ask if I’d be interested in doing some guest vocals on their new album ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’ – hell yeah! Then byron asked if I’d like to appear at their album launch party, to which I again replied, hell yeah!

All members of the band are great musicians and they complement each other seamlessly. The lyrics and musical content are intelligently put. They have originality, can write songs of epic proportions and at the same time be radio friendly, which is so rare in this day and age, especially in alternative rock.
I have quite a deep range to my voice, so when Dan and I sing together there’s an unusual edge, but yet we fit.

There’s been talk of us working on songs together in the future. It’s a strong possibility.

9. What type of British music do you listen to, and who would you have play some gigs here in Romania, if you could call anyone from back home? And, btw, could you actually do that? :P

I like to try and keep up with what’s going on in the UK charts – listening online is an essential part of my daily routine. But actually I prefer all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff, indie, alternative, electro, sometimes punk, post punk.

I’m enjoying some single releases from ‘Chew Lips’, ‘Vampire Weekend’, ‘Mumford & Sons’, ‘Delphic’, Biffi Clyro.... there’s so many.

One of my fave bands at the moment is ‘Does It Offend You, Yeah?’ They’ve gone from strength to strength recently. A good friend of mine, a producer I worked with in England has worked with them (one band member is his son) and I’ve mentioned whether they’d be interested in coming over to Romania. Anything’s possible I suppose, if the timings right.

10. I’ve been wondering, about the which came first – was it the Elbow song that inspired you to name your album “Red” or was it after naming it that you thought a cover of Elbow’s “Red” would work – as we could all see it did, when you sang it with Byron at Fabrica?

Elbows song never came into my thinking when I wrote the title track to my album RED. In a way the lyrics I wrote to Red are nonsensical, but I liked the imagery of being ‘painted in red’ or ‘showered in red’ – it’s kind of sensual, rebellious and slightly dark. Both Steve Askew (co-writer) and I thought a one word title to the album would be more catchy and memorable and that’s how ‘Red’ came to be!
When I told Dan Byron about the concept behind my new show ‘Acoustic Red’, he mentioned Elbow’s Red track as a kind of joke, but then we thought we’d try it out and hey presto it turned out to be a fabulous choice for both our voices.

Lu @ Clubul Taranului, 23rd January...

Hi y'all.

It's been a crazy few weeks and I'm a little embarrassed that I haven't wished you all a Happy New Year before now, but I hope I'll be forgiven ;)

The first gig of the year for me has been confirmed. I will perform 'Acoustic Red' with Sorin Romanescu @ Clubul Taranului, Bucharest on Saturday the 23rd January.

I'm very excited about this show as we've been working on new material and although it's slightly belated it would be nice to celebrate the new year with you at one of my fave places to play in Bucharest.

I'll keep you updated with ticket/booking information and of course the time will be announced shortly.

May 2010 bring you all many blessings, happiness and wonderful new adventures and I look forward to catching up with you at Clubul Taranului or if you're not in Bucharest, at a venue near you very soon.

Rispekt,

Lu

Lu Cozma - new interview by Metropotam

New Interview - English version with Metropotam.
Many thanks to Cristina for some great questions....

http://metropotam.ro/Interviuri/2009/11/art9017213067-Interviu-Lu-Cozma/


We don’t know much about you. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Lu Cozma and I’m a British singer/songwriter of Irish, Italian background.

How come you decided to move to Bucharest?

I moved here nearly 2 years ago with my Romanian husband and our 2 daughters.

What does this mean to your musical career? Is it a challenge?

Thankfully as a musician I can work where the music takes me, so I’m quite mobile. I can be based anywhere really. But for my family it is better that we are all based in the same place, as my husband’s business projects are here, so it was better for all of us.

Adapting to new surroundings, culture and language has been a challenge but one I embrace. Often taking calculated risks reap great rewards and bring personal growth. I won’t shy away from the fact that I get homesick and find the changes sometimes quite tough, but I’m up for the adventure and new frontiers both musically, creatively and at a personal level.

Whats the story with the Romanian orphanage you worked for?

I first came to Romania in ’92, where I worked for a charity based in the UK. The orphanage was in Vaslui. The work was rewarding, difficult, often heart breaking but the experience was life changing in a positive way for me - brought me down to reality and got me viewing life from a different prospective.

What did you know about Romanian music scene before and what do you know now, after you have moved here?

Understanding the mechanisms of how the music industry work has been something I’ve had to get better acquainted with. I now live here so it’s important that I contribute to the music community and get to know it as best I can.

Like anywhere else in the world, there is music of top quality and there’s music that’s not. Romania is no exception. It’s all according to taste and trend. Taste differs from person to person, but trends kind of rule the way and that’s what mainstream music relies on.

However some exceptional bands and artists are here, living, breathing and moving toward a wave of new culture in music and I’m feeling extremely excited about it. I’m so happy to be in Romania at this time, because I can see new frontiers being pushed and this is always a healthy sign.

Sometimes we’ve just got to look for the less obvious. Yeah, I suppose it’s great going to see international bands that come here but it’s also good to look at the interesting, intelligent, deep textured sounds that are right here, home grown, under our noses.

How would you characterize your musical style? Do you explore different genres?

Well, I would class myself first and foremost as an alternative artist due to a style which straddles both pop and rock. I started singing at the age of 11yrs predominantly in Irish and English Folk music. It was good training ground for me as a professional and also connected me to my culture. I am however not frightened of pushing the boundaries - as a singer I can only experience the dynamics of my voice and performance by being challenged by other genres.

You said once that the ultimate thing for you is performing. Can you tell me more about performing? What makes a great performance? (the audience, the music, the place, the context...)

Yes, you’re right I did say that. Performing... is me being myself. The stage is my platform of life and I am the story teller - the communicator of imagery, feelings, description and truth. Of course there are other elements at play. The audience are integral to the story, if there is no audience then why would the story teller even have a use? The music and the lyrics are of course important because I have to believe in the meaning and communicate it. I’ve performed at some really awful looking venues in my time, the sound has been rubbish or the surroundings haven’t been all that great but the concerts were electric. So often the place matters but not all the time.

What can you tell about Romanian audience? Is it different from English audience?

