Today’s interview is with Monsieur David recording artist, singer, and pianist. Today David shares his time between Germany, France, and Israel. Monsieur David’s first album “Adon Olam” is an eclectic mix of a pop ballad, influences from French Chansons and reinterpreted traditional Hebrew texts and melodies, accompanied by a piano arrangement inspired by classical composers.
Aurelien David began playing the piano at the age of 7. He received classical training with renowned international concert pianists and singers. At 16, the path was set for him to pursue a career as an artist, but he decided to study engineering, politics, and business instead. After completing his master’s degree at 21, Aurelien began his successful international career. 7 years later he founded his own company for international development cooperation. Since then, he has been traveling around the world working for government institutions, helping to realize sustainable projects. For a long time, he has been dreaming about reconnecting with his first passion by producing his own music. Inspired and surrounded by great people, he finally decided in 2018 to launch his own label and realize a project that is very important to him, the album “Adon Olam”.
Erich Rüthers: Hi Aurelien how are you doing today?
Aurelien David: I feel fantastic. Full of energy, right in the middle of a creative rush.
Q: What’s up in your music life now? What are the ongoing projects today?
A: I have finished my first Album Adon Olam and some singles in French and working now on my next projects for 2020. It is a very exciting and vibrant period in my life. I have so many ideas, things are happening at a mind-boggling pace at the moment. It’s crazy.
Q: Your album “Adon Olam” is sort of a mixture between poetry, prayer and classical pop music. How did you come up with this?
A: I have a deep connection to Judaism and was always captivated by this musical heritage. I want to radically break down all boundaries between music styles, languages, the old and the new.
Q: Actually, you’ve been playing since you were 7, but “Adon Olam” is your first album, right? How come you only recorded it now? It is quite particular, memorable, a signature voice of yours. How did you come up with your personal expression in music?
A: As you say, I have always played music, all my life. I was trained as a classical pianist and singer but decided to study engineering, politics, and business instead, when I was quite young. Then I launched my international career, which was very successful and kept me traveling a lot. I kept doing music all the time, but of course, I was caught up in my daily business and projects with a lot of responsibility and little time. I wanted to do a music project that is very personal for a long time, and now the time just seemed right to just do it! I decided to follow my heart, be brave, and try to make something unique. I love the timeless motives, melodies and deep feelings Hebrew music expresses, I believe it comes from the soul and touches something universal.
Q: You’ve had your share of experiences besides music: studying engineering, politics, and business. Do you regret that you spent time on those things instead of going to music right away?
A: Not at all. As I said, I always played music. And in my career I really had the opportunity to see the world, realize big projects focused on sustainability, things that made sense to me and make a contribution to do good things – and don’t forget, it helped me gain true insight on the human condition, which is the basis of inspiration for my music and my message as an artist too.
Q: How long did it take to actually put your album together from the idea to the final product?
A: It has been an extremely dynamic process – especially considering I have a “day job” that keeps me flying all over the world on other projects. We started about 8 months ago.
Q: Does the knowledge and experiences that you’ve gained during your international career help you in your creative process?
A: Definitely. It actually inspired the idea for my music project. Since I travel a lot for business all over the world, I realized that there ARE no boundaries. All should be one. We should be free and have no limits. So that is the idea behind my music, overcoming boundaries between tradition and modernism, spirituality and physicality. And besides, being used to making quick decisions all the time and getting things done has helped me intensify the creative process, putting my ideas into practice instead of dawdling along too much.
Q: Do you work in the business sphere now? How do you manage to find time for music?
A: Yes, I do. It is a challenge, I barely have time at the moment for anything else. You could say time management is a skill I am currently learning to appreciate a lot.
Q: You are a true citizen of the Universe, you share your time between three countries: Germany, France, and Israel. Which place is your favorite?
A: All of them are. I need all these places as they have different energies and help me in my creative process. And: Since the idea is to break down boundaries; it makes sense not to be limited geographically or culturally either.
Q: What is your favorite hobby, except for music and business?
A: My dog Pablo. Drinking a good glass of wine with my friends on my rooftop terrace looking at the Frankfurt skyline. Great food. Sports.
Q: You are a piano guru. Do you have any plans to create a solo project with this instrument?
A: I don’t feel like a piano guru at all. I am just a passionate pianist. At the moment I am intrigued by using my piano music to accompany these Hebrew melodies and lyrics to create something unique. But I have also released a Bach album piano solo this year with some of my favorite works. For me, bach is the basis for all music.
Q: What is your best tip on personal efficiency to our readers?
A: Don’t think about things too much, just go ahead and do them. Follow your instinct.
Q: Thank you so much for your time
A: You are most welcome.
