Ethan Lee

Album review (Classical-music by BBC)

373 words

Review: Henryk Wieniawski: Chamber Works (Zgółka / Pawlak)

Our rating

By Ethan Lee

Published: April 4, 2026 at 4:49 pm

Wieniawski

Chamber Works for Period Violin and Piano

Mikołaj Zgółka (violin), Piotr Pawlak (piano)

CD Accord  ACD353  49:01 mins

Henryk Wieniawski hailed a prodigious violin soloist and composer of the Romantic era, often compared to the late Paganini in virtuosity and musical maturity. The also Polish violinist Mikołaj Zgółka demonstrates an impressive recording that displays command and flexibility on traditional Polish dance form music, singing lyricism in chamber music and virtuosic show pieces.

Zgółka and his Polish collaborative pianist, Piotr Pawlak, demonstrates the youthfulness and fiery nature of nationalistic Polish dance music from Wieniawski in Souvenir de Posen, Kujawiak, Obertass and Gigue Op.23. It is unapologetically unpolished and dishevelled as it meets the abrupt changes in moods from a slower lyrical section to a fast paced livelier relative major key This was captured in its full essence of a lively dance that is rustic and pastoral from Pawlak through the 1853 Blüthner and Zgółka with a 1839 Gagliano.

In Allegro de Sonate, Zgółka starts off with a dominant introduction in the Maestoso (Majestically). This grabs your focus, accompanied with sublime musicianship throughout the various tempo changes. Zgółka display virtuosity together, with Pawlak in the intense recurring themes whilst still maintaining a great balance, where both violin and piano can sing without any compromise or fighting to overpower another. Pawlak starts expansively yet composed in Fantaisie Orientale for a transitional solo by Zgółka before they ultimately meet at Andante, where Zgółka takes charge of the rhythmic drive of the piece, while Pawlak keeps everything grounded while also imitating the violin parts occasionally.

 Légende op,17 was a piece composed within a week by Wieniawski, to his wife Isabella Hampton to convince her father allow their hand in marriage. It is conveyed beautifully and melancholically with minor key harmonies in Andante. Meanwhile, the Allegro moderato shines brilliantly and warmly that is complimented by both violinist and pianist blending the tension and resolves of the harmonies. The final and dazzling display of Fantasie brilliante sur “Faust” that identifies itself with fierce and relentless musical journey treading on the finest line displayed by both players. Both of them taking charge of each other’s entrances that breathes a whole new life to Wieniawski’s composition in the 21^st century. Stunningly executed to an appropriate length of time within the album that could be savoured any time of the day.

Ethan Lee

News Piece (The Guardian)

359 words

Violist Brian Schiele passes away after long battle with cancer

Schiele was a beloved long-serving violist of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

Ethan Lee

Wed 15 Apr 2026 19.53 BST

Opinion piece (The Telegraph)

457 words

Ethan Lee

The harmful state of orchestras that drives people away from auditioning

When ‘perfection’ is taken too literally, the risk of needing to upkeep it takes a toll on the musicians

Ethan Lee

Ethan Lee is a violinist and currently a student studying in Leeds Conservatoire

Published 18 April 2026 1:52pm BST

Following the recent passing of Brian Schiele from The Scottish Chamber Orchestra(SCO), a job in a professional orchestra is what most amateur classical musicians aspire to achieve. It is a pity that the SCO has lost somebody as valuable as Brian Schiele that supports younger musicians in their upcoming careers. For the younger musicians, they may feel less prepared for auditions and even working in a professional orchestra. Life in an orchestra is often not what we imagine it to be.

When a job in a professional orchestra is secured, there’s factors that eats away into a musician’s soul. As a 2016 study by The University of Sydney explained, “Across the three orchestra types, 25% of musicians reported a bullying experience… Pit orchestra musicians were significantly more likely to report being bullied… with orchestral management most commonly identified as a source of bullying.” This especially is backed up by an incident raised within the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), when Esther Hwang, breached an non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to speak out against the sexual assault she faced during her time in the orchestra. Even though both parties found a settlement, it doesn’t stop the management of these big orchestras to coerce and manipulate their victims, as even the victims are not able to do anything against these situations because they rely on orchestral work for a stable wage.