The Romanian audiences are extremely warm and emotionally alive - responding to every detail and alert to the message and performance, which is incredibly inspiring to me as a performer. In some ways audiences here remind me of Irish audiences – a similar interaction. That’s not to say that the English aren’t like that because they’re warm too.

We had the chance to see and listen to you at Byron’s album launch in Silver Church. What can you tell us about your musical partnerships with romanian artists?

Byron in my opinion, are one of the top bands in Romania at the moment. I’m very proud of their achievements and think their success is more than deserved. When they asked me to guest on their new album ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’ I felt very honoured and excepted. There’s a mutual appreciation and respect too, which is like gold dust in the music industry.

I’m in discussions on various collaborations with other Romanian artists which I’m considering depending on schedules, availability and timelines etc. Updates on this will be revealed once confirmed.

What can you tell us about your latest album, Red? Maybe some inside information, some stories from recordings, an unusual/funny event...

Before I moved to Romania I was promoting the album RED extensively with my co-writer and fellow musician Steve Askew (from the 80’s band Kajagoogoo). When we can’t perform together I go out solo acoustic where ever the music takes me. In Romania I’m taking out RED live under the name ‘Acoustic Red’ with Sorin Romanescu, a very gifted guitarist.

Stories? Oh there are too many to mention!! This one involves a reporter – no names mentioned!! Late at night after a gig a couple of years ago abroad, I was asked by a reporter if I would do an interview. I was feeling rather tired but I said yes. After finding a spot to do the interview we sat and chatted over a beer and then the interview commenced after recording devices were in place and note pads at the ready. 20 minutes into the interview I sensed that I was on my own or as good as! The interviewer had promptly fallen asleep. He was on his way to dream land.... hello, are you still awake!!!

Which are your favourite artists/bands? Not only Romanian, of course.

I’m a bit of a Brit’ music freak. I like listening to UK Indie and Alternative past and present. I’m fascinated with bands such as Joy Division, Elvis Costello, RadioHead, The Jam and anything Punk and post Punk – New Wave is cool too. I simply love Elbow, Portishead... oh, I can’t stop!!!

Listening to folk is something I do often – maybe it’s an antidote sometimes for my homesickness! Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman and Clannad, to name a few.

Berti Barbera has a great voice and style and I’m enjoying listening to the greats such as Alifantis and Andries. The Nightlosers are cool....

When is your next gig happening? And where?

The next gig is on the 17th November, sharing a line up of very special artists performing for charityGift.ro @ Club Fabrica.

New Interview - English version with Metropotam.Many thanks to Cristina for some great questions....

We don’t know much about you. Please introduce yourself.

My name is Lu Cozma and I’m a British singer/songwriter of Irish, Italian background.

How come you decided to move to Bucharest?

I moved here nearly 2 years ago with my Romanian husband and our 2 daughters.

What does this mean to your musical career? Is it a challenge?

Thankfully as a musician I can work where the music takes me, so I’m quite mobile. I can be based anywhere really. But for my family it is better that we are all based in the same place, as my husband’s business projects are here, so it was better for all of us.
Adapting to new surroundings, culture and language has been a challenge but one I embrace. Often taking calculated risks reap great rewards and bring personal growth. I won’t shy away from the fact that I get homesick and find the changes sometimes quite tough, but I’m up for the adventure and new frontiers both musically, creatively and at a personal level.

Whats the story with the Romanian orphanage you worked for?

I first came to Romania in ’92, where I worked for a charity based in the UK. The orphanage was in Vaslui. The work was rewarding, difficult, often heart breaking but the experience was life changing in a positive way for me - brought me down to reality and got me viewing life from a different prospective.

What did you know about Romanian music scene before and what do you know now, after you have moved here?

Understanding the mechanisms of how the music industry work has been something I’ve had to get better acquainted with. I now live here so it’s important that I contribute to the music community and get to know it as best I can.
Like anywhere else in the world, there is music of top quality and there’s music that’s not. Romania is no exception. It’s all according to taste and trend. Taste differs from person to person, but trends kind of rule the way and that’s what mainstream music relies on.
However some exceptional bands and artists are here, living, breathing and moving toward a wave of new culture in music and I’m feeling extremely excited about it. I’m so happy to be in Romania at this time, because I can see new frontiers being pushed and this is always a healthy sign.
Sometimes we’ve just got to look for the less obvious. Yeah, I suppose it’s great going to see international bands that come here but it’s also good to look at the interesting, intelligent, deep textured sounds that are right here, home grown, under our noses.

How would you characterize your musical style? Do you explore different genres?

Well, I would class myself first and foremost as an alternative artist due to a style which straddles both pop and rock. I started singing at the age of 11yrs predominantly in Irish and English Folk music. It was good training ground for me as a professional and also connected me to my culture. I am however not frightened of pushing the boundaries - as a singer I can only experience the dynamics of my voice and performance by being challenged by other genres.

You said once that the ultimate thing for you is performing. Can you tell me more about performing? What makes a great performance? (the audience, the music, the place, the context...)

Yes, you’re right I did say that. Performing... is me being myself. The stage is my platform of life and I am the story teller - the communicator of imagery, feelings, description and truth. Of course there are other elements at play. The audience are integral to the story, if there is no audience then why would the story teller even have a use? The music and the lyrics are of course important because I have to believe in the meaning and communicate it. I’ve performed at some really awful looking venues in my time, the sound has been rubbish or the surroundings haven’t been all that great but the concerts were electric. So often the place matters but not all the time.

What can you tell about Romanian audience? Is it different from English audience?

The Romanian audiences are extremely warm and emotionally alive - responding to every detail and alert to the message and performance, which is incredibly inspiring to me as a performer. In some ways audiences here remind me of Irish audiences – a similar interaction. That’s not to say that the English aren’t like that because they’re warm too.

We had the chance to see and listen to you at Byron’s album launch in Silver Church. What can you tell us about your musical partnerships with romanian artists?

Byron in my opinion, are one of the top bands in Romania at the moment. I’m very proud of their achievements and think their success is more than deserved. When they asked me to guest on their new album ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’ I felt very honoured and excepted. There’s a mutual appreciation and respect too, which is like gold dust in the music industry.
I’m in discussions on various collaborations with other Romanian artists which I’m considering depending on schedules, availability and timelines etc. Updates on this will be revealed once confirmed.

