When music is life
Here is my interview with Ines Kolleritsch - an amazing young, talented woman. To her music is a way of life, a way to express herself and to make the world a brighter place.
PHOTO BY © JULIA ALTENBURGER
1. I am really happy to have you here, Ines.
You are incredibly talented. How did you get interested in music and is anyone else in your family a musician?
My parents would always let me decide about any kind of free time activities, including music, sports and arts. I think I was very lucky being able to learn different kinds of instruments when I was little. I’ve always been interested in music, that’s for sure, but my mother in particular is the reason why I became a musician. She’s been a sports and music teacher for more than 20 years and is truly dedicated to everything she’s doing. She especially shared her love for playing the piano and choir singing with me. Also both of my sisters have been very musically oriented children, actively playing and learning instruments until today. My father has always worked as a vintner and host of a tavern but he was the first one to introduce me to Jazz music, listening to his favorite musician - Louis Armstrong.
2. What does music mean to you? What kind of music do you like and has any artist influenced your style?
Music is my home, something very dear to me. It’s something I can take when I’m on the road and it’s like a shelter that makes me feel safe and happy and at the same time allows me to be myself or whoever I want to be.
I like many different music styles and I could write pages about artists that have influenced me and are still helping me find my path in music. Norah Jones, for example, was the reason I started listening to Jazz, even though she is known as the “Queen of Pop-Jazz”. Viola Hammer, a hugely talented pianist from the south of Austria, was the reason I started composing a few years ago. The female singers-songwriters Lianne LaHavas and SOMI are some of my current biggest inspirations, because of their lyrical strength and extremely expressive, soulful singing. And so it goes, I could go on like this forever.
3. What was the feeling when you first performed live?
The first concert I’ve ever had was not within a regular “Vorspielstunde” from my music school, like you call it here, but a vocal workshop, in a bigger room. So the whole thing was a little scarier because there were a lot of people in the room. My knees were shaking, I was just sixteen and very shy on stage. I kept my eyes closed throughout the whole time, not looking at the audience, because I was quite nervous. Back in the days I was not very happy with my performance, of course, mainly judging my technical problems. Now I can say that I did a pretty good job. I didn’t try to fake anything, just tried to be myself on stage, more or less.
4. You are a part of several bands. Can you tell us something more about each one of them?
Nearly all of the bands I am currently leading or being a member of were formed in 2014.
"KAIKO" is a pop band, consisting of three gentleman, me and my twin-sister Kathrin, and has a very fresh, positive and light sound. I am in love with the music because it’s extremely rhythmical, interesting and it makes you happy while listening to it.
Another band of mine is called “Swingwagon”. It’s a Gypsy-Jazz / Swing-Jazz quintet, founded on the streets of Graz. We are mainly playing gigs for a dancing company called “The Lindy Cats” but also having concerts in and around Graz.
“Ines y David” is the first band/duo I’ve started at the age of 15. David Sladek, a young singer, guitarist and hugely talented musician, is my duo partner in this one. We play our own compositions and a bright repertoire of our favorite soul, neo-soul and latin-american songs.
A current project of mine that I started in October 2016 is called “Ines Kolleritsch NU VOCAL TRIO” (I haven’t found a better name yet). I am playing the piano and singing together with Cemre Yilmaz and Ania Jasniak. I truly adore them for their dedicated work, their unique, colorful voices and their positive temper. During the past months we were working on the music I was at first working on by myself when I was living in Barcelona. In 2017 we’re going to have a few concerts in Styria, Austria and in Slovenia.
The final, but perhaps most defining and central project of mine is a quintet called "Amadeus Vúlkan". It is my predominant musical platform and voice, allowing me to develop compositions and express myself both as a pianist and singer-songwriter. We recorded our debut solo album, "For Rosemary" at KUG Studios, Graz, set to be released in April 2017.
5. What inspires you?
People, music and strong emotional experiences.
6. If you could perform with any artist who would you choose?
I think right now that would be the band “ Lucius” from Brooklyn, NYC. But, quite honestly, there are many that I would be happy to be on a stage with.
7. What do you think are the biggest challenges most young artists are facing?
First of all, the challenge to love and accept yourself. It’s immensely difficult to make music, for yourself or in a band, if you’re not balanced or at least trying to get along with yourself. Second of all, it’s very difficult to be organized and have an overview of every single project you’re involved in. I think no one will take this bureaucratic and organizational weight off your shoulders; you have to deal with it mainly by yourself.
KAIKO PHOTO BY © ROBERT ANAGNOSTOPOULOS
INES KOLLERITSCH NU VOCAL TRIO
PHOTO BY ©KANIZAJ MARIJA