Neil Leiter, born in Raleigh, NC, is a violist and composer with a rich background in classical and contemporary music. He studied viola performance at Indiana University before moving to Brussels in 2003, where he established himself in the European music scene.
Over the years as a purely classical musician, Neil performed with renowned ensembles such as the Brussels Chamber Orchestra, Liege Philharmonic, Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Quatuor Amon, and Quatuor Amenti.
In 2012 after being introduced to Adam Wiltze by his close friend Caroline Shaw, he co-founded Echo Collective with Margaret Hermant, a group known for its emotive and genre-blending approach to music, collaborating with artists across various styles, from classical to electronic and for their own sound and compositions. Through Echo Collective, Neil has contributed to numerous acclaimed projects, including reimaginings of contemporary works and original compositions that push the boundaries of modern chamber music.
In only a few years, Brussels-based Echo Collective have forged an enviable reputation in the post-classical world: sought out for their instrumental and arranging expertise by icons such as A Winged Victory For The Sullen and the late Jóhann Jóhannsson, or lending their interpretative intuition to genres as diverse as alt.rock, synth-pop and black metal.
Finally, an album of their own material, The See Within, confirms Echo Collective are equally inspired creators, using their past accomplishments as a springboard to a new, illuminating vision. From brief, singular themes to lengthier, shifting and questing episodes, this masterclass in composition, expression and technique bridges intimacy and grandeur in line with the most rewarding of post-classical works.
The Echo Collective performing ‘Mirror Image’ this Wednesday, 22.1.2025 at silent green in Berlin.
FACTS
1. I was born in Raleigh NC USA.
2. I have been living in Brussels since 2003, which is now more than half my life.
3. I have always loved growing basil and making pesto.
1. What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Throughout my life as a musician, first classically and then with Echo Collective, making music as part of a community has always been my greatest joy. Playing in orchestras or chamber music with others has always held much more meaning to me than solo work. Through Echo Collective, collaborating and creating together is the logical continuation of how I started making music. For me, music is a shared experience, and that moment of exchange, trust, and creativity is the ultimate inspiration.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
My father is an amateur violinist, and that initial contact with the instrument spoke to me. I began studying the violin at the age of 8, and making music has been my life pretty much since.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Heifetz playing Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto: Was on constant rotation in my childhood
Primrose playing Harold in Italy: The viola master performing one of the most underrated musical gems
A Winged Victory for the Sullen – Atomos: First love with neoclassical music
Jóhann Jóhannsson – Orphée: An amazing live collaboration and life experience
Stokowski Bach Organ Transcriptions: My refuge
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
A city run by artists. It’s the only place I’ve been where creation and artistic expression are so much at the forefront of the culture.
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
Parc Josaphat in Schaerbeek. It’s close to my house and my studio, and feels a bit like my own Central Park.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
Something creative. Maybe sculpture or writing.
7. What was the last record/music you bought or listen?
Caroline Shaw’s latest album with So Percussion: “Rectangles and Circumstance”
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
With Margaret, we have had the honor to collaborate with so many amazing artists. I truly hope we can continue down this charmed path.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Playing BBC Proms with A Winged Victory for the Sullen is one of the highpoints of my musical journey. The energy that night in Royal Albert Hall was magical.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
When technology can give a new sonic palette to work with, I am very eager to incorporate it into our artistic process. For example, with “Mirror Image,” the 4DSOUND technology became an integral part of the creative process both recording and live. Or with “The See Within,” using the Magnetic Resonator Piano opened up new acoustic possibilities and became an integral part of the album and the process.
11. Please tell us a little bit about your new album “Mirror Image”.
“Mirror Image” is an intimate album exploring Margaret’s and my musical path together. It’s an extended conversation between us that echoes our past and present. We bring a lot of different textures, techniques, and ideas that we have developed together over the years of creating and collaborating into this album. The live show is an extension of the album, allowing us to share works from past collaborations and creations, as well as the new material. This extended dialogue, face to face, like in a mirror, is presented immersively in 4DSOUND, which helps bring the audience that much closer to our artistic interaction.
