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Podcasting about art and activism since 2005

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MikeyPod 355 | Pianist Sophia Subbayya Vastek

January 2, 2023 by Michael Harren
Portrait of Sophia Subbayya Vastek.She is sitting on a stool in front of an upright piano wearing a loose white top, brown boots, and black jeans. Her elbow is resting on the piano.

Pianist and composer Sophia Subbaya Vastek joins me today to discuss her new album, In Our Softening. I am completely enamored with this album, our conversation about Sophia’s music, and the magnificently imperfect instrument that inspired it. Enjoy this conversation, and be sure to check out the entire album as well!

Based in Troy, NY, Sophia Subbaya Vastek moves quietly between musical worlds and defies easy categorization. She has been described as “a wonder” and “audacious” (Inactuelles), and as performing with “passion and profound tenderness” (Second Inversion) and “serene strokes and lyrical beauty” (Brooklyn Rail). Her debut album Histories was released on innova Recordings in 2017, produced by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Adam Abeshouse. Second Inversion described the album as “both an homage to Vastek’s own individual histories but also a beautiful mosaic of the larger cultural intersections of our world—and how we weave those histories together through music.”  She has since released the EP Lili, as well as several recordings and singles spanning multiple genres. Sophia has toured internationally across three continents.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
05:38 The Seas that Made Us – Sophia Subbayya Vastek
10:35 Conversation with Sophia Subbayya Vastek
36:05 After Stardust – Sophia Subbayya Vastek
40:05 Outro

Follow Sophia Subbayya Vastek on Instagram, YouTube, and Bandcamp.

Photo of Sophia Subbayya Vastek by Kiki Vassilakis


This podcast is powered by my subscribers on Patreon who, in addition to the warm feeling they get from co-creating with me, get lots of sweet perks including bonus podcast episodes, free downloads, zines, and more! This week’s bonus podcast will feature an extended conversation with today’s guest, Sophia Subbayya Vastek!  Learn more right here!

I’d love to have you in the Discord server! Think of it as a big chatroom where we can talk about whatever without the typical social media negativity and randos harshing our vibe. There are a few of us active in there right now and we’ve been discussing gratitude, podcast guests, and a bunch of other stuff. If you want to join the community, you can join right here. I’m happy to help if you need it!

Thinking of starting your own podcast? Do it! I’m a big fan of Blubrry for podcast hosting! You can get a month free hosting, or get your $100 Blubrry Pro Hosting fee waived when you use the code “mikeypod” at checkout!


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Category: Interviews, Podcasts

About Michael Harren

Brooklyn-based composer and performer Michael Harren combines elements of classical composition with experimental electronics and storytelling to create hypnotic and boldly intimate work that walks the line between Laurie Anderson, Peter Gabriel and Dead Can Dance.

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Next Post:MikeyPod 355 Bonus | Extended Conversation with Sophia Subbayya VastekBlack and white portrait of Sophia Subbayya Vastek looking to the right of the frame. She is wearing funky-chic leopard glasses, dangling earrings, and her hair is up in a messy bun.

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