DEFINING MUSIC AS ART, A CONVERSATION WITH SALOMEA
CONVERSATIONS is a project inspired by the global lack of and need for meaningful dialogue and true empathy. At a turning point in her career, Rebekka Ziegler aka SALOMEA, invited three celebrated female creatives to share thoughts on their own experiences and journeys. Over three long sessions-turned-to-podcasts, performance artist, dancer and writer Sophie-Yukiko Hasters, directress Svenja Trierscheid and fashion & jewelry designer Luise Zücker – they opened up on everything from the personal to the political, questioning the very idea of community and creativity in today’s world.
The discussions between the four women evolved from words over to music, fashion, video and dance. The dialogues between them become the raw material for lyrics by SALOMEA on 3 new tracks. We are honored and excited to share our interview with the inspiring German-American musician.
Thank you so much for joining us today, we are really looking forward to sharing your inspirations and new project with our audience. Tell us please, what are your greatest inspirations?
My greatest desire is to find the most honest and courageous way of expression and to create music and performance from and for the soul and mind. For a long time my creative source was fear and sadness, for there has been a lot of sickness and trauma in my family. There is beauty and power in deep sorrow. Witnessing death has definitely been the most influential experience of my life.
Going beyond that it is life itself that never fails to inspire. The complexities of human beings and nature, people and personalities with stories of persistence and resilience. Communication, conversations and community in form of asking questions and really listening. Knowing and trying to understand myself, with humor and love, in order to meet others with patience and empathy. Learning from history, events and pioneers and creating with the future in mind. Outside the box, sustainable, innovative.
Tell us a bit about your creative process? What was important for you while creating "Conversations”?
The motivation for “Conversations" came from a different place than anything I had done before. There was a shift and a strong desire to make some changes. In who I work with, where I see and place myself, the way I think about identity and art and the way I make music. A longing for community and independence at the same time. Luckily I have an amazing team, that supports and pushes me to think ways I didn’t know I could.
So for Conversations there was a clear plan. After extensive research I met director & photographer Svenja Trierscheid, performance artist & writer Sophie Yukiko and jewelry artist & fashion designer Luise Zücker for conversations online, deep dives into their worlds, and then we all went to work, everyone in her field. After our first group call I was so electrified - I produced my very first track, the jingle for the podcast - all by myself.
It was important to me that the artists are featured in their fields, that they talk about their expertises, their visions and goals. To introduce a space for us four women to create a complex, multi dimensionally intertwined, detailed body of art.
What are the themes you touch on with your new work/music?
Generally I tend to pack a lot of themes into one song and my lyrics are often like collages. They can be understood in many different ways, But the idea to do the project in the first place was fueled by the question what role art could play in this new kind of “normality” that the pandemic situation called and is still calling for. That made me wonder about the term itself.
Questioning, deconstructing, rethinking, claiming or dissolving normality or what is put upon us by dominant society as “normal” or “not normal” is definitely a common theme and I express many thoughts directly or indirectly through the music of the Conversations EP.
More topics are language, representation, resilience, giving less fucks (about certain things), giving more fucks (about other things) mental health and health in general, especially as freelancers, expanded consciousness, dreaming, fantasy, playing...
How has this year changed your creativity and how do you see the world changing moving forward
Through digitalization I have become more visual and holistic in terms of what I as a contemporary musician want to put out. Collaborating with numerous amazing artists throughout the past year has been extremely inspiring. I’d like to shout out the entire Conversations team, especially Svenja, Luise, Sophie and my co-producers Yannis and Ty and also people like Ray Lozano, Judith Simon, Gizem Winter, Leif and Fabian Schütze for eye-opening conversations and beautiful cooperations. I have realized again, that working on something I love and believe in with a team built on trust has the most creative force.
The past year has made it clear to me that I, as an artist, as a human being, want to, maybe have to take on responsibility and be precise about what I put out into the world and what values I support. Working in a creative field is a privilege. And it’s hard work.
I can’t put a finger on what exactly has changed. But being alone a lot, being online a lot, consuming art and daily bad news on the same platforms made me alternate between giving up all together and pushing harder than ever. Between “who needs music anyways" and “let’s do this gigantic project called Conversations”. Several times.
Honestly, I don’t know about the world. I hope people are open for change, ‘cause that’s the only thing that's certain.
Do you think the art world needs to change, and if so how can it be improved?
Yes I think especially the rich art world needs to take on more responsibility concerning climate change and social issues. In general, the art world needs to be accessible for everyone. Not just people, who can afford it. It needs to normalize including more perspectives. And one day maybe dissolve norms altogether.
We need more courageous art! And openness in all directions. Weirdness, beauty, rage, fear.
We need more thinking outside the box, more exchange, more women, Black people, Jewish people, queer people, trans people, non-binary people, different cultural backgrounds, personal backgrounds, less genres and labels. Less materialism and superficiality.
More open minds and open ears.
What does wellbeing mean to you?
As for now, I’d say feeling safe and healthy. Loved and taken care of. Independent and part of a bigger whole. Feeling as much as possible. Having time. Spending time. Letting go. Surprising myself.
