Despite just reaching 23 years old, Emma Rawicz has the world in the palm of her hand. A recent graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and a trailblazer for reviving the love of jazz with a younger age demographic, we have yet to see the astronomical heights her talent can reach. This week we asked Emma a few questions to get an insight into the mind of this wonderfully gifted young musician in the lead-up to her much-awaited Triskel performance.
Describe your act in three words.
Joyful, improvised, adventurous.
What is something you wish people knew about your art?
That’s a good question. I think the sax is such a versatile instrument, it’s not featured as much in many areas of mainstream music and although it does exist there, it’s not really featured in the orchestra for example. It’s also not featured as much in the “pop” world as we know it now, obviously it has in the past played a huge role there, but the one thing I think people may not know if they’ve never been to a jazz gig is how wide and emotional a sonic range it has as an instrument. I may be biased but I feel it is one of the most beautiful instruments. A ballad on the saxophone can be so moving and the tone you can get from it can be very special. But also, it can be hard-hitting and “out there”, you can play rock or folk, jazz, or folk. That really is the greatest strength of the sax, the versatility. You really get a chance to be yourself.
What’s your dream venue to perform in?
I think everyone wants to play at Carnegie Hall. I love concert halls, but I think it’s difficult to choose one because you get something different from every setting. Playing in clubs and standing venues, small jazz clubs or festivals, you get something unique from each of them as well. Whether or not that happens, we’ll see.
If you woke up tomorrow having forgotten how to play every instrument, what one would you pick up first?
There’s something that really attracts me to the vibraphone, I think it’s mainly because I’ve been playing with a great player recently called Johnny Mansfield, and he’s incredible. The sound he gets from the instrument is amazing. That or guitar, because there’s definitely part of me that is a frustrated rock musician.
Did having chromesthesia affect your initial choice of instruments?
Absolutely. The timbre of the instruments definitely has a relationship to colour, it influences the music groups I put together too. I think there’s something great about the classic setting, but it’s great to be able to venture beyond that world sometimes and the timbre and the colour different instruments bring is something I love experimenting with.
Who are your biggest influences in your music?
Within the jazz world, Wayne Shorter for sure, Michael Brecker, and Joe Henderson would be the top three jazz musicians that really inspired me and made me want to practice. Outside the jazz world, I think it must be Joni Mitchell. I just absolutely love her songs, and I love the way she uses harmony in an unconventional way.
Now for our sillier questions: most ridiculous phobia?
Moths! I’m so terrified of moths, and I know that’s ridiculous because they can’t hurt you but there’s something just so creepy about them. Small ones I can just about handle, which sounds bad as someone coming from the country in Devon. It’s ridiculous, but moths.
Are you a cat person or a dog person?
I think I’m a cat person. I grew up with cats, and they’re so cuddly. I’m not going to lie, it’s also that they’re not very needy, they know when to take their own space, but I love cats.
How often do you get home to Devon, and do you get to play there often? Would you like to play more at home?
I don’t get to go that often but I’m starting to make a much bigger effort to go when I do have a break. The thing is, I’m currently based between London and Berlin, and soon I’m going to be spending a little bit more time in Berlin than London. I’m on the road so much it barely feels like I’m based anywhere. The thing about Devon is that it’s so peaceful, and I’m very lucky to have parents so supportive of my saxophone practice. They’re cool with me going there to write new music and be creative, so I’m trying to get back more. Spending time with my family is increasingly precious since I’ve been travelling a lot. I don’t get to play much in Devon because the options of venues are quite limited. As soon as you put the word “jazz” out there it makes people feel it’s not for them, which is such a shame. This word can have so much baggage attached to it since it’s such a huge umbrella term that covers so much, but plenty of young people especially who don’t think it’s for them would really love it if we presented it in the right setting, like a venue they already want to go to. I think if you want a younger audience to engage in it, you need to present it in a way that’s for them, which is something north Devon struggles with. There aren’t many places to see live music full stop, to be honest, and when you take something a bit niche like jazz and put it in that context, it makes it a bit challenging. But for sure, if there were more opportunities I would love to go home to play more.
What is something you wish a young up-and-coming jazz musician knew?
The best advice I can give that I wish I’d known sooner, the most important thing when making any kind of music where you’re trying you invite people to it, you need to demonstrate the joy of it. If something is presented very serious, it can make people think that they don’t understand it or it’s not for them. If you’re trying to build something for yourself and not just for an audience, the human element of what you’re doing matters. I don’t think you have to compromise on the art or the music, so what you really love and really believe in is always the best way because people will see through it otherwise. I think if you believe in something that makes you happy it’s important to show that to people, and make people understand it brings positivity to your life. In all genres there can be a heaviness or seriousness, but that can co-exist with a joyful energy. It’s about making sure people know that no matter who you are, everyone can get something good out of it.
Don’t miss this chance to witness one of jazz’s most exciting young talents as she brings her bold, genre-defying style to Irish audiences in an unforgettable concert. Thursday 12th June, 8pm. Tickets available here: Emma Rawicz: Music Network Presents
