When did you start to get interested in music?

It has probably been unavoidable since both my parents are musicians. However, I’ve got more serious interest in music when enrolled for the studies at the Conservatory in Ljubljana, broadening my horizon. I have soon realized that music is my tool of expression and then started hard work.

Many of my first compositions got threw away, they were just learning exercises. On the other hand, the ones that survived are lieders – and I am certain that young composer should first compose lieders (because you can learn how to transfer content from a poetry into music). Expanding my technical abilities I was able to compose larger works – and so is my opus growing. To conclude, I stand behind fact that composing itself gave me motivation to compose further.

If you were an advertisement, which would your slogan be?

Probably “Age quod agis”.

Which is the part you enjoy the most about music?

There are two aspects; composing in the solitude or even loneliness (since I compose anywhere and am able to exclude other people), expressing your own thoughts without being compromised. On the other hand, there are always somebody you are working with as a composer – and you are getting feedback and even new or transformed thoughts all the time.

Most artists say that through their art they learn more about themselves, heal injuries… In which aspects has music helped you?

Composing (among other creative works) is so demanding and occupying all the time. You are making musical thoughts in any place, at any time, no matter of the condition. You must always strive towards perfection (although it does not exist) and also know when this perfection comes along. Since the expression of an artwork is expression of your soul, you must also concise you thoughts – cutting, adding or transforming them all the time. So making music is making my personality better, constantly growing.

What does music mean to you?

As said, art is an expression of a human’s soul. What happens everyday to me goes through the brains – some part of it is then sent to the heart, where it grows and grows, until it has been triggered to burst out. Inspiration is wide thing and I am letting it free, no matter of the society norms or religions or politics. For me, being able to compose music is literally living the freedom.

Who are your idols?

There is only one in music – and he is Lucijan Marija Škerjanc, Slovene composer, conductor, pianist, musicologist and so much more. His music has inspired me with all of the colors, rightfulness and positivity. He have had very tough life, however were composing such beautiful music … You must listen to the 5th symphony – written in the maelstrom of the second world war; so awful times, but such a beautiful music …

If you didn’t like music, what would you like to do?

Probably I would be a basketball player or a pilot. However, I am doing all of these at the time, when being composer. All of what I am doing is combined, is a reflection of my soul and fulfils me. So in fact there is certainly not just one thing I would be doing if not being a composer.

Do you consider that nowadays there are more or less opportunities for new artists? Why?

I believe and stand by the fact that there are just as equal opportunities as have been in the past – and all of the modern (but careful with this term) technology is just making it easier. However, like Darwin has said, the strongest survives, and the field of music is not being excluded from that. You must build a friendly relationships, scarifying some time, money (time is money) and freedom to get recognized and later, to succeed.

What would your idyllic life as an artist be like?

An idyllic life does not exist, but everyone is living it. We must stop for a while, look around and realize you are just where you have to be. There is no right and wrong, there are decisions that are leading you somewhere. It may seem careless but it’s not. It’s just the human nature. So complex, yet so simple. So messy, yet so organized. So hard, yet so nice. An idyllic life is made of contrasts – they also make things beautiful. So to answer, I would change nothing, just making me constantly better as a person.

Which are your upcoming projects?

There are many upcoming projects, I am composing my first Symphony, inspired by the tragic time of covid and (on the contrary) the beauty of love. I am composing some other works, Piano concerto among others. There is a new chamber orchestra that we are establishing in Slovenia.

I am writing a book about the aesthetics of music. So, in fact, there is always something going on.