| Photo by Willie Schumann |
Berlin based vibraphonist Evi Filippo has been making waves in the European improvised music scene in recent years. Filippo began her studies in her hometown of Volos, Greece and moved to Berlin in 2011 to study classical percussion at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler. This year, she will be the Improvisor in Residence at the Moers Festival. While the festival itself takes place from the 22nd to 25th of May in Moers, the residency has already begun.
EF: I am inviting a lot of artists that I like and admire, different styles and musical approaches, I'm hosting Listening Sessions in my living room open for everyone, I am involved in two education projects in schools and the music school, I am planning a Live Cinema event and some jam sessions.
PA: What other projects are you currently working on?
- What is your greatest joy in improvised music?
The risk taking and the surrendering into the unknown. Flirting with Chaos and learning to love it has been so liberating. - What quality do you most admire in the musicians you perform
with?
That they are decent human beings, open, supportive and do what's best for the music. They don't need to convince anyone they can play , they are beyond this and they just make music. I also admire them for always wanting to do the best for the composition, the concept, the idea, they want to understand and develop. I try to only work with generous humans. - Which historical musician/composer do you admire the most?
That's a tough one. I could name a few. Monk, Mary Lou Williams, Maria Grever would be my top 3 these days. - If you could resurrect a musician to perform with, who would it
be?
Geri Allen - What would you still like to achieve musically in your life?
I mean.. everything I manage! The more you learn the more there is to know and then you die I guess. So yeah lots of things I d still like to learn, create and play with. - Are you interested in popular music and - if yes - what music/artist do you particularly like?
I am interested in good and honest music. I like Olivia Dean. -
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
More patience, less heavy self criticism - it’s really a waste of time. -
Which of your albums are you most proud of?
I am proud of Love at last sight coming out this March. I loved the process, the preparation and what came out of all this. -
Once an album of yours is released, do you still listen to it? And how often?
I do! Depends. Some just once, some every couple of months. -
Which album (from any musician) have you listened to the most in your life?
Carrie and Lowell Sufjan Stevens - Telefone Noname. -
What are you listening to at the moment?
Ben Webster, David Virelles, Johny Guitar Watson and funeral xylophones from burkina faso. - What artist outside music inspires you?
Natalia Manta, Albert Camus, Milan Kundera, Maria Filippou, my best friend Aimilia Varanaki and every person that thinks things up and down and through and change their minds and then change them again and expand their consciousness and existence.