Being in an orchestra also forces musicians to be able to adapt to their surroundings quickly without any repeating concerts. Maxine Kwok-Adams from the London Symphony Orchestra mentioned that it is a “challenge” to be able to have a stable life as an orchestral musician. Due to travelling around, moving places constantly and the frequent changing repertoire. Kwok-Adams mentioned that an orchestral career leads towards more of a “lifestyle rather than a career.”

Each musician in the orchestra also has pressure placed on themselves to reach perfection in performances as Amy Blier-Carruthers eluded that the audiences already expect “detail and perfection” of the highest standards from the musicians and conductors during recordings as players struggle to get notes right even when the audience won’t be bothering or hearing any mistakes. However, this culture has been brought to the concert hall as players are placing expectations of themselves to keep up “perfection” that could be heard in recordings despite numerous takes instead of performing once. This mindset slowly eats at a musician and drives away people from what once brings them joy in life to be something that detriments their health.

These examples that I’ve given were only displayed because people were brave enough to voice out their distress. Many more fellow musicians are under scrutiny. Hence the management and the orchestra should be on due diligence to do better in the future.

Feature Interview (The Guardian)

800 words

“I got a C rather than a B”. A journey of Aryan Pise in life as a composer and a music student

The composer Aryan Pise’s journey in life to life in Leeds Conservatoire as a film music student living his dreams

Ethan Lee

Mon 20 Apr 2026 20.56 BST

Inside a student accommodation kitchen filled with hanging Christmas lights, the young composer Aryan Pise is talking about dancing to Olivia Dean. “I was doing a dance session,” he says, as an apology for being late. Aryan Pise is a film composing student in Leeds Conservatoire on his first year for his Bachelors.

“I am more of an ear person. So, if I listen to a piece, I can try to replicate it.” Dancing and indulging in music by Olivia Dean are one the many activities indulged by Pise, as he has so much more to tell than life gives him in this world. “I’ll try to make it concise.” Pise says ecstatically as he was trying to tell his life’s story. A rising composer hailing from India and multi-faceted musician that wears his culture proudly to his work and is always raring to go from project to project. “My main background I would say is from India… But I like it here. It’s very fun!” Pise exclaims as your typical British weather was having its gloomy grey skies with some light drizzle mixed in as he reminisces himself moving houses in the UK and now settled in Caldicot, a town nearby London that’s filled with greenspace that evoked serenity.

The young composer was on his way with his offer to Kings College London but sadly missed his offer due to receiving “a C rather than a B,” Pise says disappointingly. “I feel that changed my life completely and I’m so glad!” A blessing in disguise guided him to finding his place in Leeds Conservatoire through clearing in a film music course. He was having a laugh as he recalls telling me about the interview he had with Brian Morell, the Head of Film Music, while he was out on a vacation with friends in Porto, Portugal. “Brian somehow knew I was on holiday. I don’t know how?” As Pise is draping in his holiday clothes and in a completely different environment during the interview three weeks before the term starts.

Life in the conservatoire was exciting for Pise akin to a violinist in a violin atelier. “I want to write a symphony… But sometimes I start and I just leave it.” Like an excited child getting tired of their toy, Pise tempers his excitement to smaller projects with friends. “So, me and [my friend] Katie went out with a few other people… we were complaining that why are people like that with situationships, relationships or whatever.” A hint of youth in the air, “we should write a song about this… and we have a lot of common!” A spritely energy came and thus a new project starts off with two broken hearts that “three hours figuring out ideas” and have come to a conclusion of “space” that “links with people or somebody you had a deep connection… but it turns out it’s not real anymore”. Pise explains that this is an emotion or feeling we can’t put our finger to. However, one thing is certain, “the emotions could not be fake.” says Pise confidently.

