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Laila Biali interview Latitude 44 and Estonian Music Week are quickly approaching and will be taking place from November 14 to the 17th along with two concerts at the end of the month! Estonian Music Week Culture Club is presenting two shows on November 29th and November 30th where Laila Biali, a fantastic homegrown jazz vocalist, will be performing along with Kadri Voorand, famed Estonian jazz vocalist for nights filled with top tier musicianship and talent. These concerts will be taking place at the Westdale Theatre in Hamilton and at the Royal Cinema in Toronto respectively. Laila was very kind to sit down with me for a short interview to introduce herself to the reader. Did you grow up with music around your home? When did you first know that you wanted to be a musician? I grew up in North Van couver, British Columbia. We had a piano in our home which my mom would play casually – church hymns, Christmas carols, and that sort of thing. She was a busy housewife with four daughters to manage, and I remember well the feeling I
Ratas: The Three… (Continued from page 10)
tive and the opportunities arising from it. “Estonia has decided to take the next Three Seas Initiative Summit upon them selves. Our goal is to increase the interest of participating countries and partners, and to achieve tangible results in dis cussions,” he asserted. The Prime Minister and the Secretary of Commerce also spoke about transatlantic trade relations and the opportunities of Estonian companies on the
EESTI ELU reedel, 8. novembril 2019 — Friday, November 8, 2019
would get when she would occasionally go to the piano to play. It filled our home with peace, and I was drawn to the warmth of it. As the age of three and a half, my mom tells me I went up to the piano my self, crawled up onto the bench and started to figure out the theme from Sesame Street, the popular children’s TV show. She knew then that I had an ear for music, and shortly thereafter they enrolled me in piano lessons. What do you listen to your self? Who are some of your favourite artists/bands? I have broad and eclectic taste when it comes to music – everything from Anton Rubenstein’s interpretations of Chopin to Radiohead, Joni Mitchell and Björk. Who would you say are your inspirations, both musi cally and just in general? I love the contemporary singer, bassist and composer Esperanza Spalding. She is creatively fearless. She goes in many different directions, but there is always a cohesion and concept to her music. She’s sophisticated, playful and ex citing to listen to. For lyrics, Joni Mitchell is the best. She
US market. Discussion topics at the meeting with James Risch, Chairman of the Senate Com mittee on Foreign Relations, in cluded issues related to Russia and security policy. Speaking of security- and defence-related cooperation, Ratas highlighted the close alliance between the two countries. “The USA’s commitment to the security of Estonia and other Baltic states, and to the development of their defence capability, has been in valuable. I confirm that Estonia takes the strengthening of inde pendent defence capability very
Photo: Rockie Nolan
spins the most incredible stories and narratives, and she has a marvelous turn of phrase – so many rich images and detailed descriptions of life. Have you ever had the chance to work with Esto nians, in any sort of context, before Estonian Music Week? Have you ever been to Esto nia? This will be my first ex perience working alongside an Estonian musician, and I am very excited it will be Kadri Voorand! I hear she has a unique and contemporary ap proach to Jazz, which I think will work well with what I do. Someday, I dream of perform ing in Estonia myself! What’s your song writing process like? Where do you take inspiration from for your songs? As a songwriter, I find inspi
seriously, and we will continue to contribute at least two per cent of GDP into national defence.” At the meeting with Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Justin Muzinich, Ratas talked about Estonia’s activities in the fight against money laundering. “We are committed to the safety of our financial sector and the security of the economic envi ronment,” the Prime Minister assured. In addition, the future of the financial sector and the prevention of possible new risks was also discussed at the meet ing.
ration in many places – my own experiences, what my friends and family go through, stories I hear in the news. Life is rich and filled with both pain and beauty. I’m fascinated by the way we experience both, and I believe that, even in the shadows, light and hope can be found. In that sense, there is always a spirit of optimism in my writing. What have been some of your favourite places to per form, both nationally and internationally? I can’t think of anywhere in the world I’ve been that I haven’t enjoyed, but I have especially loved touring across Europe and in Japan. You’ve toured with other great artists such as Chris Botti, Paula Cole, and Sting. What has that been like? Do you have a favourite ex peri ence or memory from one of those tours? Sting was always a hero of mine, so working with him has been the fulfillment of a dream. Even though he’s an interna tional superstar, his work ethic and love of music are still so evident. At rehearsals in Tuscany and Durham, he was always the first to show up and the last to leave. He’s also a kind and thoughtful human being, a won derful example of grace amidst fame.
