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IMC Mag: "Danae, your music is absolutely wonderful!   Take us back, how did you get into music?"

DXV: "I began piano lessons before age 5, and although I progressed smoothly in my studies, I didn't enjoy practicing. My mother gave me a structured environment to practice daily, and she had to be very supportive. I remember her often relieving me of household chores to give me more practice time, or encouraging more practicing by bribing me with chocolate! (Even today, I can still be bribed with chocolate by the way! Haha!) I needed a lot of encouragement in order to keep me going through the early years of piano lessons. I finally began to "enjoy" piano in my teens, and gradually it became clear I should do a degree in music."

"IMC Mag: When did you start to really pursue your music career seriously?"

DXV: "I did a degree in Piano Performance, but I was always interested in composition. Because I was too busy in the early years of my musical career to compose, I didn't get serious about it until after college. It was a blessing to have the interest of professional musicians who helped foster my work by performing my music: the opportunity to see my music reach audiences was such a gift and it stimulated my writing. I credit violinist Mischa Lefkowitz (LA Philharmonic) and soprano Hila Plitmann with giving me a great deal of early momentum. After releasing albums with both of them, I embarked on a bigger project called MYTHOLOGIES, which included soprano Sangeeta Kaur, and featured several other professional musicians who became central figures in my creative path, most notably, pianist Robert Thies. My friends become muses who give me inspiration and help direct my energy towards their talents."

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IMC Mag: "What are some of your most proudest accomplishments in your career?"

DXV: "I'll never forget the joy of winning my first Indie Music Award in 2017, and then winning "Album of the Year" (for my solo piano album, TRILOGIES) at the Indie Music Channel Awards in 2018: those years of professional recognition were pivotal in my career, and the friendships in the IMC community kept me on a focused path. I was blessed to win a GRAMMY (in the category of "Best Classical Vocal Solo Album") in 2022 for my album MYTHOLOGIES. This music was inspired by stories from Ancient Greece. The follow-up album - MYTHOLOGIES II - came out in 2024 and it's by far the biggest musical leap of my career because it was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road, and displays my most sophisticated writing to this point. It also stands as a remarkable portrayal of talent from the 4 featured artists: sopranos Sangeeta Kaur, and Hila Plitmann, alongside tenor Omar Najmi, and pianist Robert Thies. This album was honored with a GRAMMY-nomination this year as well (in "Best Classical Compendium"), so I'm eagerly anticipating Feb 2nd!!!"

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IMC Mag: "What do you have coming up?"

DXV: "I look forward to taking the music of MYTHOLOGIES across the world: it's unique because it sits between several forms of Classical writing by blending elements of Art Song with Opera and Orchestral Tone Poems, while also featuring the piano soloist very prominently, almost like a Piano Concerto. The music mixes intimacy with grandeur, and the stories are timeless, with appeal for all ages!​

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Feb 2nd, watch the Grammy Premiere Ceremony live on Grammy.com [If the event unfolds like previous years, Classical Categories are likely to appear mid-afternoon, around 4pm.] DISASTER RELIEF: For anyone who would like to support musicians impacted by the LA Wildfires, donate to the MusiCares foundation at GRAMMY.COM ONLINE ​​

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