Diana Soh is interviewed by ‘The A-List Singapore’, exploring her development as a composer
In an interview with ‘the a-list SINGAPORE’, DIANA SOH EXPLORES WHAT IT IS TO BE A COMPOSER, SHEDDING LIGHT UPON THE REALITY OF THIS DEMANDING, AND OFTEN LONELY, LIFESTYLE
In an article published by The A-List Singapore, Diana speaks of her personal experiences as a budding young composer, and the stressful lifestyle of living like a ‘nomad', out of a suitcase. Diana describes how she is constantly on the move and draws attention to the ways in which she often needed to supplement her income with various other conducting gigs and workshops, especially earlier in her career. Despite this, she recognises the necessity of such difficulty in allowing her to ‘grow artistically’ and reflect upon her own life as well as her future ambitions.
Aside from the stress of starting a career in the music industry, Diana touches on a subject that might be extremely relatable for many musicians. She describes the way in which her own family was against her becoming a composer, despite encouraging her musical education earlier in life. However, once more, she recognises the importance of overcoming these ‘internal battles’ so that one can carve one’s own, individual journey.
In another vulnerable statement, Diana speaks about some of her more recent works and the ways in which they reflect sentiments and feelings that are very close to her heart. Specifically, her work titled ‘Tu es magique’ for female youth choir SSA (Maitrise de Radio France) emanates feelings of empowerment and positivity, combating the loneliness caused to everyone by the isolation of the Covid-19 lockdown. Diana also references her own depressed state after a family member passed away during the lockdown, which coincided with the birth of her son.
For The A-List interview with Diana Soh, click here.
Listen to the recent broadcast of ‘tu es magique’ here
Please click on Sunday 2nd October, 9.55pm to listen to the broadcast.
In the next year, Diana Soh’s two new operas, ‘The Carmen Case’ and ‘Tragic Ways of Killing a Woman’, will be premiered in May and July 2023, respectively, the latter being shown at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. Her chamber work titled ‘of the spaces between’ will also premiere in May 2023 and will be performed in Singapore.