10 Questions with Christina Courtin

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. 

What made you realize that music was your path?

It was the thing I loved the most and I was pretty good at it as a younger person, so it  wasn’t really a decision to do it but more of a natural unfolding of events. I felt very  connected to music and thought very little about what that would mean for me down  the line.  

Impossible Burger, beyond burger, regular burger, or turkey burger?  

Impossible

How would you describe the music that you typically create/perform?

Well, I have made a lot of different kinds of music over the years. I’m pretty interested in trying to make things that I’ve never made before, or go to places musically that even I am not totally sure about, so I’m not sure how to answer this question. I have put out records of my own that are more acoustic leaning / folky / jazzy(?), but also have a pop/r&b synth-y project called Pilot Violet and just finished making some recordings for k-pop artists and wrote my first solo violin piece. So, I guess I’m really interested in trying new things and being pretty far away from my comfort zone.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

A tough question. I was obsessed with Stevie Wonder when I was young, and Guns &  Roses and Billy Joel and Alanis Morisette were some of my very first CD’s that I memorized (they were just in my house because of my older siblings). Way into the  Beatles too when I was younger (and very much into the solo records of John, Paul,  and George, sorry Ringo) and Chuck Berry, but also loved the classical music I was learning on violin. Over time that certainly has changed and now I think my influencers are my peers and the people around me that I have the chance to work with on a  regular basis.  

You have a very versatile music career, having performed with artists such as Yo-Yo-Ma but also Kanye West. How do you bridge these worlds?  

I think just being your authentic self is enough going into any professional situation. How to bridge worlds isn’t what I’m focused on when playing with artists, I’m just always wanting to do what’s best for the situation while letting the artist do their thing.

Has there been one particular moment in your musical career that you're most proud of?

I was called to whistle professionally on 2 sessions. That I am pretty proud of.  

You not only produced this album but also arranged a lot of the pieces as well as sing on a few tracks as well.  What piece was your favorite to work on and why? 

I really enjoyed the challenges that ‘Another Lonely Christmas’ (Prince) brought to the  table. It is a very drum and bass forward song and Krystle Warren (our singer on this  track) really wanted to make it work. I was having trouble figuring out how I was going  to make something cool out of it while avoiding the obvious choices. Decided on the completely different approach than the original recording and went with just strings. I took the stream of consciousness lyrical concept and tried to do the same thing musically. What Krystle brings to any song is so special (I am a big fan), so I think the result of this one is definitely something different, if nothing else.  

What’s the next thing for you?

I (always) have some songs I’m tinkering with, trying to get better at improvising on the  violin (a lifelong goal of course). I’d like to compose more music for classical ensembles,  and yea, just to try and always be improving and growing artistically is important to me. 

If you could have dinner with any 3 musicians living or dead who would the be ( why? ) 

This is a tough question because if I could go back in time to meet the artists I admire who were men (or even in the present day), I’m not so sure I would be taken very  seriously. Or, I fear our hypothetical dinner wouldn’t really be what I would want it to be in my mind. So, I’ll make this an all female artist list.  

1 - Joni Mitchell - So smart and dark and funny and completely artistic. I’m such a big  fan and I love her and really enjoyed watching her BBC interviews where she kind of throws the interviewer under the bus. She’s just one of the best ever and is so strong in her thing. 

2 - Mahalia Jackson - So beautiful and powerful and strong. She sings like she is standing in front of God. Just a huge fan really. I’m sure she has a lot of wild stories too.  

3 - Dianne Warren - A really inspiring songwriter and artist, someone who just keeps cranking it out over all these. I’d be very curious to pick her brain and get into what her process is and what her work ethic is like.