Interview: Julia Perminova - "Getting to know yourself means freeing yourself from the opinions imposed by society..."

 

According to legendary pianist Bill Evans, when you play music you discover a part of yourself that you never knew existed. It makes me wonder, in terms of your music, what have you learned about yourself since your performing career began?

I started playing piano when I was five, so I probably wasn’t really aware of much at that age. But I do remember never wanting to quit music because I loved the piano - it’s an instrument with so many possibilities. I think I started to understand myself more when I began composing music, which happened gradually from around age 17. Since then, my style has changed a bit, and it’s
been fascinating to discover hidden talents. It’s been especially interesting over the last two years while I was studying composition at the Jazzcampus in Basel, Switzerland. I’ve learned that, really, people have no limits—we can create anything we want if we step a little outside our comfort zone

If I were to describe your compositions, I would call them angelic. They combine the subtlety and lightness with which you play the piano. What is the source of your creative inspiration and where does this beauty with which you enchant the listener come from?

Thank you! I get inspiration not only from my favorite performers like Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sergei Prokofiev, Maurice Ravel, Tatiana Parra, Becca Stevens, Aaron Parks... Honestly, the list could go on, and it’s not just jazz or classical music. I’m also inspired by ethnic music, which I think has a certain authenticity and spirituality. Beyond music, I’m influenced by interesting books about humanity and religion, heartwarming films with deep meaning, and nature in all its diverse forms!

Your new album is called "Echoes of Home". You recorded it with jazz vocalist Tatiana Nova. How would you describe this album to those who haven't had the chance to listen to it in its entirety yet? Is it more difficult to work with a vocalist from a compositional point of view?

Our compositions combine folk music (mainly Slavic, but also some Brazilian and African influences) with improvisation. We have a lot of improvisation in general, but we also put a lot of attention into the compositions. Half of the tracks on the album are my music, and the other half (the ones with lyrics) are by Tatiana. I really enjoy working with Tatiana - she’s an amazing performer and composer. Usually, we bring ready compositions to rehearsal, and then we tweak tchem together. It’s always an interesting process. Personally, I love writing for a duo because there are always so many ideas to explore.

The title of this album brings to mind childhood, and family home. Would I be wrong if I say that "Echoes of Home" is a nostalgic journey into the past? A memory of a place to which - as Elton John sang - we would like to return someday?

Yes, that’s right. The music on our album "Echoes of Home" is about the bittersweet longing for home, something anyone living far from their homeland can relate to.

You were born in Russia, a country that is now seen as a threat to world peace. This is a difficult situation for all citizens, regardless of their political views. Tell me, does this situation affect your work in any way? You have recorded with Ukrainian musicians in the past. Is the idea of a world of peace and mutual understanding just a utopia?

I’d say that this situation affects my work, but not too much. Of course, some Ukrainian musicians refuse to collaborate with Russians right now, seeing it as a political statement. I don’t want to judge them - they’re understandable. But I try to stay positive. Overall, I believe that music is about bringing people together and spreading kindness; it’s created in opposition to all the wars in the world. I’m a realist, and I don’t think wars will ever truly end - history shows us that. But I also believe that music will always serve as a kind of “savior,” helping to wake people up and call for peace.

I asked this because your previous album was titled "Freedom". So what is this freedom that so many songs are written about? Please give us your definition.

Oh yes! The word "Freedom" is so multifaceted! I’m really proud of this title. But more than anything, I wanted to talk about inner freedom - the freedom from dependencies, from the tendency to follow the crowd. A person is like an entire universe, full of things we don’t even know about. It’s so exciting to study ourselves, to understand what we truly want and need. Getting to know yourself means freeing yourself from the opinions imposed by society. In a musical sense, I wanted to express this freedom by breaking away from set patterns or rhythms. I wanted to show that you can rise above all that. I hope my musicians and I managed to convey that.

As I mentioned earlier, your music is a perfect expression of harmony, and it is also a picture of a young girl who transforms her talent into success. So what are you dreaming about today? How much are your dreams connected to the musical side of your personality?

Thank you! It’s great to hear that I give off that impression. But I also want to say that behind any success story, there’s a lot of hard work, with moments of failure, disappointment, and losing a sense of purpose. We’re all human, and it’s probably important to talk about the other side of things too. But those tough moments are still valuable because they mean I’m growing. Right now, I’m looking for a bit of stability in life. Until recently, I had to move around a lot - I’ve lived in five different countries, and all that movement affected my mental state. But things are better now. I’ve moved to Paris and plan to stay there for a while. I really want to perform my music more and share it in different countries. And I’d love to find a manager to help with booking concerts because that’s a really tough job!

Well, I used the word "success", but I wonder what about criticism. Does negative feedback on your music affect your self-confidence? Does it make you start to calculate with your next record?

Yes, it does affect me. I try to stay attuned to the world around me. I see my music as a product that should bring joy not just to me, but also to other musicians and listeners. I believe that when I take everything into account, it helps improve my work. Of course, sometimes criticism isn’t helpful and has nothing to do with improving the music. In those cases, I try to filter it out and not pay attention. It’s important to listen to yourself while also being open, keeping a balance between your relationship with yourself and the world.

So let's talk about praise for a moment. Some say that praise is like food for our vanity. Do you like being praised for your artistic achievements?

I have to admit, I like it when people praise me. It gives me energy and pushes me to create even more. I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but it’s just how it is. I think it makes sense to keep developing your creativity when you see positivem feedback. And since I’m pretty self-critical, praise from listeners helps neutralize that and breaks down my self-doubt.

And if you were to praise yourself, what would you say now?

If I could tell myself something, it would be: "Look, the world is showing you that you’re on the right path. Keep doing what you’re doing! You’re really good at it!".