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| Gabriel Prokofiev Photo courtesy of Present Music |
His name screams “classical,” but these days Gabriel Prokofiev (at left) is anything but. Grandson of the legendary Russian classical composer Sergi Prokofiev, Gabriel Prokofiev is a London-based composer, producer and founder of the NONCLASSICAL record label. He’s coming back to Milwaukee with some friends from across the pond to perform at MOCT on Wednesday, Feb. 15.
The last time you might have seen Prokofiev perform was the Concerto for Turntables and Orchestra with DJ Madhatter at Present Music’s season opener. This time, Prokofiev and musician friend Joby Burgess are passing through the Midwest for the premiere of Prokofiev’s Concerto for Bass Drum with the Princeton Symphony in Chicago. While in the area, they’ve decided to stop at the MOCT for an informal concert with several local and British performers. The evening will begin on the classical end of the music spectrum but will progress toward a more familiar sound at MOCT: electronic and club music.
DJ Madhatter (aka Jordan Lee from Radio Milwaukee) will perform a set, as will DJ Tarik (aka The Architect) with his allies from the new project Unlooped – a label, blog and electronic fusion concert series aimed at advancing electronic music in Milwaukee. Joby Burgess (pictured below) will meld percussions with electronic music (see him at work here). And Peter Gregson (pictured below) is getting some help from electronics too. Using multi-track recordings of himself and an electric cello, his solo performance will sound like and an entire ensemble.
Prokofiev was kind enough to answer a few questions during his busy week in the Midwest.
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| Joby Burgess Photo by Chris Schmidt. |
JK: When did you start your label NONCLASSICAL and why?
GP: It all started in 2004 and I had just had a three-year break from classical music. After completing my Masters in classical composition, I was disillusioned with how the contemporary classical world seemed so cut off from the general public and young audiences. I really wanted my age group to hear the music I was composing; not just the typical, grey-haired classical audience. So I thought I should arrange a performance in a place that felt comfortable and normal to my friends – the obvious place was a nightclub. So I put on the first NONCLASSICAL night, mixing live acts with DJs and it worked. The crowd was all young people and they really liked it. At the same time that the NONCLASSICAL club night emerged, I set up the NONCLASSICAL record label with the same intentions of making classical music feel more “real-world” and relevant. We have now released 13 albums under the label.
JK: You are a composer and a DJ. Do you play any instruments?
GP: No I don’t – I am first and foremost a composer. I started DJing out of necessity! When I put on the first NONCLASSICAL club event, I realized I would need a DJ to spin before and after the live performances, but when I couldn’t think of anyone who would be the right kind of DJ, I just had to do it myself. Over the last eight years I’ve developed my own style of blending remixes of contemporary classical with left-field electronica and classical music. I enjoy DJing – it’s very interesting how you can change the atmosphere in a room and take people on a musical journey.
JK: How do you think your background in classical music influences the electronic music you produce?
GP: Most of the electronic music I produce these days is classically based anyway, so the classical influence is intrinsically there. When I produced music that was in more urban genres like hip-hop, grime or electro, classical influences would creep in at times. I think I often tended to put more details into the music than most producers. Other times I stayed quite true to the genre, just striving for originality as much as possible.
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| Peter Gregson Photo courtesy of Present Music. |
JK: What do you like about performing in Milwaukee?
GP: I had a great time in Milwaukee last fall. It was a real pleasure to work with DJ Madhatter and Present Music, who all have an incredible enthusiasm for new music, as well as being brilliant musicians. I was really impressed by the loyal audience that Present Music has developed over the years and how they created a proper platform for contemporary music with a regular public – something that you won’t find in that many other cities across the world.
Nonclassical MKE is this Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. at The MOCT (240 E. Pittsburg Ave.). Purchase $7 tickets at the door or buy here. Doors will open at 8 p.m., with live music starting at 8:45 p.m.
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