In a room with a friend that you rely on and relate to as though you’ve been friends for a lifetime to write a song. It’s a connection most people strive for. “We’re challenging each others ideas and we agree at the end of the day!” For Pise, these is merely a fun project with a friend to play around with sounds and “space”, with experimentative sounds using table knocks and recording at different spots in his Ensuite bedroom that’s decorated with pictures of cherished ones on the wall. “She’s recorded that from the farthest point possible… and she sounds so angelic and so far away.”

Aside from that, Pise also indulges himself in playing other instruments. Particularly the violin and viola. “it’ll be 5 years since I learnt… that’s why I want to try and play Tchaikovsky (Violin Concerto).” Hearing about this, most people would fear that he would not be able to make it but according to Pise he excitedly exclaimed that his current violin teacher, Linda Jankowska has given him full permission to learn the terrifying repertoire. “She wouldn’t have allowed me to play it if she knew I couldn’t.”

Witnessing Pise, it’s amazing that one could be so devoted to music yet be so free from it. What Pise represents from a world of strict musicians is a breath of fresh air that’s full of eagerness to explore what he could offer. Like a bundle of sunshine “because I love studying and meeting new people.” An amazing journey of a composer and musician that from many intertwined life starting from Susie Walton, “Why don’t you look at Leeds Conservatoire?”

Appendix

Transcripts for interview

Interview with Film Music student, Aryan Pise

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Ethan: Okay, this is my interview with Aryan Pise. So, hi Aryan you had to pushback todays interview because you were out for a dance? 

Aryan: Yes! Yes, I was doing a dance session, and I only got that time slot. So sorry about that.

Ethan: Oh, so how was that dance?

Aryan: The dance was amazing, it was wonderful. I danced to Olivia Dean’s new song and that has been arranged as well! 

Ethan: Okay.

Aryan: Man I Need!

Ethan: Okay that’s nice. You’ve also arranged this song. 

Aryan: I did, for strings.

Ethan: Like, in your social media, you did arrange a lot songs for Olivia Dean. 

Aryan: Yes! I love arranging. Arranging is my favourite thing.

Ethan: You love arranging?

Aryan: I love arranging.

Ethan: Well, we will go onto arranging in a bit. But, I have to ask you a very important question. 

Aryan: Okay!

Ethan: So, where did you come from Aryan? 

Aryan: So, I’ll try to make it concise. I was born in India, and I went to the United States for 4 years when I was really young.

Ethan: Okay.

Aryan: My mom’s a dance teacher, so she taught me dancing when I was very young, and in the US, I’ve learnt more about dance and music as well and I’ve started playing piano in the US, just the keyboard to try it out. After US, I did my first grade in the US and went back to India for 10 years and did my grade 1 to grade 10 in India and gave my Board Exams as well, Board Exams are like GCSEs. Then, my dad got a new job here, so we moved here almost 4 years ago, it’s going to be 4 years in May. My main background I would say is from India. Because that’s most of where I’ve been and where I come from.

Ethan: So you’ve been travelling to the US when you were a kid? Was it because of your parents occupation?

Aryan: It was, because of my dad’s job.

Ethan: So is now also because of your dad’s job? 

Aryan: Now is also because of my dad’s job, yes. But I like it here. It’s very fun!

Ethan: So whereabouts in the UK do you live?

Aryan: I live down South, so it’s near London. But, I stayed in a place called Harpenden, which is basically near St. Alban’s which is near Watford. Watford is an only city so it’s 20 minutes from Watford I think and a 30 to 40 minute train to London. But now, I have moved into a village. Because, we bought a new house and it’s probably better than we were renting and stuff like that. So the new village is called Caldicot, and that’s near Stevenage. 

Ethan: Near Harpenden?

Aryan: No! You’ll never find it because it’s so tiny, it’s in the middle of nowhere, but I love it because it’s very green and the fields. 

Ethan: There’s a lot of greenspace.

Aryan: Kind of like a countryside, yea, kind of countrysidey. But it’s very close to Stevenage.

Ethan: Where is Stevenage? 

Aryan: Stevenage is again, 30 minutes from London. So, if London’s here, Harpenden was here, Caldicot is slightly below, it’s a 20 minute drive Harpenden to Caldicot and Stevenage is there. Watford, London, Stevenage.

