SIMPLY SIX: Heinali

Heinali is a musician from Kiev, Ukraine.

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

No, it was quite spontaneous, and I'm a terrible singer by the way.

2. When you’re not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

I love music. Have favorites in almost every genre and style. Ok, just picking up 10 randomly: Max Richter, Burial, John Coltrane, Philip Glass, Coil, Explosions in the Sky,

Sisters of Mercy, Rachmaninov, My Bloody Valentine, Biosphere... oh, let it be 20: Dalek, Nils Peter Molvar, Olafur Arnalds, Covenant, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, The Doors,

Jimi Hendrix, Jean Michelle Jarre, Schiller.

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

I believe I don't have one.

4. Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How much can music influence current events?

You are the one to decide. For some people it's only something they listen to, and for some people it's something that changes their world. Attitude to the music changed dramaticaly in the last decade. Mostly because of the commercialised music industry, which raised generations of people listening to succesful business models, not music. Looks like, mostly, for the most of young people music is no longer is the great act of art, it's just something they are listening to in backgorund to their daily routine. Getting the new album of your favorite band isn't so exciting nowadays - everybody downloads tons of music, everybody has quite a music collection on the hard drive and have access basicaly to almost every music piece ever done. And it's not a bad thing, it's quite controversial. Music itself is great and extremely powerful when it comes to influence. There's no problem with music, but with people. I think music is like love. It's very powerful, abstract and transformational, if you are opening yourself to it. Let yourself listen with every cell of your body. "If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph: The only proof he needed for the existence of God was music." Kurt Vonnegut

5. How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

It opened it up. Everybody can compose music now and get heard online. You don't need no music education, don't have to play any instruments, don't have to spend money to book a studio. Here is it, your studio, your label and your audience, inside your bedroom laptop. And it's great I think. Of course it brought lots of difficulties, like, there's tons of new music now, everybody is musician, music is depreciated, it's became hard to get heard. But what a great possibility for self-expression and creativity! And it affected me directly. I started it this way, as a bedroom composer.

6. Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

I love barefoot.