Episode 025: Max Lilja
That’s the captain himself.
Founding member of Apocalyptica, cellist at large currently working on his 4th solo album, multimedia artist and composer for video games, films, a Finnish radio drama based upon The Excorcist, he also tours with operatic metal star Tarja Turunen. Max Lilja is a quiet killer on the cello and also one of the people moving the state of the art forward on that instrument.
That is, this instrument [plays]…
Good morning! This is Play It like It's Music, I'm Trevor. Thanks for listening.
We are back.
On Wednesday, February the 5th of 2020, music is not content, it's connection.*
*and if you like the show, please tell a friend!
So why talk to Max?
We are a weird bunch, the cellists. There are so many reasons why the instrument just shouldn’t survive in this age of synths and samples and Marshall stacks, but we do. Max not only shows the cellists how to do it but also for the rest of you, he embodies how discipline and experimentation can coexist in one amazing career. We all can learn quite a bit from Max.
Just a quick note, we were speaking at a bar in New York, during a soundcheck. So there’s some noise. It was the same night I spoke with Kevin Chown, the episode from a couple weeks ago. It gets loud and you’ll notice. But these musicians have lots of great things to say as we get ready for our gigs. So this is your backstage pass.
Here’s Max.
[press play!]
Thanks for listening to Play It Like It's Music. If you liked the show, PLEASE tell a friend. Let's grow this thing.
Follow me on social @trevorexter and talk to me on there if you have thoughts.
We're all contending with a mutating professional landscape, jacked revenue streams and a lot of noise out there in the culture. But you gotta keep playing.
We don't draw any lines here between scenes or styles.
As always, thank you for listening and remember to play it like its music.
You can check out my music on bandcamp and other places. It’s all at my website, trevorexter.com. Sign the mailing list to get this podcast sent right to you the moment it comes out. Consider hiring me to score your piece, produce your podcast or back you up onstage. Music is a beautiful thing and it makes the world go around.
Big love to your ears.
Trevor
(Did you press play yet?)
.
.
.
If you like my stuff, help it spread by sharing it!
* Hear songs: the “Trevor Exter Playlist” on Spotify
* Sign the mailing list!
* Consider hiring me to score your piece.
* I can also produce your podcast.
* More @trevorexter.com
psst… sign up for emails:
Get full access to "Play It Like It's Music" by Trevor Exter at playitlikeitsmusic.substack.com/subscribe