Ethan: That’s very nice to know.

Aryan: Yea!

Ethan: So, all the way in London, where you have so many pop-up conservatoires for pop and composition, what made you come over to Leeds?

Aryan: What made me come to Leeds Conservatoire? This is another story!

Ethan: It’s okay take your time, don’t worry!

Aryan: I was actually going to do music as a degree at Kings College London, and got the offer from Kings College but unfortunately, I missed a grade for Chemistry, I got a C rather than a B. Which I’m really devastated, but, I feel that changed my life completely and I’m so glad. Well, I’m not glad I got a C but I’m glad I got a C, if you know what that means! Then I have to look out for other options and I really want to go to conservatoires, London or just in general, around the UK. But, my teachers in school, they suggested that Music Degree might be better because you’ll know what you want to do after that. Then, you’ll do Masters in a conservatoire or something, so you know what you wanna do. After my offer got rejected because of my grades, I have to look for clearing. Because I have two options, either go to clearing or take a gap year. I didn’t want to take a gap year because why? Well, it’ll be fun but no! Let’s just get on with the studying and learning because I love that and meeting new people. I look for clearing universities, and one of my teacher’s called John Walton, was my composition teacher, his wife, Susie Walton plays every reeded instrument possible. I know her well, cause she came to the school and she did jazz stuff, like jazz bands and our jazz bands were quite well renowned in school. She had a chat with me and she said “Why don’t you look at Leeds Conservatoire?”. Because guess what, about 20 to 30 years ago she came here.

Ethan: Oh yeah.

Aryan: So, that’s how the idea started about a conservatoire and then Leeds Conservatoire especially. And then, I did a lot of research within a short period of time, in 1 week and I have to decide fast if not it would not have happened and I have to wait another year.

Ethan: And you applied through clearing?

Aryan: Exactly! Then, I looked at Leeds Conservatoire, I like the courses and I was thinking, what would I do? Would I want to do classical, would I want to do composing? And then, Susie again, I had another meeting with her and she said, “There’s a film music course”. And she knew my compositions are kind of filmy and I love film composing in just in general. I used to compose for big orchestras and my composition teacher asked me to calm down! But what was I saying, she said “there’s a film music course”, and that’s the only place that offers film music at an undergraduate level. So I was like, that is very exciting and I had another look to whatever qualifications I need and the portfolio stuff etc. Then, Susie managed to get me a meeting with Brian Morell, he’s the Deputy Head of School of Music, and he is the Head of the Film Music course. I got a meeting with him directly! And when I came here for the first time, I directly spoke to Brian, and we got to know each other and it was not an interview but it was kind of like an interview. He was explaining that “this is going to happen in the lesson, are you sure you can read that, are you sure you can look at scores” and I was like, yeah I can look at scores because I play in orchestras and I love to look at orchestral scores and it’s fun, I transcribe a bit and stuff like that and after coming here I did more. In the meeting as well, he was trying not to test but to get to know me and get to know if I could fit here and later on, after six days, I got an offer from Leeds Conservatoire.

Ethan: That’s a very fast reply.

Aryan: Yeah, I know! And this was, three weeks before term started and in September, I was going on a trip with my friends to Porto, Portugal. And I have to complete my portfolio before that because I have to submit 15 minutes of film music or musical composition and a score. I did compositions before and that fits me for music very well and I just linked it to some pictures and videos and stuff and made my portfolio. I did have a mini portfolio, but not specifically for film music. So, I made that and sent it, a few more things happen and then they accepted my portfolio and all of that happened. And then, cam my actual interview, which I was not stressed but at the same time stressed because it’s an interview to get in here! And I was still in Portugal.

Ethan: You had the interview?

Aryan: I had an interview! With my friends on holiday!

Ethan: In the hotel room?

Aryan: In the hotel room. It was the last day of our holiday, Friday. I remember, Friday the 6th. Was it the 6th? I think it was the 5th, it’s 5th or the 6th of September or something. 

Ethan: How did that interview go?

Aryan: It went really quick, and well I feel. Guess how many minutes it was? 