What’s the greatest thing about being a musician?
Estonian opera singer Mirjam Mesak wins a Bavarian Art Prize
she has been a member of the Opera Studio at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich. The young Estonian soprano has performed as a soloist in several of London’s renowned concert halls, such as the Barbican Hall, the Milton Court Concert Hall and the Wigmore Hall. Her current season at the Bayerische Staatsoper includes roles such as Juliette (Die Tote Stadt), Taumannchen (Hänsel und Gretel), Esmeralda (Die verkaufte Braut), Xenia (Borid Godunov), Mignon (Mignon) and Gianetta (L’elisir d’amore). Her concert highlights include Beethoven’s 9th with the Nu remberg Symphony Orchestra and Kahchun Wong. The Bavarian Art Prize has been awarded annually since 1965; this year’s awards will be presented in Munich on 19 November.
Silver Tambur, Estonian World, October 2019 The Munich, Germany-based Estonian soprano, Mirjam Mesak, has been awarded with the Bavarian Art Prize 2019 in the “Performing Arts” category. The Bavarian Art Prize is awarded by the Free State of Bavaria, an influential federal state of Germany, in the fields of fine arts, performing arts, music and dance and literature on the proposal of juries. The prize is awarded to artists up to the age of 40 who shine for special artistic achievements. Actress Isabel Kott, actor Nils Strunk and another opera singer, Sara-Maria Saalmann, also re ceived the award in the same category. “Words cannot describe how grateful and honoured I am as an Estonian to receive such a high award from the Bavarian Minister of Education and Culture, Science and the Arts,” Mesak said in her Facebook page. A career in the UK and Germany
Estonian women’s academic society korp! Indla in the USA marked the 75th anniversary of Estonians escaping from the advancing Soviet Red Army, in the fall of 1944, as it invaded and continued the occupation Estonia for the next 50 years. From the back, left: vil!! Jaane Orav, Helena Otsa, reb! Debora Klepp, Arnold Smits, vil! Lya Karm, Joe Laukaitis, vil!! Maria Pedak-Kari, Kaia Kirchman, külalised Karl Kirchman, Marju Rink-Abel, Jaak Pedak, Kersti Linask and vil! Tiiu Kera. Missing Norman Wolfe and Rein Abel. Photo: korp! Indla
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Mesak was born in 1990 in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, where she studied at a local music school. She received both her bachelors’ and master’s degrees in voice from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London. Since 2018,
My favourite thing about b eing a musician is touring the world and sharing music with people of all cultural back grounds. Music is an interna tional language that transcends borders, and it’s an extraordi nary privilege to participate in the exchange of music and culture all around the globe. What are you looking for ward to most while perform ing within the framework of Estonian Music Week? I’m especially looking for ward to hearing Kadri Voorand perform live, and collaborating with her for a song on stage. I also hear that Estonian listeners are passionate and intelligent. It will be a great treat to share my music with the Estonian com munity in Toronto! If you had to give one piece of advice to a young, aspiring musician, what would it be? My advice to young musi cians is to find their own voice. It’s a useful tool to copy and emulate the musicians you ad mire, but at the end of the day, I believe the world wants to hear whatever it is that makes you unique. Find the qualities that distinguish you from other artists, dream big, and follow KATI KIILASPEA your heart!
Quotes You can drag my body to school but my spirit refuses to go. Bill Watterson I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol. Steven Wright In this horrible time, let us at least be bolstered by small miracles like finding out your ex moved to a different city. Aparna Nancherla The human brain is special. It starts working as soon as you get up and it doesn’t stop until you get to school. Milton Berle I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio. Rodney Dangerfield
