Laura Masotto is a classically-trained Italian violinist in a state of constant exploration. She started studying violin at the age of five and launched her career at fifteen, performing concerts in chamber and symphony orchestras across Europe. Over the years Laura has worked on theatre projects and as a session musician and performed live with internationally renowned artists. In 2019 she released her first solo album “Fireflies”, composed and performed entirely by her. The album was presented in Los Angeles with Sofar Sounds. She has contributed pieces to several label compilations: “Before the Rising Sun”, part of Strings Layers of 7K!; “Quantica” and “To Learn and Grow” (in Collaboration with American pianist and composer Philip G Anderson) part of the Scale Compilation of Bigo & Twigetti; “Waves” (in collaboration with Anderson) and “Mirage” for Mediterraneo by Lady Blunt Records).
Her new LP “WE” blends strings with electronica and will be released on 7K! in June 2021.
FACTS:
1: Right now I would like to be in a dancing crowd in the middle of a very loud concert at a summer festival.
2: “The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead there were little daily miracles, illuminations, matches struck unexpectedly in the dark” — Virginia Woolf
3: Sometimes I am a very silent person.
QUESTIONS:
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Life. Human beings. Memories. Experiences.
Playing music is my mantra. I listen to the music I feel inside in order to share what I really am.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
In my childhood I spent a lot of my time listening to some tapes of Vivaldi and Paganini. I felt that I wanted to be a violinist so I started to study violin when I was five.
3. What are 5 of your favourite works of all time?Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
Björk – Homogenic
Nigel Kennedy and the Kroke band – East Meets East
Portishead – Roseland NYC Live
Radiohead – Ok Computer
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
In Berlin I met my love so I have very intense, beautiful memories.
When I think of Berlin I recall parks, asian restaurants, wonderful summers, strolling along the River Spree, the one and only Funkhaus and a feeling of freedom.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
I like biking along the river Adige which surrounds the city of Verona, but in summer I always go swimming at the Garda lake. I love water.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
During this pandemic it feels like there is no music in the world.
When I was a child my grandmother used to tell me that I should become a lawyer because I always wanted to defend everyone. But actually she is the one who taught me how to cook, and I still love it so I would have liked to be a chef.
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
S16, the last record by Woodkid
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Björk. She is such an inspiring artist.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
I went to see Benjamin Clementine and his Parisian String Quintet at a small theatre in Bologna. It has been an outstanding concert.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
I think that it is very important because it is the sound of our era. The sound of instruments like the violin is the sound of history. I like mixing these two type of sounds. Sometimes I start composing with the violin, sometimes with synths.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
I have a brother, he is a pianist and he is very proud of my career. He was the first pianist I played music with.
Photo © Francesca Serotti