What can you tell us about your latest album, Red? Maybe some inside information, some stories from recordings, an unusual/funny event...

Before I moved to Romania I was promoting the album RED extensively with my co-writer and fellow musician Steve Askew (from the 80’s band Kajagoogoo). When we can’t perform together I go out solo acoustic where ever the music takes me. In Romania I’m taking out RED live under the name ‘Acoustic Red’ with Sorin Romanescu, a very gifted guitarist.

Stories? Oh there are too many to mention!! This one involves a reporter – no names mentioned!! Late at night after a gig a couple of years ago abroad, I was asked by a reporter if I would do an interview. I was feeling rather tired but I said yes. After finding a spot to do the interview we sat and chatted over a beer and then the interview commenced after recording devices were in place and note pads at the ready. 20 minutes into the interview I sensed that I was on my own or as good as! The interviewer had promptly fallen asleep. He was on his way to dream land.... hello, are you still awake!!!

Which are your favourite artists/bands? Not only Romanian, of course.

I’m a bit of a Brit’ music freak. I like listening to UK Indie and Alternative past and present. I’m fascinated with bands such as Joy Division, Elvis Costello, RadioHead, The Jam and anything Punk and post Punk – New Wave is cool too. I simply love Elbow, Portishead... oh, I can’t stop!!!
Listening to folk is something I do often – maybe it’s an antidote sometimes for my homesickness! Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy, Seth Lakeman and Clannad, to name a few.
Berti Barbera has a great voice and style and I’m enjoying listening to the greats such as Alifantis and Andries. The Nightlosers are cool....

When is your next gig happening? And where?

The next gig is on the 17th November, sharing a line up of very special artists performing for charityGift.ro @ Club Fabrica.

CharityGift.ro Concert. Confirmed artists & info

CharityGift.ro sarbatoreste un an de la primul click printr-un concert caritabil
Bucuresti, 10 Noiembrie 2009 — Proiectul de voluntariat CharityGift.ro, primul magazin online in care toate produsele contin o donatie, sarbatoreste primul an de la lansare printr-un concert caritabil. Marti, 17 noiembrie, ora 20.00 in Club Fabrica din Bucuresti se vor aduna toti prietenii si sustinatorii CharityGift.ro pentru un eveniment aniversar caritabil unde vor concerta byron, Alexandrina, Spitalul de Urgenta, Hi-Q si Lu Cozma&Sorin Romanescu.

Concertul marcheaza un an de la infiintarea CharityGift.ro - proiect de marca in ceea ce priveste responsabilizarea individului fata de problemele societatii intr-un mod accesibil si inovativ. Gama larga de produse disponibile pe CharityGift.ro, peste 1500, are un singur scop, ajutarea ONG-urilor partenere pentru a oferi celor aflati in dificultate ajutorul de care au nevoie. Mecanismul prin care functioneaza este unul foarte simlplu si la indemana oricui. Furnizorul produselor alege un ONG catre care doneaza un procent din valoarea acestuia, la vanzare. Merita mentionat faptul ca produsele au aceleasi preturi ca si in magazinele furnizorului.

Trupele care vor concerta, voluntarii CharityGift.ro si prietenii proiectului vor sarbatori offline, iar contravaloarea tuturor biletelor de intrare va fi donata catre un ONG. Acest ONG poate fi ales de catre toti utilizatorii CharityGift.ro pe prima pagina a site-ului, http://www.charitygift.ro/, printr-un sondaj ce va fi afisat in perioada 10-24 noiembrie. Beneficiarii ONG-ului cu cele mai multe voturi stranse vor primi pe 25 noiembrie primul lor cadou de Craciun.
“Primul an de CharityGift ne-a adus doar satisfactii. Nu atat faptul ca ajutam persoane aflate in dificultate si care merita ajutorul nostru, dar mai ales faptul ca implinim un an de munca voluntara si parteneriate cu oameni la fel de dispusi ca noi sa ajute. Sentimentul muncii in echipa cu oameni binevoitori si lupta pentru o cauza sociala este mereu o sursa de energie care ne obliga sa ne facem datoria zi de zi cu placere” a declarat Nicoleta Talpes, initiator proiect CharityGift.ro.

Despre trupe :

byron
Participant activ in viata proiectului de voluntariat CharityGift.ro, trupa byron s-a conturat la sfarsitul anului 2006. Desi a fost conceputa initial ca un proiect solo, Dan Byron, vocalistul si fondatorul formatiei, a conferit o amploare benefica acestui proiect, recrutandu-i pe 6fingers (clape, voce, chitara acustica), Vlady Sateanu (bas), Costin Oprea (chitara electrica), Cristi Matesan (tobe).
Noul album marca byron, “A Kind Of Alchemy”, este distribuit prin intermediul A&A in reteaua librariilor Carturesti din toata tara si pe www.charitygift.ro, magazinul online in cadrul caruia toate produsele contin o donatie. Trupa byron foloseste celebrele chitare Tanglewood, care le-au fost puse la dispozitie de catre producatori din anul 2008. Aceiasi producatori sustin si formatia Coldplay. Trupa byron doneaza 5% din valoarea CD-urilor vandute prin intermediul platformei CharityGift.ro Asociatiei Culturale ACCES, unul dintre beneficiarii cauzei “arta-cultura”.

Spitalul de urgenta
Trupa Spitalul de urgenta s-a alaturat recent proiectului de voluntariat 100% CharityGift.ro, donand 5% din orice album “F.P.S”, vandut prin charitygift.ro, catre Fundatia pentru SMURD.
Spitalul de urgenta s-a nascut in 2000, tatal ei fiind Dan Helciug, caruia ii apartin conceptul, muzica si textul. Orchestratia originala este asigurata de Victor Panfilov, mentor spiritual, aceasta fiind imbogatita de catre chitaristul Emil Chican. Dan Helciug isi pastreaza umorul si pofta de viata buna si in noul album, “F.P.S.”, in care abordeaza teme evitate in general de trupele mainstream, cantand drespre viata de student, politica si fotbal. Prin ultimul album, Spitalul de urgenta isi dovedeste implicarea adanca in temele de interes ale generatiei actuale.

