Maimuna is a violinist from Belarus. She has built a reputation for herself performing in various competitions and concerts and is perhaps best known for representing Belarus in the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest. Now Maimuna brings her classical skills to a range of crossover music. She has recently released “Lacrimosa” by Dmitry Friga.
Natasha Barbieri: What was it that drew you to the violin initially?
Maimuna: When I first saw a symphonic orchestra, I was amazed by the number of violinists and the accuracy they used to move their bows. So, I basically started violin out of curiosity at a very young age and I made it a personal goal to unravel their secret.
Natasha Barbieri: When you were training was it strictly classical or did you have any freedom to perform other styles?
Maimuna: I have received classical training: I attended a musical school (here we call it a college), then I secured a spot at the Academy of Music, and I finally ended up studying music at a doctoral level. We were taught all the subtleties of classical music and the styles that characterize specific eras. I was quite successful in the romantic genre which allowed a certain freedom of interpretation, but you still needed to perform within the limits of what was accepted.
Natasha Barbieri: You brought up a great point that no one knows what type of music beloved classical composers such as Mozart would be writing if they lived in our current times. Are there other classical pieces that you would love to re-imagine?
Maimuna: The uniqueness of Mozart, in my opinion, lies in the fact that his music is still relevant today. It penetrates the soul of the audience. I think that now, more than ever, the modern listener needs a touch of beauty in music.
It is difficult for me to imagine what Mozart’s music would resemble today, however, I’m pretty sure that it would be just as sensual and subtle. And perhaps, his musical framework would be expanded rhythmically and also in terms of genres.
There are definitely more classical pieces that I would love to re-imagine, the first that comes to mind is Tchaikovsky’s Meditation.
Natasha Barbieri: Tell us a little bit about your experience with Eurovision.
Maimuna: My participation in the Eurovision song contest was motivated by my interest in the creative process that goes into making the original piece for the event. The performance you see on stage is the result of tremendous work done by a team of professionals. Naturally, as a musician and a performer, it was interesting for me to look at the entire process from within. It’s a valuable experience that I enjoyed very much.
Natasha Barbieri: So far Classical Crossover is still very new in Belarus. What has your experience been like when sharing this new genre with listeners there?
Maimuna: Classical music is very popular in Belarus. Listeners attend classical concerts often and with great pleasure. Therefore, Classical Crossover isn’t that much of an underground style. It’s quite the contrary, the audience that comes to my concerts really enjoys the genre and I tend to play both modern music and classics in contemporary arrangements.
Natasha Barbieri: What are some of the things you would like to accomplish in your career?
Maimuna: For me, the most important achievement is to feel that my music brings joy to people. My aim is to create moments when people can have a distraction from their daily problems, dream a little, and recharge with positive energy. So, the biggest achievement is having happy listeners!
Connect with Maimuna online:
Instagram: @maimuna.official
Facebook: @maimuna.official
YouTube: Subscribe Now!
Great interview, thank you.