Carolina Eyck is a German-Sorbian musician and composer, largely recognized as the world’s leading theremin virtuoso. She was awarded the Echo Klassik Prize for “Concert Recording of the Year” in 2015. Eyck developed her own precise eight-finger-position playing technique by age 16 and published the first extensive theremin method book The Art of Playing the Theremin . Her method is now being used by thereminists around the world and has revolutionized how the instrument is played. She was one of the performers at our Summer Kiezsalon in the beautiful sculpture garden of the Kunsthaus Dahlem.
Carolina is elated to be releasing a full new album of original music this coming April: “Thetis 2086” uses her go-to sonic mediums of theremin and voice to take you on a journey of space exploration and conjure up soundscapes that channel the beauty of Earth’s natural wonders, as seen through the eyes of an entity exploring our planet for the first time. The album is both a love letter to our natural world and an acknowledgment of its fragility; she hopes it inspires her listeners to slow down and appreciate everything that our little blue planet has on offer for us.
FACTS:
1: I have perfect pitch.
2: Bunnies bunnies bunnies – I simply love them!
3: I’m Sorbian, part of my family comes from the slavic minority in East Germany called the Sorbs.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Most of my inspiration come from non-musical sources: colours, nature, the melodies of spoken word. Besides that, I always try to tune myself to the here and now. The theremin, even though it doesn’t look like it, is such a physical instrument: every little movement matters, every breath matters. I see this as an advantage, an invitation to be present and to connect to the current moment. I would say this is my main inspiration, and the first thing on my mind when I’m improvising.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
I started with the piano when I was 5 years old; the violin when I was 6, and I started playing the theremin when I was 7. My parents were involved in the electronic music scene and because of that my brother and I had a very musical upbringing.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
That’s hard to say, because my favorite music changes all the time. At the moment I love to dance to Ariana Grande „Positions“ Album and I love to listen to Jakub Józef Orliński’s Vivaldi „Vedro con mio diletto“.
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
Home.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Tiergarten, definitely. I love taking a walk at dusk; it’s the best time to spot the wild rabbits, which are so many and so lovely.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I guess I would study languages if I wasn’t making music. I think it’s one of the most fascinating things.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Grégoire Blanc & Aleks Schürmer „À ses derniers pas, entrant dans la boue“
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I suppose Sting or Bobby McFerrin. They are great inspirations for me as an artist.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
It was when I premiered Regis Campo’s ‘Dancefloor with Pulsing’ in Belgium, at the Bozar 2018. Great piece, great venue, great audience, everything about it was remarkable and I feel very grateful for the experience.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Without technology I wouldn’t be able to play my music. Besides the theremin, I’m using midi controllers, guitar pedals and Ableton Live. Technology makes it possible to shape and move sound the way I envision it, it makes magic happen. I truly believe that we artists should use technology to achieve our vision, but we have to be careful and not let technology drown us, drive us to do something simply because the technology is available. Technology should be a tool, not the finality.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
Yes, we work together so no problems!