Alexandrina
Alexandrina Hristov, pe numele ei intreg, este o artista originara din Republica Moldova, a carei activitate se leaga de muzica, pictura si poezie, dar pe care romanii o stiu drept fata care “merge pe jos”, datorita numelui uneia dintre piesele ei. Alexandrina canta in romana, franceza si rusa, iar stilul ei muzical este greu de definit, aflat la confluenta curentelor pop acustic, rock contemporan, alternative, jazz si soul.
Poate aparea pe scena, inarmata cu un pian si cu vocea sa, sau cu o trupa de instrumentisti. Efectul este acelasi: mereu impresioneaza. Primul album al Alexandrinei se numeste "Om de lut" si a fost lansat pe 9 aprilie 2009, reprezentand o colectie de piese vechi si noi . Albumul il puteti gasi si pe CharityGift.ro:
http://www.charitygift.ro/2918/0/0/8/Alexandrina%20-%20Om%20de%20Lut.html, unde include o donatie de 30% catre SMURD.

Hi-Q
Trupa Hi-Q este un grup pop romanesc, ce a luat fiinta in 1996 la Brasov. Grupul, format din Anya Buxai, Mihai Sturzu si Florin Grozea, a incercat mereu sa se reinventeze, sa aduca un produs fresh, diferit de muzica difuzata in Romania. Recent, trupa Hi-Q a lansat cel de-al XX-lea single oficial.

Lu Cozma&Sorin Romanescu
Lu Cozma este o cantareata de origine britanica, ce s-a mutat, in urma cu 2 ani, in Bucuresti, unde a continuat sa incante publicul si sa impresioneze artistii locali.
Recent, Lu a fost invitata sa cante pe noul album al trupei byron, ‘A Kind Of Alchemy’.
Lu Cozma va canta la concertul aniversar CharityGift.ro alaturi de Sorin Romanescu, o colaborare ce o va ajuta pe Lu sa dea o nota acustica albumul sau “Red” – promovat acum drept “Acoustic Red”.

Concertul este organizat de CharityGift.ro, este sustinut de Radio Zu, impreuna cu Image Factory, byron Management, club Fabrica, metropotam.ro, eOk.ro, bestmusic.ro, iconcert.ro, muzicabuna.ro, maximum rock, port.ro, adoptaunong.ro, Lume Buna, Kudika, Amelie, Tabu, mayra si Fab.

Despre CharityGift.ro
Este un proiect de voluntariat 100%, dedicat responsabilizarii individuale si sociale, care functioneaza ca un magazin online, o platforma pentru expunerea de produse din partea furnizorilor care astfel se angajeaza sa directioneze, partial sau in totalitate, contravaloarea acelor produse unor cauze sociale pe care aleg sa le sustina. Astfel, CharityGift.ro este menit sa ofere ajutorul financiar atat de necesar cauzelor umanitare si in acelasi timp sa acorde tuturor oamenilor posibilitatea de a-si exprima bunatatea mereu, nu doar in situatii extreme sau in preajma Sarbatorilor.

Proiectul este sustinut pro bono de Andreea Marin-Banica, cunoscuta pentru implicarea sa extrem de activa in campaniile umanitare din ultimii 15 ani, de Rogalski Grigoriu Public Relations - pentru servicii de consultanta PR - si de Balms&Asociatii - care ofera servicii de consultanta juridica - Graffino si Hanson Online Brand Communication, care ofera servicii de webdesign si X3 Studios prin Proiect 1000, care ofera servicii de design pentru materialele de promovare. Recent, proiectul CharityGift.ro a fost adoptat de trupele Sarmalele Reci, Spitalul de Urgenta si Byron.

Tea Vasilescu Coordonator Proiect tel.: 0726 184 858
email: tea.vasilescu@charitygift.ro http://www.charitygift.ro/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1282658515&ref=profile Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/charitygift_ro

Lu Cozma & Sorin Romanescu, confirmed guests @ Charity gig

Dear all....

CharityGift.ro, the first online store where all products include a donation, is celebrating its first year in a charitable way. Tuesday, November 17th, 8 p.m. in club Fabrica (Bucharest) all CharityGift.ro friends and supporters will gather for a charity concert: Byron, Spitalul de Urgenta, Alexandrina, Lu Cozma with Sorin Romanescu and Hi-Q.CharityGift.ro volunteers and friends will celebrate offline, and the tickets' equivalent will be donated to an NGO. The name of the NGO will be chosen by the users on the website's homepage from November 10-24th. The beneficiaries of the NGO that gathers most votes will receive all funds on November 25th as their first Christmas gift.

CharityGift.ro, primul magazin online in care toate produsele contin o donatie, sarbatoreste primul an de la lansare in stil caritabil. Marti, 17 noiembrie, ora 20 in club Fabrica din Bucuresti se vor aduna toti prietenii si sustinatorii CharityGift.ro pentru un eveniment aniversar caritabil unde vor concerta Byron, Spitalul de Urgenta, Alexandrina, Lu Cozma with Sorin Romanescusi HI-Q.Voluntarii CharityGift.ro si prietenii proiectului vor sarbatori offline, iar contravaloarea tuturor biletelor de intrare va fi donata catre un ONG. Acest ONG va fi ales de catre toti utilizatorii CharityGift.ro pe prima pagina a site-ului, printr-un sondaj ce va fi afisat in perioada 10-24 noiembrie. Beneficiarii ONGul cu cele mai multe voturi stranse vor primi pe 25 noiembrie primul lor cadou de Craciun.

See ya there folks!

Sorin Romanescu, solo guitar concert

Dear all,

Sorin Romanescu will be performing his solo guitar concert. An evening not to be missed. All details are as follows.....

