Alexander Motovilov Discusses His New Album ‘The Encounter’

While his original reason for getting into music wasn’t necessarily with the intention of being a recording artist, Alexander Motovilov is happy to be in the place where he currently finds himself. A highly talented pianist, Motovilov released his latest album, The Encounter, last month via Andante Piano. The record is a cinematic journey via the piano, exploring a romantic bond. It begins with hopeful beginnings and ends with a quiet dissolution. That dissolution manifests itself in the closing track, “The Farewell,” a gentle goodbye that sticks with you even after the final notes.

Born in Moscow, Motovilov now calls Tartu, Estonia, home. He began as an academic, earning dual master’s degrees in piano performance and composition. He parlayed that experience into writing and recording while working in theatre and with several ensembles. With everything on hold during the pandemic, it afforded Motovilov the time and opportunity to begin recording. He started releasing solo piano compositions that found an audience through streaming. They were picked up on popular playlists, which helped Motovilov gain a lot of exposure. He now performs live with a string trio that includes his wife Dara. They help bring Motovilov’s compositions to life in a compelling, dynamic way.

Today, we are joined by Motovilov to discuss his creative process, The Encounter album, and memorable career highlights.

How would you describe your own music?

Alexander Motovilov: “It’s actually quite hard for me to describe my own music, but I’d really love for listeners to experience it as a breath of fresh air. I always try to make my music emotionally moving, no matter a person’s age or musical taste. I aim to reach their heart, to draw them into their own thoughts and memories…

“And I believe, and hope, that sometimes I succeed.”

How would you describe your creative process?

“My creative process usually has two stages.

The first one is searching for a musical ‘core,’ a small idea that already contains everything: the mood, a certain emotional energy, and something that touches both the ear and the heart.

“This is probably the hardest part, because you can only ‘catch’ this kind of idea, you don’t know how or where it will appear. It’s something very elusive in a specific combination of notes.

“You can’t just come up with it intentionally. You might sit at the piano all day long, trying things, and still not find anything worthwhile. Of course, you can invent something intentionally, but most likely it won’t be anything truly remarkable. Though sometimes that does happen too.

“The second stage is developing that musical core, unfolding its potential.

“This part is more technical. It’s where experience, knowledge, taste, and compositional skills come into play. The challenge is to bring out what’s already hidden in the core in the most natural and organic way, and not to ruin it. This stage can take anywhere from a few minutes to several years, depending on the composer’s level of perfectionism.”

Alexander Motovilov ‘The Encounter’ album artwork

Tell us about your most recent release, The Encounter. What was your experience of making it?

“My latest release is my album The Encounter, which came out on the amazing Dutch label Andante Piano. The process wasn’t exactly smooth, even though I wrote all the music (ten tracks) fairly quickly, I re-recorded the album several times in my studio, because I kept feeling like something wasn’t quite right.

“I absolutely drove my wife crazy, constantly asking her to listen to yet another version of some track. At first, she tried to give me thoughtful feedback, but by the fourth or fifth version, she’d just give me a tired look and say everything sounded fine.

“So yes, it was fun. But I think now, if one of those tracks comes up on Spotify, she’ll probably have a minor breakdown. Still, in the end, I think the album turned out great.”

What are you still trying to figure out?

“I’m still trying to understand whether composers truly create music, or if the music already exists somewhere (like all the books in Borges’s Library of Babel), and we just manage to catch it and make it heard. Based on my own feelings, I think I actually lean more toward the second idea.”

Who are your biggest influences?

“The Beatles, The Cranberries, A-ha, Rachmaninov, Brahms, and Prokofiev had a huge influence on me. Of course, not just them, but I always listened to them the most, and I think thanks to them, my musical taste was shaped.”

Do you have anything you’d like to tell any fans reading right now?

“To all my listeners reading this, I want to say the biggest, most heartfelt thank you! You give me strength, inspiration, and the confidence that I’m doing something meaningful.

“There are so many outside forces that can shake that confidence, plant seeds of doubt, but it’s my beloved audience and the feeling that my music matters that keeps me going.

“And of course, my dear wife and son, who always support me and are the first to hear every new composition.”

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What is the story behind the name of the new record?

“It tells the story of a romantic connection, how it begins between two people, how it grows, and how, in the end (sadly or maybe for the best), it fades and leads nowhere.

“I think this is a familiar story to almost everyone. Very few people find their true soulmate the first time. The first track of the album is also called ‘The Encounter.’”

What has been the most memorable moment of your career so far?

“There have been so many memorable moments, topping radio charts (back when I did pop and dance music), reaching my first million streams on Spotify, touring, performing in huge, beautiful venues I once could only dream of…

“But oddly enough, the most unforgettable moment for me might be my first solo concert in a small venue in my beloved city of Tartu, Estonia. That night, with my wonderful string trio, I performed only my own original music for the first time. Even though I already had millions of plays on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon, a live performance is completely different.

“I was terrified that the audience wouldn’t like it, that they’d get bored or just not connect with it. But at the end, when the entire hall stood up and applauded for several minutes, that was pure happiness.”