Mozart
When I first heard ‘Clarinet Concerto in A major and A minor, K.622’ I felt it’s lightness, darkness, softness and suspense he carries throughout these entire pieces in particular. So many times these pieces of music have brought me great solace. It is so brilliant and has inspired me more than I can even say. I do not know how to not think of Mozart’s music when reflecting in particular on my own musical arrangements to bring my writings to an accompanied setting. 

The Beach Boys (Brian Wilson)
I remember the first time I ever heard The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson’s incredible voice surrounding and soaring over the band. I felt such a kinship with him and became completely into every Beach Boys song. At the time I was surrounded by the ocean all of the time, which was interesting because it was quite serendipitous how getting into this music worked out. I remember just daydreaming to ‘Califprnia Girls’ and ‘Surfer Girl’, ‘In My Room’ and starting to really understand Brian when he wrote all of his music. Because for the first time I felt I had something in common musically speaking with someone else at such a young age myself. The Beach Boys have always inspired me, Brain Wilson’s writing style, vocal harmonies and the band are the western world’s musical, spiritual language in my opinion.

The Beatles
 I grew up listening to the earliest Beatles albums and I remember listening to ‘She Loves You’ and ‘Back In The U.S.S.R’ so many songs really inspired me as well as Paul McCartney’s recent songs and revampings of ‘Sun King’ and ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)’ from The Beatles ‘Love’ album. One of my favourite albums of all time are both ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ and ‘All Things Must Pass’ although by George Harrison as an artist. The Beatles members, together and not together, have inspired me beyond greatly and I know that many of their songs were some of the first I ever learnt on my nylon string guitar. Every song, every arrangement is so deep and so light all at once and also rests in a medium place in my opinion. There is so much heart in everything they did and do now.  I feel so much joy and so much greatness listening to this amazing and brilliant band. 

Jules Massenet
When I first heard ‘Meditation From Thais’ for violin and piano I was overcome with the incredible flow and large feeling and full feeling every moment the piece takes you on. It is in my opinion one of the greatest pieces of music ever written and I am completely immersed in the piece in that brief period of time that when It is over I wish it would keep going, although at the same time it has given me something so special and so complete all at once. This artist has inspired me so much and I will forever be learning from and unveiling the incredible intricate writings and compositions of Jules Massenet.