JAZZ la Jukebox Club (str. Turturelelor nr. 11 - fost Becker Brau)Duminica, 22 noiembrie, ora 20
POVEŞTI şi CHITARISIRI
RECITAL EXTRAORDINAR SORIN ROMANESCUEndorser for Moffa Guitars
Poate ca exista undeva o planeta a chitaristilor....in Bucuresti exista o sala pentru acestia.....de pe aceasta planeta...in aceasta sala.... Sorin Romanescu vine sa prezinte un program unic, original, cu 5 chitare diferite...
Un eveniment unic in Bucuresti !Sorin Romanescu se lanseaza pe orbita carierei solistice oferind un spectacol in “Lumea chitarelor”.Endorser for Moffa Guitars, Sorin Romanescu este posesorul a doua chitare de lutier construite special pentru muzica sa originala, captivanta.
Muzicianul anului 2008 in jazzul romanesc va invita la “POVESTI si CHITARISIRI” – o calatorie in lumea fascinanta a muzicii pentru chitara, vazuta prin ochii, mainile si imaginatia lui Sorin Romanescu – artist Moffa in Romania.
Sorin Romanescu canta in aceeasi seara la 5 chitare !Yamaha, Moffa Maestro, Fender, Ibanez si Moffa Lorraine sunt instrumentele ce prind viata prin maiestria lui Sorin Romanescu intr-o demonstratie captivanta de virtuozitate !
22 noiembrie este data la care Clubul Jukebox gazduieste recitalul extraordinar al chitaristului de jazz Sorin Romanescu."Povesti si chitarisiri" este un program de succes al muzicianului ce canta in aceesi seara la 5 chitare diferite, abordand stiluri variate in piesele sale care au entuziasmat anul acesta publicul bucurestean la Sala Mare Radio. Premiat ca "Muzicianul anului 2008 in Jazzul romanesc", Sorin Romanescu s-a lansat intr-o cariera solistica ce continua in noiembrie la Jukebox Club, in "sala chitarelor" care se descopera a fi cadrul potrivit pentru un artist si 5 chitare, dintre care doua sunt instrumente de lutier, construite de Domenico Moffa special pentru muzicianul roman ce este in prezent Endorser for Moffa Guitars. Evenimentul este oferit de Jukebox in colaborare cu Asociatia culturala Pro Contemporania.Ora de incepere: 20
Contact: Irinel Anghel (0722755469) / irinel.anghel@gmail.com

Lu's TV appearance, Bucharest...

Hello all you lovely people,

My 1st TV broadcast here in Bucharest will take place on Saturday, 21st June, 16:00hrs, on TVRM Educational.

The show is about folk revival and is called IN CAUTAREA FOLKULUI PIERDUT, with Maria Gheorghiu. As my roots began in folk, particularly Irish folk, I'm delighted to be invited to perform some songs that influenced me as a young singer/songwriter.

Many thanks to Maria for inviting me and thanks so much to all the team at Bocancul-literar...

Lulu
http://www.tvrm.ro/
http://www.bocancul-literar.ro/

Lu @ The Iron City Club, 24th May

Hi y'all,

It was a fabulous night of prose, poetry, sketches and music last night @ The Iron City Club, Bucharest.

The sense of community in arts was quite wonderful to behold and I felt priveleged to have been invited to perform and be part of the event...

Here's some links to the evenings entertainment. If you're in town and want to check out a little of what upcoming Romanians are upto in literature, music and all things 'arts' then contact http://www.bocancul.literar.ro/ for info on future events...

http://www.bocancul-literar.ro//Forms/CreatieLiterara/DetaliiCreatie.aspx?id=17117

http://www.bocancul-literar.ro//Forms/CreatieLiterara/DetaliiCreatie.aspx?id=17118

See you at a gig soon,

Lu
www.myspace.com/lucozma
www.myspace.com/cozmalu
http://www.expatromania.ro/

NY based musician Alex Harding talks to Lu Cozma...

“I BELIEVE MUSIC IS PART OF THE UNIVERSE AS WE ARE...”

Coffee n’ conversation, Lu Cozma interviews Alex Harding.

Bari Sax is not a name of a person! Well there might be someone out there, somewhere by that name but in this instance Baritone Saxophone is, as I’ve only recently discovered, the most amazingly beautiful sounding instrument. And in the hands of NY’s adopted son, the most highly esteemed and talented, Alex Harding, ‘bari sax’ is at its most magnificent.
A recent tour with the New York, cult, underground funk band ‘DEFUNKT’ brought Alex to Europe where he first played Prague, Germany and then the Netherlands, from April 19th. Bucharest brought some much needed ‘down time’ from his busy schedule - by hanging out and performing concerts with his musician friends in the city. With the likes of Cristian Soleanu (alto sax) and Vlad Popescu (drums) he set forth on an exploration of his new musical concept ‘The Afro/Brazilian, Afro/Cuban Project’, which he performed at Clubul Taranului, GreenHours (both in Bucharest) and also Brasov, before his return home to NY.

Live, the show was a mesmerising display of sound and technique, a flume of energising musical passion. Brazilian, Cuban and Jazz wouldn’t be what you’d normally hear moulded together in one evening under the same roof, anywhere on this planet. With Alex Harding & Friends at the helm I was definitely sailing through an evening full of unchartered waters and in their capable hands the adventure was a good one.

Catching up with Alex one lunch time during the last leg of his tour in Bucharest was sheer joy. His chilled out personality and sense of humour was infectious. It was one of those occasions when time just vanished. Before realising it, a couple of hours had wandered by without us noticing!

