Zaritza: One on One with a Russian Artist

Zaritza – Someone You Should Know.

Interview conducted on December 28, 2017

By Daniel Locke

Zaritza’s music and personal story are a journey of juxtaposition: from rich artistic traditions amid austere living conditions in her native rural Russia to the freedom, innovation and kinetic multiculturalism of her adopted home in New York City. Raised in a village near the Ural Mountains and highly-trained as a competition-winning classical pianist, Zaritza left Russia –and a full scholarship at one of its top universities– to break from its cultural constraints and pursue her creative ambitions as a composer and performer of modern pop/rock music.

Zaritza’s music combines dramatic undertones and romantic melodies from her Russian classical roots with the rhythmic pulse, ethereal soundscapes and edgy attitudes of American electro-pop/rock.

Zaritza’s performance credits in the U.S. include appearing as an opening act for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Newport International Film Festival, the Rainbow Room and the Metropolitan Room in New York.

Unratedmagazine: Tell me about your background.  How did you get interested in music?

Zaritza: I was born and raised in a small, remote village in the foothills of the Ural Mountains in Russia.  Public entertainment options were very limited, but my parents both loved listening to music, so there was always something playing on the radio or the record player in our small apartment.  Very early on, surely influenced in part by my parents, I became interested in — rather, obsessed with — music.  I remember from as far back as age three being moved by music, literally and figuratively: whenever a song played on the stereo, I would spontaneously spring-up and start dancing, twirling around the living room, completely lost in the melodies and rhythms … I didn’t know what it was or why it affected it me so much, but I knew I had to be around it and live in it.

I also was drawn to performing from an early age. I loved dressing-up, making-up dance routines and putting on “shows” for my family and friends, and when my parents enrolled me in both ballet and classical piano lessons (yes, they are Russian!), I thrived on performing in the recitals.

You spent your youth in Russia studying, practicing and performing classical piano under an intense curriculum for gifted students. Has this helped you with your career?

Absolutely.  My extensive classical training has helped me in several ways.  First, I was able to achieve a level of mastery of the piano and music theory — a music fluency — that enables me to express and explore my musical ideas more fully, freely and efficiently: in effect, my mind, my hands and my piano have become “hard-wired” together from years of practicing and performing diverse pieces of music, from subtly simple to incredibly intricate.  Also, my intense classical training has given me discipline and a strong work ethic to take on and persevere through complex, challenging situations, whether in the writing process, performance planning/rehearsal or “business” matters.  In addition, of course, my classical background provides me with a rich musical color palette — from compositional elements to instrumentation — to draw upon in my songwriting, recording production and performances.

How did you get your name?

“Zaritza” (a variation of “zaritsa”) basically means “young daughter of the czar” or “little princess.”  I took it as a stage name in reference to my Russian heritage and because I have the same given name, Anastasia, as the much-fabled — and tragic — daughter of the last czar (emperor) of Russia at the onset of the Russian Revolution and the modern Russian era around a century ago.

What type of music did you grow up with?  Plus give me some of the artists.

Despite growing up in a very small town, I was lucky to be exposed to a variety of music that enriched my life and influenced my own creativity.  Much of the music was, of course, Russian, including traditional folk music and the great Russian classical composers — Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev and, by far my favorite of all classical composers, Rachmaninoff.  In my intense training as a concert pianist, I also was exposed to other great composers, such as Chopin, Mozart, Grieg and Bach.  In addition, my father often would drive to the nearest city and bring home LP records of American or British pop or rock n’ roll music for us to check out, ranging from the Beatles to Motown to my all-time favorite rock band, Queen.  This music from “the West” was so exotic and exciting; it opened up an entirely different world of musical possibilities for me and led me to focus on pop/rock music as an artist in my own right.

Do you still follow the music scene in Russia?

Thanks to the Internet, I am able to check out the ever-evolving music scene in Russia even though I left there, and have become a U.S. citizen, many years ago.  I enjoy exploring the new artists that are expanding and deepening the scope of Russian popular music and, of course, I still listen to — and play — Russian classical.  In moments of nostalgia, I also love listening to some of the romantic, melodramatic theme songs from the old Russian movies I grew up watching.

What are some of the bands which influence your music?

The artists who were — and still remain — a major influence and inspiration for me, whether as musicians, composers and/or performers, include Rachmaninoff, Queen, Garbage, Radiohead, Massive Attack, Jeff Buckley, Oasis, Imogen Heap, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, Sting, Michael Jackson, Prince and Lana Del Ray, among many others.

Did you play any other instruments while growing up?

Piano and voice are, and remain today — although “piano” now includes digital keyboards with a wide range of instrumentations and effects — my only instruments.  However, while growing up I also was very involved in ballet and modern dance; I hope to incorporate more dance — a mode of expression I am passionate about — into my live performances as that aspect of my career evolves in the coming years.

What was the first band you played with?

I never had the experience of joining a band, so to speak … I always have been a solo performer or had a band supporting me as the named artist.  That said, I am blessed to work with a great group of musicians in my shows, and I love the energy, artistry and camaraderie they bring to the live experience — for me as well as the audience!

How were you discovered?

