Ray Chen: What are we trying to say?
Daily Comfort ZoneThe Taiwanese-Australian violinist says that ‘as a kid I used to be very bad at communication.’ He now puts thinking about the audience at the forefront of his attention.
Ray, 34, talks to David Krauss on Speaking Soundly about putting the listener first. Not long ago, he invited people to come play with him and the LA Philharmonic on the stage of the Hollywood Bowl.
Listen here.
Small gripe: Ray is 34 and turning 35 in March.
So he is 34.
I don’t care how talented he is, something just rubs me wrong about his relentless social media influencer stuff. All these dumb meme tie-ins with other YouTubers like, “I take my violin out on the sidewalk and play with a busker!” Fake manufactured content etc.. lessens his stature.
Great interview. Rare to hear this kid of rapport
He’s a good violinist, and his YT channel is very entertaining, even illuminating. Commenting on the technique of his peers (past and present), pointing out details of their interpretations you’d never have detected yourself.
Time was when the great performers put the music first.