LC – You’ve come to Romania quite regularly since 2005.
AH – Yeah, definitely once a year sometimes twice.
LC – When you travel with your music do you notice differences in audiences?
AH – Yeah I think there’s a real openness. One thing I like about Europe is that people you’ll find going to see a heavy metal concert or a rock concert would be interested to still see what’s going on with what we’re doin’. So you get this kinda cross, music taste... that’s a good thing. A lot more open mindedness.
LC – Is that less so in America?
AH – Yeah, I will have to say yes unfortunately, because I think it’s the programming.... it’s like, ok well, you have to be put in a certain box.
LC – A box? In commerciality terms?
AH – Exactly. The whole commercial aspect of it is... ok, ‘put this in this box’ and you’re not supposed to go over to that box, so stay in your box now. It’s not really encouraged to seek out and check out other aspects...
LC – So you see it as a kind of marketing safety valve rather than an artistic exploration of different genres?
AH – Yeah. I’m sure. When people do hear my music and I tell them about things I’m doing, they hear it, they say ‘whoa, that was pretty cool’, but you know it just never occurred to them to go. They’ve been kinda shuttled around almost like sheep in a way...
LC – Has that caused you great frustration with your projects?
AH – Well in a way but you know you just can’t get frustrated. Just play the music.... sincere and true.
LC – How did you come up with the conceptions of your past recordings? Do they represent different phases of your life, personally and artistically?
AH – Of course yeah. Nothing is separate... it’s all connected. So with this ‘Afro/Cuban, Afro Brazilian Project’, I didn’t know what to do and I said well, I want to come there (Bucharest), cos I was on tour with another band and I thought once I finish that part of the tour I’ll go over to Romania and hang out with some friends and play some music and stuff and I said ‘ what do I wanna do?’ and I really, really enjoy music of south America and Cuba and stuff.
LC - ... have you been there?
AH – I have. I haven’t been to Cuba. I’ve been throughout the Caribbean. I’ve been to Brazil, to Bahia which is like the Mecca of where that music comes from.
LC – Did you make alliances there with musicians and get to play?
AH – Unfortunately not cos I wasn’t there long enough to do so...
LC – You were long enough though to absorb it....
AH – Yeah, yeah definitely and plus I had an opportunity in the late ‘80’s, say ’88, to work with a gentleman who contributed to several of the compositions to this project. He had explored African music around the world so that meant all of South America, Caribbean and Africa itself and in America. It was very good, Francisco Mora was his name, so once I started playing with him, ‘wow, this is beautiful, wonderful’. Music you know - brought by the people of Africa, it’s all connected . From that point on I had a real thirst and desire to emulate this sound...
LC – So, with ‘The Afro/Brazilian, Afro/Cuban Project’, you were stimulated by a sound with its cultural content and moved it to your own style ?
AH – Yes, because I’m not from Brazil or Cuba, but you know, the wanting and desire to deal with the music and learn about it and bring my experiences from the States, Detroit to it - an interesting mix. It’s all from the same tree... it’s all coming from Africa.
LC – Tell us a little about yourself, your beginnings and where you’re from...
AH – I’m from Detroit, Michigan, born and raised. The home of Motown...
LC – A really good music foundation...
AH – I didn’t know before I was born, learning was going on when I was in my mother’s stomach I was getting on with all this beautiful music. We always had music on...
LC – Have you siblings?
AH – I’ve four sisters...
LC – And you’re the youngest?
AH – Yeah...
LC – I bet you were so spoilt!
AH – Haha, yes, but my father didn’t allow that to go on. My father said, ‘enough, enough of this’!!!
LC – Are you a close knit family?
AH – Yeah, yeah. Very close.
LC – Wow, you’re mother must be a strong woman... Your family’s still in the States?
AH – She is a real strong woman. Yeah, they’re all in the States. All in Detroit except one’s in Colorado.
LC – Are your family artistic/creative?
AH – One of my sisters Vicky played clarinet and they all played music they liked to listen to...
LC – That must have been to your advantage, because you were listening to all this at home.
AH - Yes, I had all of this stuff going on, which was really good. I guess you could say Vicky was influential, you know, with the instrument. I was like a natural. My first instrument was drums, at 9 or ten yrs.
LC – Why drums? Did you just say to your parents one day, ‘I wanna play drums’?
AH – Yeah, it was just natural... I could just play it! I just knew how to do it. I figured out I must have been a drummer in my past! I must have been cos I didn’t have any lessons up ‘til a certain point and then I did that for about 2 years and then I listened to Grover Washington Jr the saxophone player and I said ‘Man, saxophone, I like this’!!! I was like 11 or so and then that Christmas I had a saxophone.
LC – As a child you had obvious potential and you were encouraged.
AH – Yes I was. Anything that was positive and kept you out of trouble and kept you doing something good.
LC – Is Detroit a difficult city to be brought up in?
AH – I didn’t seem to think so. A lot of families, kids...
LC – With this powerful want and need to express yourself in music, how did you take that further? Did you have formal music education?
AH – Yes, I started saxophone and I started playing in a school band, and you know doing by hand little music notes and then as I got better and my parents saw it they said ‘OK’, then they provided me with lessons. But I had good teachers, which was good. It really nurtures you, because you have such a passion from the teacher just instilled in you.
LC – Who are the most significant artists that put you on your way to become a performer yourself?
AH – Well, of course, Harry Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ellington...
LC – When you approach a new project or write new material, what gets things started?
AH – It depends. I try to be very intuitive with it, to allow it to manifest itself. Same with this project (A/B,A/C project). I believe that music is alive. Music is part of the Universe as we are, so you just have to trust and step to the side a little, let it do what it’s gonna do.
LC – Can you remember the first album or single you bought?
AH – I most certainly can. It was Charlie Parker, Live at Storyville and then I bought John Coltrane’s Countdown album. I was in my mid teens...
LC - From Detroit, why the move to New York?
AH – It was a matter of being around a wider pool of musicians and to have more opportunity. I’ve been there now 16 years.
LC – Did you find the transition easy?
AH – It was difficult, cos at first I hated it. It’s expensive, you know, fast paced crap but what I didn’t realise was, as I stayed there longer and started to get myself introduced to other musicians the networking came into play, then it became ‘oh wow, this is not so bad’. Then I decided after another couple of years, it’s ok. Now I could never go back to Detroit. I go back to visit my folks, but to live, nah. In all honesty there’s only one place in the States to live and that’ll be New York. If and when I get tired of NY I’ll have to leave and probably come to Europe or something.
LC – Is there a place in NY off the beaten track that you’ve discovered that you’d recommend going to see, a less obvious place?
AH – The park is nice, you know Central Park, but I don’t go there that often. There’s another large park in Brooklyn near me, Prospect Park - peaceful there, with a lake... I miss that, you know, my father and I when I was little he had me out hunting, fishing... and I really miss that. I was just talking to a friend of mine who I was on tour with last and he said ‘Man, you need to go fishing with your father’, cos, you know, you can’t get that time back once it’s gone, it’s gone. I was lamenting about how we used to go on these fishing trips once a year, I’d come home and then we’d go up in Canada with some of his friends and neighbours... I was just thinking about that.
LC – Where would be the place of choice for you to go and play... a place you’ve never been before?
AH – I’ve never been to Asia in terms of China, that whole region, India, Africa. I’ve been to Australia, New Zealand I’ve never been to. Canada... I’ve been there but it’s so infrequent, let’s see now, when was the last time I played in Canada? It must have been the Montreal Jazz festival, 9 years ago. (Laughs) I’m due a visit. I’m due a tour, a good strong two week tour of Canada! Yes, yes, it would be delightful...
LC – If you were transported to an unknown planet somewhere in the Universe and you could only take a few belongings with you, what would be the top 2 albums you would bring for your pleasure?
AH – Oh that’s difficult. Ummm... ok, ‘A Love Supreme’ by John Coltrane. (Takes a moment to think, then laughs). Shit...
LC – You know, you’re not being disloyal to any particular artist cos you haven’t chosen their album!
AH – Oh man, there’s a myriad of albums... there’s Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye... (begins to reel off names of artists)...
LC – OK, OK... how about the first 500 albums you can bring!!!! Then would it be easy?
AH – It would be EASIER...!!!
LC – For a young person who aspires to become a musician of any kind, what would be your main advice to them?
AH – (Laughs) become a lawyer. Go to law school... or become an architect. I mean this shit is... you pay for this. You know, you pay for your freedom to be able to chose; to go and hang out, to do whatever, to tour and shit, cos for the most part as musicians...
LC – ... There’s a sacrifice?
AH - Always. I mean you have to love it like there’s no other choice. I have no choice.
LC – What would be the most prominent sacrifice in your life?
AH – Relationships. It makes relationships difficult because you don’t have what’s deemed as a normal 9 to 5 gig. You’re in town, then out of town. Just because you’re gone doesn’t mean you don’t care about them or not wanna be with them. Professional touring is what being a musician’s about.
LC – Will we expect to see you in Bucharest again?
AH – Absolutely yes. Possibly this summer or early fall.

