Zephyr Quartet
The Zephyr Quartet are playing at WOMADelaide with one show only on Saturday 9th of March 2019. Celebrating their 20th year in 2019, and hailing from Adelaide, the quartet is known for their interpretative, imaginative music. They answered some questions from Hi-Fi Way ahead of their performance.
Congratulations on celebrating your twentieth anniversary. What has kept the quartet going strong over all these years?
Thanks! I think one of the reasons we have been able to sustain our energy over the years is that our desire to collaborate and to make new work means that there are always new and interesting ideas to explore. Also, that as a group we respect and accommodate our colleague’s needs and desires to do things personally and professionally other than Zephyr.
You’ve played at WOMADelaide a couple of times throughout the years, what do you enjoy most about the festival?
We’ve enjoyed playing at WOMADelaide before but this will be the first time that Zephyr will be playing our own music which is super exciting for us. WOMADelaide is such a brilliant mix of music, place, people and atmosphere and has a special place in all of our hearts – It is a wonderful celebration of our shared humanity and music’s power to break down boundaries.
You’ve been known for thinking laterally about music – innovate, improvise and collaborate. What can we expect on these fronts in your WOMADelaide gig?
The music we are playing at WOMADelaide has been written by us over many years and has many inspirations, including WOMADelaide itself! The music that we write is inspired by our collaborations – with poets, theatre companies, visual artists etc – as well as by deeply personal stories.
What else can festival-goers expect from you at your performance on Saturday?
Musical storytelling, infectious grooves, heartbreaking melodies, lush harmonies and intricate textures.
What’s next for the Zephyr quartet? Any touring or recording plans for the rest of 2019?
We’ve got an exciting year ahead – festivals, recordings, collaborations, interstate and international touring and more – plus, a new type of collaboration for us – we’re collaborating with our friends at The Wheatsheaf Hotel on a new beer to mark our twentieth birthday!
Interview by Kim Burley
Don’t miss the Zephyr Quartet’s WOMADelaide at the Zoo stage, 6pm on Saturday 9th March, 2019. Tickets from the WOMADelaide website.
