UPBRINGING

sM | Your musical sensibilities seem deeply informed by traditional folk songs. What was your exposure to it growing up? SKM ── My mom’s side of the family is Welsh and that’s where I was exposed to Welsh traditional music, so that’s very important to me. But I’ve always just been interested in discovering music that I don’t know. That led to me listening to a wide range of things. I think there’s something very direct about folk music and more traditional music. There’s nothing artificial or imposed on it that takes away from this direct conversation between you and the music. I think the cello is an instrument that is very vocal and sounds very personal, and so lends itself very well to this kind of music, even though it’s not an instrument that’s traditionally used in a lot of these styles. I will always be interested in lots of different styles and exploring them, and will continue to do that. Of course, my focus on classical music is gonna take up a lot of time and a lot of focus. That’s what I love as well. But there’s space in my mind and in my heart to do lots of other things.