Alex may be returning to Romania later this year to continue his ‘Afro/Brazilian, Afro/Cuban Project’. There are also possibilities to perform at festivals with his project ‘OrgaNation’. For details of when he’ll next be hitting the limelight here in Bucharest, please log on to www.alexharding.net
Additional sites of interest, http://www.defunktmusic.com & http://joebowie.org

Interview by Lu Cozma / May, ’09.

Hanno Hoefer Interview...

“ I wouldn’t change it for anything”.

Grabbing a coffee at his usual watering hole somewhere in the deep depths of the city, I soon realised whilst chatting and losing track of time, how enigmatic Hanno Hoefer really is. Romania knows him as front man of ‘The Nightlosers’ a band that concocts a combustible recipe of blues & country with traditional Romanian sound. Immense success also as a founder member of Mobra Films, with Christian Mungiu and Oleg Mutu won them the Palm d’Or and FIPRESCI award at Cannes in 2007, with the critically acclaimed film ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days’.
I found myself at a unique vantage point to ask the less obvious, to delve into his past student life, musical beginnings as a performer and the start of his life behind the camera.

LC - You studied in Berlin?
HH – For awhile, yes
LC – What was it you studied?
HH – I studied Eastern European history and social anthropology,
LC – And you were in Berlin for how long?
HH – Let me see... for about 3 years.
LC – Why Berlin?
HH – Because I left Romania in ’88 and went to Germany as an immigrant actually. I have a German background and from Romania I went there. I didn’t feel good in western Germany. I studied a year in Bavaria and didn’t like it at all. Then I moved to Berlin because I visited Berlin and somehow I felt very at home. I still had my Romanian passport and I was able to travel to East Berlin whenever I wanted, without paying, so you know... I even lived in East Berlin, studied in West Berlin... for me having those 2 passports the German one and the Romanian one...
LC – There wasn’t so much of a cultural difference then?
HH – Yes and no. In West Berlin there was a cultural difference but in East Berlin where I knew a lot of people there wasn’t. I knew people there because lot’s of East Germans came to Romania during the summer to go to the Black Sea. And I made a lot of friends. Actually I knew lots of East Berliners and it was easier for me to see what was going on there and with their help.
LC – Why study those specific subjects?
HH – Well, I finished High School with the focus on history in Bucharest and then I went to Germany, thought, ‘what should I study’?’ Where could I have a good position’? I mean, not every University took you and the Institute for Eastern European History had one big condition, you had to know one of those languages, so, as I knew Romanian they took me immediately, so that was one of the reasons. And of course another reason was because it was interesting and basically it was very good there. Unfortunately I didn’t finish those studies, because I switched to film directing. But it was useful anyway...
LC – When you came back here to Romania you studied cinematography, to begin a career in filming? Had you made a conscious decision then for that type of career?
HH – No, not at all. It was much simpler than that. I had a girlfriend in Cluj, in Transylvania...
LC – Ahhh, so it was all about a woman...
HH – No... (smiling), well, more or less. No, I organised from Berlin, I managed to get a scholarship to study Eastern European history in Cluj for one year, so there I studied. Then some good friends of mine tried to get into the Film School in Bucharest and they told me about the exams... I got interested and then I said ‘I’m gonna try this too’, out of fun. And there were 3 exams in a period of, I don’t know, 10 days or something like that. They were eliminatory exams, so if you missed one, failed, you’re out. I took the first 2 and it got serious, I mean, I realised I had chances to be admitted. I think the reason why I got admitted into the school was because I didn’t want to...
LC – ... because you were relaxed? And you had nothing to lose?
HH – Exactly. That’s it. And that’s how I switched to film. I quit studying history and switched to film...
LC – So really by chance...
HH – More or less.
LC – You’ve done some acting too.
HH – Yeah, on the side.
LC – Have you a desire to act?
HH – No, I don’t have a desire. I don’t go to castings, only if I’m forced to do it, no, it was an accident! I worked in a theatre before ’89 in Romania, as an actor, for about 2 years, but that was it, then I took a break for about 10 years, but when I was in film school they started to give me small parts, some of them obviously went good and they called me from time to time, but it’s not my job and I’m not an actor, to be clear (smiles).
LC – When you were studying, were you involved with music?
HH – Yes. In Cluj I formed this band.
LC – The Nightlosers?
HH – No I had another small band, the 3 of us. Some guys in Cluj they were music producers and organised regular parties. They needed a jam session band and they took me from my band and my colleagues who were popular musicians in Cluj. We met one day at a club without knowing what to play and of course blues is the best... when you don’t know what to play you play blues! We didn’t even have a name and we played for about ½ year for free beer, out of fun and slowly, slowly. We stayed together. The name wasn’t our choice it was given to us by the audience, by some guys, I don’t know who it was! I didn’t even like it in the beginning...
LC – But the name stuck and you were destined to have it...
HH - Yeah, we tried to change it about 10 years ago.
LC – You have a very loyal and strong following.
HH – Actually yes. We built the following. I recognise the people when we go to a different city. We’ve been playing for 15 years. It’s time they got familiar with what we’re doing!
LC – When you look at new film projects, do they come to you, or do you get the creative flow going yourself, do you collaborate... how does it work?
HH – It’s kind of from outside. I don’t sit down and say ‘let’s write a script’, no, something has to happen. You never know where you go from there, it can be a discussion sitting at a table, can be from anything. I have to admit I’m not good at sitting down and writing out of fantasy, like some people do.
LC – Tell me about your film ‘The International Phone Call’ (Telefon In Stainatate).
HH – You know that film? You surprise me...
LC – The photography is quite exceptional and the little details in the first minute when nothing is spoken. I was taken aback by the wonderful detail you’d captured. Your observations on the everyday, streets, stray dogs... spot on and identifiable.
HH – That was a school film, it was made in school. I think we shot it in 3 days and to prepare another 2 or 3 days, maybe 2 weeks. We edited in one night. And we edited on film on an editing table, not a computer. At Film School we had an editing table from the 1940’s, really, really, and they were still working and we were editing with the film...
LC – That’s a creative process in itself...
HH – It’s a very creative process and I’m very sorry it disappeared because everything is now on software... I learned to keep everything in order, you know, because you were surrounded by hundreds of metres of film and if you lose your orientation ‘where did I put that metre of film’? It’s a disaster... I had to be very careful with it. Everything was done physically, by cutting the film...
LC – Do you think it’s better now?
HH – It’s easier now but definitely there’s something lost. It was complicated, it’s much easier now and you can focus more on the creative process, but on the other hand it helped me, I liked it. I get lost on a computer. I liked editing at that time.
LC – Did you use professional actors in the film?
HC – No and the main character wasn’t an actor.
LC – I think that’s what’s so appealing about it, because it’s so normal and natural. Are you going to make another film like that again?
HH – Yeah the one I’m going to do in July or August is more or less the same approach. It’ll need a lot more preparation because now I have to take care of everything.
LC – Where can we find out info on your Nightloser gigs?
HH – On our Myspace page.
LC – Are there plans for a new album?
HH – We definitely plan on this, in the summer. If everything goes well, we’ll start recording in April.
LC – Any videos?
HH – Yeah, we have to do some videos.
LC – Is it going to be a covers album or original?
HH – Maybe three or four original songs but mostly blues standards because that’s part of what we do.
We played in Toronto Canada in November (2008). One of the best compliments, I ever got was from a 60 year old carpenter. After the show he came over to us and said ‘I like the way you fuck around with those songs’... Yeah, that’s actually what we do!
LC – At different points of your life, you’ve had significant projects, but basically you’re a free man to work on things that you really want to do.
HH – yeah, I’ve been lucky. The financial part of course cannot be neglected, sometimes it was hard, sometimes it was good, at times a little insecure, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Since interviewing Hanno Hoefer, Mobra Films have now been confirmed as a contender for this year’s Cannes Film Festival with ‘Tales from the Golden Age’. All the very best with the film guys. Romania’s standing proud!