Ethan: 5 minutes? 

Aryan: Okay well, it was 8 minutes!

Ethan: Oh! Okay that was a really short interview. 

Aryan: Brian somehow knew I was on holiday. I don’t know how? Because he asked “How was your holiday going?” I think in general, was asking how is my holiday. He actually saw my outfit and the place and was “Oh, you’re somewhere else”. But then, in the interview he asked me chords and to name chords, stuff like that and to figure out chords and he said that “Yeah, you’re fine”. After that, I got my final actual offer, and I came back home. Wait do I go on?

Ethan: Yes, go on!

Aryan: Because I’m just speaking! Then, came enrichment week. No, not enrichment week, week 1. Induction week! There we go, now is enrichment week!

Ethan: Yes this is enrichment week right now.

Aryan: Induction week, I applied (for accommodation) here 3 days before on Friday. Saturday, Sunday, then I got the keys on Monday. That’s why I think I have the flat to myself I think, because I applied so late! Then on Monday I came here for induction day and did all of that. And then the next issue was the fees, because I’m still considered as an international student.

Ethan: Oh so you pay full fees?

Aryan: Yes, and I don’t get any loans from here or from India which is annoying, cause all of the money needs to come from the pocket and the finance team, I asked them if there’s a way I could do installments and they said, no I need to pay in one go. So £20,000 in one go is quite heavy, it’s very heavy! And, I applied to about 70 to 100 grants in that week and also the conservatoire grants. Most of them did not come back, some of them did come back, some of them were a few couple, around a hundred pounds. And then, I wonder why can’t the conservatoire not give me a scholarship. I was a bit steadfast there, and the conservatoire needs to give me a scholarship now! I directly emailed the top most person, the principal. Well, you shouldn’t do that but you know what, I’m just gonna go straight for it, and I did that. He came back to me in two days, he says there’s not much he can do, and I was, “Come on, you’re the principal, you could do something”. And he told me “Okay, I’ll try my best”. And the deadline came to pay the fees, this was Wednesday before the term started and we have to pay the fees before 3p.m and my parents had the funds ready because they gathered it from some places and you know, their own savings and stuff etc. I told them to wait a few minutes, until 2.45p.m. And they asked if I’m sure I wanted to wait till 2.45p.m. and I was sure because I have a feeling that something is going to happen. And nothing happened from 10a.m, 11a.m, 12p.m, 1p.m, 2p.m, 2.15p.m, 2.30p.m and they were getting ready to pay with £20,000, and then, at 2.44p.m or something. We got an email from the conservatoire, and they said I got the scholarship for £5,000. So we have to pay £15,000 in total. That was such a relief, cause we got a new house, moved and stuff like that, so it would have been a big burden for my parents as well and just financially a bit challenging. Well, now as well it is but it’s alright because £5,000 is off! 

Ethan: But still to fork out £15,000 every year.

Aryan: Yes, but that was that and I finally got in and then I came here. And that’s my story about coming here!

Ethan: You did mention just now, that you like to write music for big orchestras. 

Aryan: Yes!

Ethan: Is there going to be anything coming out from that soon?

Aryan: You mean a performance? 

Ethan: Yea, a performance a composition or a piece.

Aryan: Yea! yea, yea yea! Well, now I have this big ideas, I want to write a symphony, I wanna do that and I wanna do that! But sometimes it’s not very realistic. Of course I started a few pieces like the big orchestras and I’ve completed them. But sometimes I just start and I just leave it. But, I want to write maybe a violin concerto for a good big orchestra. That’s on the classical side, some type of concerto or a symphony but that’s just on the top of my head over there (in the future), not like here if you know what I mean. But, for big orchestras, for film music, I use massive orchestras, I love to use orchestras in film music. I feel even if it sounds like a synth, if you know synths, just doubling it with orchestral instruments thickens texture it makes it work so well and makes it sound more realistic and connected. The music projects and the film I’m scoring now is for a horror film, so that’s going to have, probably a big orchestra, so triple woodwinds, quadruple trumpets and horn, four trombones including bass trombone, tuba and then quite a lot of percussion and strings. 