I wasn’t discovered, per se; like the vast majority of artists, especially in the Internet age, I have been developing and promoting my music and career on a more do-it-yourself, grassroots basis, but with a lot of creative contribution, encouragement and guidance from some great musicians and producers I have been lucky to meet and work with along the way.  A particular highlight for me was when, soon after I first arrived in America from Russia many years ago, I was extremely fortunate to be introduced to and spend a little time with one of my musical heroes, the legendary songwriter, performer and producer Nile Rodgers, who generously gave me musical and career advice that continues to help me to this day.

Who is in the present band?

• Zaritza – piano, keyboards, vocals
• Chris Davison – bass
• Chris Macock – guitar
• Steve Honoshowsky or Mark Nett – drums

Where does your music come from?

The initial spark of a song idea usually comes in the form of a melody or chord that caught my ear while just playing around and exploring at the piano.  Sometimes, a melody or lyric will just pop into my head at some random moment while going about my day or even appear in a dream while I’m asleep, so I always keep my smart phone nearby in order to capture fleeting ideas by humming a few of the notes into the sound recorder app — the modern version of the musical “scratch pad!”  I flesh-out each of these initial ideas into piano arrangements and concepts for a song, and then keep working to cultivate it into a more complete composition — often with input from one of my collaborators — and eventually go into the studio where it further evolves and becomes refined into a fully-produced recording.

What does the term Electro-Pop/Rock mean to you?

This describes the basic nature of the music I like to create … a combination of power and energy (= “rock”), pithy song forms and catchy melodies (= “pop”) and modern digital soundscapes and effects (= “electro”).

Why did you do a TED Talk?

I was invited to speak at the 2016 TEDxNavesink event by one of the local organizers who was familiar with my background and musical pursuits, and thought I might be a good fit for the theme that year, which was “Makers.”  I was grateful for the opportunity to tell my story and present my music to a different type of audience in a different way.  I talked about making music but also about making the journey from Russia to America — and for a bit of local relevance, I noted that my classical music idol — Rachmaninoff — actually had emigrated from Russia to New York about a century ago and spent a few summers in the Navesink area of New Jersey.

One of the bands you opened up for was the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  What city was that in and how was it to open up for them?  What did you learn from TSO about performing?

That was in Newport, Rhode Island … it was a real honor and a lot of fun!  It was very inspiring to see how the Trans-Siberian Orchestra was able to perform with such virtuoso precision and confidence while at the same time unleashing so much raw passion and butt-kicking energy in both their playing and their stage presence!  It truly set a high bar for that special combination of classical and rock, with plenty of high tech elements and a lot of great showmanship — a standard I always strive to emulate for my own music in my own particular way.

Who are some of the other bands you have opened up for?

I really have not done a lot of live performing to date, so I have not had occasion to open for nationally/internationally well-known acts other than Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  When I have performed live, however, I have been lucky to appear on the same bill as a variety of really great local and regional acts on the metropolitan New York City and New England nightclub circuit.

What can you tell me about your new record; what is it going to be like?

The record is my debut English-language album (though for fun I did include one Russian-language song at the end as a bonus).  It is a “labor of love” that took about 3 years to write, record and produce, and I think it is a good representation of the “electro-pop/rock” sound I have been crafting as well as a showcase of the classical elements I like to weave into my compositions and production.

The release date of your CD “Zaritza” was September 21, 2017.  How is it doing?

So far, great!  It has received some very favorable reviews from the public and the press, and I hope it will continue to gain momentum as more people have an opportunity to check it out.

Can you tell me something about the CD?

The CD contains 11 tracks, including 9 original songs and 2 covers (Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box” and Radiohead’s “Talk Show Host“).  It features superb artistry and effort on the part of my amazing team of collaborators — co-writers, session musicians and producers — and was recorded in different locations (including even the living room of my apartment) before being mixed and mastered at a couple of really great studios in New Jersey and Rhode Island.  In addition to the music recordings, we spent a lot of time and detailed focus on preparing the CD’s packaging, including several pictures and some cool design work.  I’m very happy with how the entire CD “product” turned out, and I hope people enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed creating it!

On your new CD you recorded one song in Russian, “Crossroads.”  Tell me about the song.

“Crossroads” is about undergoing an experience that shakes you to the core and makes you feel more alive, a feeling that changes you and awakens you from an emotional numbness that had paralyzed you for a long time — such as unrequited love and heartbreak — and then making the decision to act upon that experience and finally let go of the past, free yourself and move forward, stronger and wiser.

Did you have anyone special helping you get the record?

As I mentioned, I was lucky to work with a fantastic team of collaborators who helped so much in making this record happen, including several co-writers (Ryan Omark, Steve Rizzo, Blaise Lucarelli, Bart Wolman), a bunch of great musicians (Pete Andrews – guitar, drums/percussion, digital programming; Ryan Omark – guitar, digital programming; Steve Rizzo – guitar, drums, digital programming; Chris Macock – guitar; James Keene – violin; Samantha Tomblin – violin; Timothy Leonard – cello) and some amazing producers/co-producers (Pete Andrews at Submergent Studios in New Jersey, Steve Rizzo at Stable Sound Studios in Rhode Island, and Ryan Omark).

