Meet our Artist of the Week – Guitarist Colin Davin, who will be the featured artist in MusicTalks’ Guitar Stories: Spain on March 9th, 2017 @ Interface.
We sat down with Colin to get to know him a little bit better and this is what we learned!
MT: What first drew you to the guitar? is it your first instrument?
Colin: I started playing the guitar at the age of 7 – indeed, it was my first instrument! My father would play blues and folk at home, just as a hobby, and so it made sense that my parents would sign me up for lessons and see if I liked it. I haven’t looked back since!
MT: Who were some of the most influential figure in your musical career this far?
Colin: There are so many musicians that I look up to, but I have to mention the inspiration – not to mention mentorship – I’ve received from my teachers, including Sharon Isbin, Jason Vieaux, and William Kanengiser. I’ve also been deeply inspired by the guitarist Julian Bream, pianist Alfred Brendel, and a whole host of non-classical musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Toumani Diabate, Joanna Newsom, Radiohead, the Punch Brothers…I could go on for days!
MT: What is your favorite ensemble to play in? do you enjoy chamber music or do you prefer to solo?
Colin: It’s hard to choose a favorite between chamber music and solo playing; I’ve always loved solo performances, and that sits well with what’s expected of a classical guitarist. But chamber music has a real magic to it, when the synergy among players is just right, that can’t be beat. I wouldn’t say I even have a favorite ensemble type, rather favorite collaborators.
MT: What do you love most about performing?
Colin: Performing is this truly magical, often even spiritual experience, where music serves as a binding agent to bring people together. There are certain pieces where I like to hold a long silence after the last note has died out. When the audience holds that stillness with me, I know that we’re really creating something together, and that’s what I live for. As for nerves, I’d say that only in extreme cases have I had to deal with that; over a few decades of playing the instrument, a real comfort level developed for me.
MT: Who would you choose to play with given the option?
Colin: I’d love to play with the amazing mandolinist Chris Thile someday. I feel that our musical tastes overlap (he’s recorded an album of Bach, and I’m a huge bluegrass/Americana fan), and that the potential of combining our sounds could produce something really interesting.
MT: Any special/unknown talents besides the guitar that you would like to share?
Colin: I worked in specialty coffee for about 6 years, and am still passionate about coffee, and oh so many other tastes. I think I’m a pretty good cook too!