Ethan: Would you say that, whatever you composed. Does your childhood or what you did growing up, affect how you compose your music?

Aryan: Definitely yes. Well, another side, well story I’m saying because it’s my journey into this type of music. I call it this type of music because my roots in music are Indian Classical. I study Indian Classical for about seven years, I did singing and tabla. Started with tabla, so I feel like I have a very strong base in terms of rhythms that tabla gave me, and in terms of pitch and recognising voice, singing helps me a lot, Indian Classical singing. So, those two I feel were the perfect start into my musical journey and that still helps me every single day. Like even now if I go and play violin, just hearing the notes and knowing that that’s definitely out of tune or that’s not right! And the rhythm as well, reading the rhythms now from sheet music, tabla helps me. So Indian classical still plays a very big part of what I write, what I compose, what I play and what I sing.

Ethan: Would you say it also helps you whip out arrangements? Because it feels like you’re just shooting arrangements out every week!

Aryan: It definitely helps with arrangements because I am more of an ear person. So, if I listen to a piece, I can try to replicate it! Unless if it’s Schoenberg or something, very crazy atonal music I cannot because I have no perfect pitch. But, if it’s a diatonic piece of music, I can replicate it.

Ethan: Yea, that’s why you’re always doing Olivia Dean stuff.

Aryan: Yea, and I love transcribing songs, arranging songs and like you know, even classical music pieces I love to arrange. Classical music pieces are harder because they have full orchestras and stuff. But, at the same time I think I can if I scribe a good one, but just songs in general they’re very easy to arrange.

Ethan: Because of that you have such a good ear, and such a good internal pitching. Does that help you learn instruments well too because you seem to have a lot instruments with you (in this room), you have a cornet, a soprano saxophone, you play violin and viola and you play piano too.

Aryan: Yes! It did help me a lot because I self-taught violin for one and a half year to myself and then I did lessons for one year, and self-taught viola completely.

Ethan: What made you pick up violin?

Aryan: After moving here, I was wondering what this thing is called in orchestra? Because I’ve just seen pictures in India and I did not know much about orchestras at all.

Ethan: You didn’t know violin was called violin?

Aryan: Well, I did know violin was called violin but I did not know violin the orchestra was violin 1, violin 2, viola, cello, bass, I did not know anything about that. So, that looks so insane, hundred people about approximately hundred people playing together at once, which is mad. I want to play! What do I do? What instrument do I pick? I thought violin seems nice, I always wanted to play a violin before so I got gifted a violin by my parents on my 15th? 16th? Yes 16th birthday, because it’ll be 5 years since I learnt on my 21st birthday. And that’s why I want to play, to try and play Tchaikovsky! My first violin was a white violin.

Ethan: Oh like the one from Amazon?

 Aryan: Yes! 

Ethan: The fake violin? Is what you’re trying to imply

Aryan: Yes! I was thinking like that’s so cool. Now, I cringe to it. You know what, that’s fine that was a phase and that was iconic, I was iconic for having a white violin. I played on that for one year and then my teacher said I should probably get a good violin cause I’m progressing well. Cause on my first day, I think I have a video, not here probably in my hard disk or somewhere of me playing Happy Birthday in tune! On my first day and I was thinking that I could play this, I could learn it, I think. Again, that was because of ear. Of course it took me a tries to get to what I’m doing. When I first started bowing I was like why can I not hear a sound. You know rosin? I was like this needs rosin, what is rosin? And then I found some rosin in the case and I applied that. I then found out bow hair is horse hair. What the hell?

Ethan: Yes it is horse hair.

Aryan: That’s what make me pick the violin and then a year after, well not even a year after, just in October, my birthday is in December. October the following year, I started viola I think. So yeah, it was pretty quick. Was it that year? Wait let me add up. When was I was 16? 2022? 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, that does add up. Sorry. So in 2023 of October, I got a viola it’s gonna be three years learning this October, for viola.

Ethan: That’s nice, and you mentioned about giving yourself Tchaikovsky? Is it the Violin Concerto?

