Composer and pianist Antonija Pacek impresses with FOREVER, an album of soulful, aesthetic piano music – in a minimalist style somewhere between classical and popular music. Pacek, who holds a degree in psychology, is no stranger to the conditio humana, and while the temperament of her pieces is distinctly melancholy, their gentle expressiveness spans the whole gamut of human emotions.
Today, Antonija is our featured artist in “The Inside Story,” a blog series exploring the inner workings and personalities of our composers and performers. Read on to discover how she sees this album as an antidote to helplessness, full of reflection and hope during this time of adversity…
Who was your first favorite artist(s) growing up?
When I was around 10 years old, I saw Milos Forman’s film about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The movie left a very deep impression on me – what kind of genius Mozart was, how easily and beautifully he composed masterpieces, and how sad his ending was (later as a grown up, I learned that he was actually poisoned by Antonio Salieri due to his jealousy). I played Sonatas and some other pieces from Mozart during my music school training, and always enjoyed his melodic playful compositions. I also liked playing Mendelssohn and Chopin later.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Dark chocolate, but I am sure it is good for the creative spirit!
If you could make a living at any job in the world, what would that job be?
I would like to earn money from my music. As we all know streaming platforms rob the artists and pay them almost nothing per stream. So this is still a utopian dream of mine to live from my music…
If you could spend creative time anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
It would be near the seaside. It has some meditative and inspiring vibes when I am near the sea. One of my songs from my previous album is titled, “The Sea,” and that album is named Il Mare – the sea.
If you could instantly have expertise performing one instrument, what instrument would that be?
Cello. I started learning it before my pregnancies, and then did not have the time to continue…
What does this album mean to you personally?
People’s intensifying concerns about their health, financial outcomes, and disrupted lives make this the most adverse time most of us have ever experienced. The new album arose from the need for something hopeful and relaxing as a counterbalance to this sad and difficult time. Of course, there are some sad and melancholic stories told through music as well.
Is there a specific feeling that you would like communicated to audiences in this work?
Writing music is a kind of therapy for me and I hope it will also be for those who listen to this album – full of emotions. Some compositions such as Forever, Light, and Inner Child are full of brightness. These melodies restore optimism and hopefulness. Farewell to Sad came out from the need to say goodbye to all deeply sad experiences in the past. Sofia, Gone Young, and Almost Goodbye are a few of those that are full of melancholy…
Explore Antonija’s Latest Release
FOREVER
Composer and pianist Antonija Pacek impresses with FOREVER, an album of soulful, aesthetic piano music – in a minimalist style somewhere between classical and popular music. Pacek, who holds a degree in psychology, is no stranger to the conditio humana, and while the temperament of her pieces is distinctly melancholy, their gentle expressiveness spans the whole gamut of human emotions.
Antonija Pacek is a composer and pianist who lives in Vienna, Austria. She started with piano lessons at the age of six in her native Croatia. Antonija’s critically acclaimed, debut neoclassical piano album, Soul Colours, was published in 2014 by Autentico Music in Germany and was signed by Warner Chappell, the music publishing arm of Warner Music.