Any plans to tour?

No plans for an extensive tour just yet, but I am scheduled for a few shows in New York City and the tristate area this Winter, and I also am planning on a small Northeast tour this coming Spring. In addition, I hope to do some dates — though not extensive touring yet — on the U.S. West Coast, the U.K. and Europe — including my native country, Russia — later this coming year.

And here are some upcoming shows:

• January 9  – The Bitter End, NYC
• January 11 – The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ
• February 2 – Drom, NYC

I hope to see you there!

What is your feeling about vinyl?

I love vinyl!  It has a much warmer and richer sound than digital, especially given the “loss compression” of online formats (MP3).  It also harkens back to the early days of rock n’ roll, which I think is great.  In addition to the positive audiophile and nostalgic aspects of vinyl, I also love the opportunity for more creativity in the packaging — photos, artwork, liner notes, etc. — afforded by the much larger form factor of 12″ LPs compared to CDS and the tactile, physical product experience compared to digital formats.  As such, I’m really glad to see vinyl making a bit of a comeback.

Who would you like to open up for you?  Being alive or dead.

There certainly are so many amazing artists with whom I would love to share the bill in a live performance, but it would be rather preposterous of me to think of any of my idols or influences as an opening act for me.  Within the realm of utter fantasy, an artistically ideal scenario for me would be to have the great Rachmaninoff begin the show with a full performance of one his monumental piano concertos and as he reaches the finale, with the room swirling in magic and mystery, the music deftly segues into one of my rock n’ roll songs as my band takes the stage alongside the maestro … now that’s a dream gig for me!!

What instruments do use on tour vs. the ones you record with in the studio?

Given the smaller scale of the venues where we mostly perform at present, it is not practical to bring and use on-stage some of the acoustic instruments that I prefer to use in the studio — such as grand piano … so we rely more heavily on digital equipment and programming in our live shows.  I do have an excellent digital piano whose audio samples and weighted-action keyboard provide an excellent sound and feel for live performance.  Also, we have been able to use electric upright bass (double-bass) and electric cello to incorporate some of the classical and “acoustic” elements into our shows — with a modern twist.

What is the biggest crowd you have played for?

The largest crowd I have played for — having not done a lot of live shows to date — is probably when I opened for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, an audience of hundreds of people.

What direction do you see your music heading in the next 2 years and your long term goals for your What type of music did you grow up with? Plus give me some of the artists.

Despite growing up in a very small town, I was lucky to be exposed to a variety of music that enriched my life and influenced my own creativity.  Much of the music was, of course, Russian, including traditional folk music and the great Russian classical composers — Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev and, by far my favorite of all classical composers, Rachmaninoff.  In my intense training as a concert pianist, I also was exposed to other great composers, such as Chopin, Mozart, Grieg and Bach.  In addition, my father often would drive to the nearest city and bring home LP records of American or British pop or rock n’ roll music for us to check out, ranging from the Beatles to Motown to my all-time favorite rock band, Queen.  This music from “the West” was so exotic and exciting; it opened up an entirely different world of musical possibilities for me and led me to focus on pop/rock music as an artist in my own right.

I would like to stay in the same musical vein that I’m currently developing — combining classical, pop/rock and digital elements — but I also see myself experimenting with more up-tempo, “dance” beats.  Perhaps this is in part because I also want to expand upon my live performances to incorporate more dance and theatricality into my shows.

What music fests would you like to play in?

There are so many music festivals that I would love — and be honored — to perform at.  Some of these are:

• The Park Live Rock Festival (Moscow, Russia)
• Glastonbury Music Festival (Somerset, UK)
• Coachella (California, USA)
• South by Southwest (Texas, USA)
• Fuji Rock (Niigata Prefecture, Japan)

Have you looked into SXSW?

Of course I have heard of SXSW and definitely want to perform there, as well as check out all the other amazing music, arts, technology and culture on display during the event.  I will be looking into booking opportunities for the upcoming year(s).

Are you BMI or ASCAP?

BMI.

What is on your cell phone right now?

Lately I’ve been a little obsessed with M83, FKA Twigs, Kaleo, Hana and Meg Myers, so they’re in “heavy rotation” on my cell phone play list.

Any guilty pleasures your fans would be surprised that you listen to?

Probably the schmaltzy, melodramatic theme songs from the old Russian movies I grew up watching … some it’s rather ridiculous, but so much fun to indulge in!

If you could pick any cartoon character who would it be and why?

Cat Woman, because she’s very clever, mysterious, stylish and strong … and, like me, she’s a fighter who always lands on her feet!  : )

What music do you listen to in order to relax?

It turns out that even the mellowest classical sonata or soft folk ballad somehow manages to stir my imagination and energize me, so for true relaxation I actually prefer listening to very minimalist, almost hypnotic music such as meditation bells or Tibetan chanting.

Anything you like to close with?

I hope people will check out — and enjoy — my new album, and come out to one of my upcoming shows.  You can find my music and keep up with my latest news and activities via the following online platforms:

 

Website | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Facebook | Instagram |

 

 

Thank you for your interview.

Thank you!