Aryan: Gifting myself Tchaikovsky! It is the Violin Concerto. 

Ethan: Are you planning on learning the entire piece by next year?

Aryan: Yes! Next year December, so I got 12 plus 9 months? 

Ethan: Okay! How is that progressing for you?

Aryan: It’s going well, I’ve learned the first four to five pages by heart although I can’t play it, well at all. I can play it very slowly by memory. But, I’ve learned the second movement because I played that before. The third movement, I recently have been getting it because it’s very fast! You know! But the first movement is the trickiest, so I need to work more on that and my violin teacher here, Linda Jankowska is helping me with that. She told me that she’s gonna judge me in the first lesson because she knows what I can play and what I cannot and she told me in my previous lessons, that she knew I could play Tchaikovsky, that’s why she let me play it. She wouldn’t have allowed me to play it if she knew I couldn’t do it but she thinks I could play it.

Ethan: So how does that feel for you?

Aryan: That feels insane because she’s an amazing teacher and of course she’s sometimes strict because I need that!

Ethan: Yes to be a teacher you need to be really harsh sometimes.

Aryan: Yes! Yes, I need that and I always have that in terms of dance as well, in India cause I did dance for my whole life, I did do it for my mom but I went a proper dance class and also came up on reality shows, not on TV but almost on TV, but not on TV because they needed sad stories and I could not be arsed. Well anyways, go on!

Ethan: Well, to move on from classical music, I think we’re going to something a bit poppy. So basically, in your social media I saw something interesting. Like you’re composing a song with a singer called Katie.

Aryan: Yes, I am!

Ethan: Can I have some insight, what kind of song it will be?

Aryan: Of course! So, me and Katie went out with a few other people the other night and we’re just walking back from Rita’s, and we were discussing about our love life. 

Ethan: Okay, yeah!

Aryan: And we were complaining that why are people like that and the people that we had stuff with, situationships, relationships or whatever. You know, we were just complaining about and we thought that there should be a song about this. We just cannot express it as we wanted. And I suggested to Katie we should write a song about this! We were so tired that night we were gonna go home and sleep, but, when we came to mine and we spent three hours figuring out ideas and then we came up with a bit of the start of a song. So, the song is, well, you’re the first one we’re actually telling this. So the song is a metaphor, and it is about space and it links with people or a person in general, whom you had a deep connection with and it turns out it’s not real anymore or it was real but you don’t know, you’re just confused, you don’t know what’s happened, it’s like you’ve been crushed and going insane. So, all of this could not be said through words, well of course it can but you know! The emotions could not be fake.

Ethan: Yea, you can’t really express it the moment of confusion.

Aryan: Yes! So that’s why we thought of writing a song, and we have a lot in common! More than we realised, me and Katie, and we’re like yeah, let’s write a song about this that happened and I could relate to that because that happened to me as well! So in the song, “Space”, we’re using space as a metaphor. It starts off pretty slow and then it goes into this heavy chorus which is insane it’s like space and we thought quite deeply in terms of science. We thought scientifically I think cause some lines relate to asteroid crashing and burning into the atmosphere and we got an idea of space which links to reverb, which links to the voice that should be right in front, should it be on the side, pan to the side, should it be at the back. It’s quite thought out, of course we would need to work a lot and we’re thinking of bringing in instrumentalists like a string orchestra maybe, some brass, some woodwind. Let’s see it depends on how we do it. In terms of the production and songwriting side, Katie is doing most of the lyrics and she’s singing because, yes of course she has an insane voice, and I’m just helping a bit with the words and the melodies and stuff vice versa. I’m doing production and music work and Katie is helping me with that as well so it’s kind of a shared thing which is good! We’re exchanging ideas, we’re challenging each others ideas and we agree at the end of the day!

Ethan: So you guys are having good discussions about this?

Aryan: Yes! Sometimes it can be tricky to tell what sound do you want but then we just experiment with just playing and then going down and down and then, okay we got it! We got the sound! 

Ethan: How does that experimenting feel for you? Is it fun?