‘The Nightlosers’ gig listings, info, video’s and samples of music on the band can be found on www.myspace.com/nightlosers
For Mobra Films and info on ‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ -
http://www.mobrafilms.ro/
http://www.4months3weeksand2days.com/blog/index.php

Lu Cozma
www.myspace.com/cozmalu
http://www.expatromania.com/

Lacramioara Brecea, 'One Woman Show'.

Bucharest's new and highly talented actress Lacramioara Brecea will be starring in her one woman show "Evadare din multimea vida".

Always engaging and charismatic, Lacramioara's show is set to storm Club A, 11th April. Show starts at 7:00PM.

For ticket bookings and info please contact CLUB A, Strada Blanari 14, Bucharest. Tel / 021 313 55 92

More info on Lacramioara can be found on http://tiny.cc/qKNV1

Lu
www.myspace.com/cozmalu / www.expatromania.ro

DRUM-UP @ Spice Club

For a truly unique and interactive experience get yourselves down to Spice Club to see the 'tornado trio' in DRUM-UP'.

Orlando Petriceanu, Adrian Noir and Mihai Axinte provide an evening of energetic theatre and musical entertainment where the audience are part of the show...

For more info and ticket bookings please contact -Spice Club: Adresa, Calea Victoriei 21-23, mezanin. Telefon (Rezervari): 021 312 01 36 or http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LnNwaWNlY2x1Yi5ybw== Email: office@spiceclub.ro

For Drum-Up reviews please check out Ziua Verde on http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vdGlueS5jYy5kR1RGVA== and http://www.drum-up.blogspot.com/

Lu
www.myspace.com/cozmalu / www.expatromania.ro

ARTS & cULTURE... NEWSFLASH

GIG NEWSFLASH... Confirmed music artists performing in Romania and events in April, May & June.

Alexandrina Hristov @ Silver Church, 9th April.

Art Exhibition @ Carturesti Bookstore, Bucharest, 17th April.

Alex Harding, on tour, 26th April - 6th May, venues tba.

Byron, 21st May @ Silver Church.

Asleep In The Park, Clubul Taranului, 29th & 30th May, Groove Garden, Brasov, 31st May.

Al Jawala on tour from the 3rd May, Silver Church, Clubul Taranului, fatzaDa festival, Prato and Groove Garden confirmed gigs.

fatzaDa Festival, bands confirmed, Byron, Aria, Urbana, The Amsterdams, Les Elephant Bizares, 4th/5th/6th June...

These bands are well worth seeing. Don't delay, get your tickets now to avoid disappointment.

For more info, log on to http://www.depouldearturbana.ro/, http://www.teatruljoint.ro/ , http://www.fatzada.ro/ . For box office/tickets please contact Dan Oprea dan@oprea.net

Updates, posts, reviews, interviews will follow...

Lu
www.myspace.com/cozmalu
http://www.expatromania.ro/