With a background in visual art, Vantzou ventured into music first as a video artist / animator / keyboardist as half of The Dead Texan. Later she joined Sparklehorse on a European tour, (2007) and Christina credits the introduction to Mark Linkous as a catalyst for creating her first full length album of minimal ambient post-classical music. Christina has released three albums on Kranky records. Her work as a composer and orchestral arranger is characterized by lush layers of classical instruments, synths, vocal samples and somnambulant melodies. As a visual artist, Vantzou works in high-speed to create slow moving visual accompaniment to her music.
Facts
1: I am in currently in Brussels.
2: The Kansas City Royals just won game 1 of the 2015 World Series.
3: There’s an undeniable dual aspect to how the mind works and they are opposites.
Questions
What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
The history of and future possibilities for music
How and when did you get into making music?
My earliest formative experience with music (being performed) was a Tina Turner concert at age 5. I was lucky to be able to go to the symphony on a regular basis with Mr. Juan Lamana’s music class throughout Sion elementary school. I saw The Coctails in the mid 90’s and was greatly effected by how they made their art so much a part of their project as merch. In the late 90’s I saw Portishead play in DC with film projections. I was forever changed.
What are your 5 favorite albums of all time?
The Shining’s soundtrack
Enter the Wu-Tang (36 chambers) – Wu-Tang Clan
Music for airports – Brian Eno
Transamorem – Transmortem – Eliane Radigue
Birth (score) – Alexand re Desplat
What do you associate with Berlin?
The mint green tiles in the U-Bahn & S-Bahn stations
What’s your favorite place in your town?
The swimming pool.
If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Marine geology.
What was the last record you bought?
Vangelis – Opera Sauvage
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Wendy Carlos.
What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
The Dead Texan once played for one person in Cologne, Germany. After the show we found out our guest was Israeli and flew to Cologne especially for the show.
How important is technology to your creative process?
All recorded sounds have passed through multiple layers of tech. I feel very drawn to the technological aspects of music recording, mixing, post production, electronic instruments and digital interfaces, specifically synthesizers and MIDI.
Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career?
I have one sister and one brother. My sister went into law and my brother’s in business. We grew up in a family of artists so my siblings are the black sheep of the family while I have taken the more traditional route. Both support what I do, my brother was at a recent concert in LA.
Our favourite:
The future
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jb3hdgm-ZcU
N° 3
vimeo.com/142523014
Link: Website | Soundcloud | Facebook