Aryan: It is fun! I have experimented before for the sounds of film music as well because it’s very difficult to find the sound that you want unless you know the whole library of Logic Pro or all the plug-ins, which I don’t. Some people do which is just insane, some people know each and every plug-in and how it sounds and I don’t know how they do that. But anyways, it’s just trial and error for me and finding the sound I want.

Ethan: Do you ever wanted to try recording objects around you and test with the sound you have? 

Aryan: Objects as in non-instruments?

Ethan: Yes, non-instrumental.

Aryan: We use some table taps and to if it works on my desk. But, we’ve not tried recording like this. But we could, it’ll be cool. We have done some spatial work with Katie’s voice, you might have seen that video where she’s at like four places or something, to have a good pan effect, but you can pan on logic and do stuff in the software. So we tested what if she goes far from the mic and stand on the bed, go near the door and just stand at four places or five places. We just wanted to see how that would work and we found out insane differences because of course standing closer to the mic then panning it is different but standing away from the mic and then panning it, just multiplies it by so much and we have this favourite line in the intro which is being used into the chorus melody as well. Do not tell this to anyone! I’m just kidding it’s fine. She’s recorded that from the farthest point possible in the room and she sounds so angelic and so far away.

Ethan: That sounds so lovely, when will I expect this to be released? And will it be released in all platforms?

Aryan: Oh my god. Well, we do want to release it and probably yes, if we’re releasing it properly, yeah definitely on all platforms like Spotify, maybe Youtube and other places as well, Instagram clips as well, Band camp? Sound cloud?

Ethan: So can you give me a rough idea when will it come out?

Aryan: Oh okay, I’m just getting my calendar out. Well, we started working on this last Friday, it’s gonna be a week now, and we’ve got to the chorus. This is just the demo, so one week chorus, so another week I’ll say another verse and a bit more work on the chorus and then another week to finish off the song. So by then end of March, I’ll say we probably get an idea of how the song looks like? And maybe April is Easter, we’ll work a bit on the production side and just me writing stuff for instruments and then working out how to record and planning. Ask people to play for me! Let’s see, booking out rooms as well and the logistics of who can help us with the production side and stuff as well. So that will take April and maybe end of April is the recording, then mix in May? I don’t know I’m saying May to be really optimistic, definitely before July.

Ethan: So the start of Summer?

Aryan: Summer, yeah. Well it is quite a now (spring) song. But, it could be a summer song as well. A Summer song but at night time, there we go. So Summer there you go, July is our goal.

Ethan: That’s great, that’s amazing! Well I have one last question for you, and it’s unrelated to everything that we’re talking about. So you’re from India, and now you’re in the UK. So which cricket team do you support? Is it from India or from the UK?

Aryan: Oh my god. Look I love cricket, I really love cricket. I’ve been the fan of the Indian team for a very long time cause I stayed in India and second, I’m Indian. But, I also like the English cricket team, because whenever there’s an Indian, England match, it’s always tough and it’s very close, that’s why I really like the English team and they’re good, they’re very good players. It terms of supporting, I maybe say India but, that might change! I’m not sure, I think it might stay. In terms of percentage if you look, 80% is definitely India now! But there’s support in me, deep down 15% – 20% for the English team. I don’t know it could be because I am here just in general.

Ethan: Yeah and you see more of the English cricket now.

Aryan: Yeah! Yeah! But it’s India for now! It’s hard to pick and when I say this to people, my headteacher in school, he was such a cricket nerd and fan. We had a few chats about cricket in general, he supports the English team a lot and he likes the Indian team as well, so he’s like exact opposite of me.

Ethan: So you guys can’t choose?

Aryan: No! And the funny thing was he was the headteacher and I was the head boy so it was the exact opposite!

Ethan: Conflict, conflict of interest.

Aryan: It was an amazing time in school as well, yeah cricket is fun!

Ethan: Okay, thank you Aryan, thank you for your time.

Aryan: Wait is that it? Ah, okay. That was very fun, I felt like I just told my entire life story to you work. Well in more detail. That was very fun! Thank you.

Ethan: It was a good opportunity to get to know you more, I enjoyed my time with you. Thank you!