The Dream Feed: Musicians on Motherhood
with Zosha Di Castri
PODCAST & COLLABORATIVE DUOS
“As a composer/pianist, I see motherhood as one of the final “taboos” in the professional music world, with women often still believing they must choose between family and career, or keep quiet about their desire for both. Though having a child alters one’s life irreversibly and may create logistical challenges, it can also be a profoundly creative experience, encouraging new ways of thinking and doing.”
This podcast series features conversations between musicians on their experiences navigating the seemingly incompatible worlds of professional music and motherhood, sharing in both the personal challenges and profoundly inspiring moments that come with being simultaneously mothers and musicians. In "B-Side" episodes, the performers share a jointly created duo and discuss what it was like to collaborate at a distance. In a time like the pandemic, artist-mothers have had to be extra-inventive with how they use their time and resources to build space for music-making, a topic which is also touched on in these first five episodes. Born out of the unique circumstances of 2020-21, each duo starts from the same electronic track, composed by Zosha Di Castri. The invited musicians were asked to record improvisations to this track (some included additional electronics of their own), Zosha then adds a piano/keyboard improvisation in response, and edits everything together into a unique, new composition.
This project was made possible by a generous grant from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Listen and follow:
Duos To Date:
Episode #1: olivia de prato
Austro-Italian violinist Olivia De Prato speaks to Zosha Di Castri about her experiences in motherhood and music through the COVID-19 pandemic and her family's move from New York City to Europe.
Links & more:
I, A.M. // Artist Mother Project
“Streya”, Olivia’s debut solo album
Ruth Opara TEDx talk, “The African Woman and Music”
*Correction: Ruth Opara’s book will now be titled Music, Motherhood, and Transnationalism: The Igbo, Nigerian Perspective
episode #1b: olivia de prato/zosha di castri b-side duo
In this B-side, listen to a collaboration between Austro-Italian violinist Olivia De Prato and The Dream Feed host Zosha Di Castri, followed by a brief conversation on creating the piece.
Episode #2: Pauchi Sasaki
Peruvian composer, performer, and interdisciplinary artist Pauchi Sasaki talks about her work, collaborations, and experiences adapting to family life, as well as to creating music in San Bartolo during the pandemic.
Links & more:
"k'uKu", by Pauchi Sasaki, presented by Music of the Americas
“Tapao Orccoy”, by Pauchi Sasaki, video by KATOSHI (Juan Carlos Yanaura)
ARIM, Artist Residency in Motherhood, founded by Lenka Clayton
“GAMA Sound Project” including Pauchi’s speaker dresses
The Institute for Ideas and Imagination, Paris
episode #2b: PAUCHI SASAKI/zosha di castri b-side duo
This B-side episode showcases a long-distance collaborative duo between Peruvian musician/composer Pauchi Sasaki and Zosha Di Castri. After the “premiere” of the new piece, the two discuss the process of working together, as well as technical aspects of the electronics.
Episode #3: ALICE TEYSSIER
French-American soprano and flutist Alice Teyssier discusses her experience becoming a mother as a musician, including the artistically revealing period of “in-between” experienced in the late days of pregnancy, which inspired her Thresholds project.
Links and more:
“Thresholds” project
“Quatre chants pour franchir le seuil”, Gérard Grisey (with Alice singing)
“Composing and Motherhood”, essay by Emily Doolittle, New Music Box
“The Last Days of Pregnancy: A Place of In-Between”, by Jana Studelska, Mothering
Bradley Scott Rosen, Minor Rose hair salon, Gramercy Park
*Special news since this episode was recorded: we are happy to announce that Alice and Bradley will be welcoming their second child to the world this Fall!
episode #3b: ALICE TEYSSIER/zosha di castri b-side duo
Listen to the new collaborative duo between French-American soprano/flutist Alice Teyssier, and host Zosha Di Castri on this B-side episode, followed by a chat about their creative process and the evolution of the project over the course of several months.
Episode #4: Chloé Dominguez
Montreal-based cellist Chloé Dominguez talks chamber music, work with composers and other artists, and her love of Baroque cello, while juggling three kids. Her secret super powers? -- rooting music in pleasure, having a supportive partner and family, and going with the flow.
Links and more:
CIRMMT: Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music, Media, and Technology
Corps Secrets – Duo for cello and dancer; choreographed by Isabelle Van Grimde; composed by Sean Ferguson, performed by Chloé Dominguez and Elijah Brown
Impact of Quebec’s Universal Low-Fee Childcare Program on Female Labour Force Participation, Domestic Income, and Government Budgets, by Fortin, Godbout, and St-Cerny
The Pandemic Created a Childcare Crisis. Mothers Bore the Burden, New York Times, by Claire Cain Miller, May 17, 2021
Artist/Mother community & podcast (focused on visual arts)
Close/Close; for solo cello, electronics & ensemble, by James O’Callaghan, performed by Chloé
On the horizon: Graham Sommers Competition, September 2021, featuring Chloe performing new piano trios
episode #4b: Chloé Dominguez/zosha di castri b-side duo
This B-side episode features a duo made collaboratively at a distance between Montreal-based cellist Chloé Dominguez, and host Zosha Di Castri, followed by a discussion about the process. Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support.
Chloé’s “roadmap” sketches for the improvisation (first 3 slides), and Zosha’s sketches from the editing process. Tap right to advance through the images.
Episode #5: AIYUN HUANG
Toronto-based, Taiwanese-born percussionist Aiyun Huang talks about her career, her passion for new music theatre, and how a good dose of humor and a child’s sense of perspective and play inform her work. Many wise words of wisdom from on the field, 15-years into the process of being a musician-parent!
Links and more:
Aiyun’s article “Percussion Theatre: The Drama of Performance”, published in The Cambridge Companion to Percussion
Steve Schick book: The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams
“L’art Bruit”, by Mauricio Kagel, password: UofT2017
“Windward”, by David Bithell, for bass drum, interactive animation, electronic sound, and computer controlled lighting
“The Ice is Talking”, by Vivian Fung for solo percussion and electronics
“Le corps à corps”, by George Aperghis
N.B. this interview was recorded December 2020.