Eric Speed
(by Dawn Reed) A couple weeks ago, we featured Canadian electro violinist Eric Speed's video for "Maniac" as video of the week and wondered why in the hell his FB fanpage only had like 500 followers (because the current blog-based society unfortunately gravitates to that for fandom...) Then a couple days later, he got himself a Guinness World Record for being the fastest violinist in the WORLD! Needless to say, the numbers are starting to blow up, and will continue as Eric, Montreal-born and classically trained, is currently working on a third album with a new single dropping next week. Someone give this kid a world tour...
Congratulations Guinness World Record holder! You are the fastest violinist in the world right! How does that make you feel?
It doesn't change a thing. It's just confirmed that I'm really hyperactive. :)
So, to achieve the world record, you performed "Flight of the Bumblebee" in a mere 53 seconds! How did you go about prepping for that?
I'd practiced for ten days non stop while watching the series Heroes with subtitles at the same time. I cannot remember a word of the series because I can only remember the "Flight of the Bumblebee"...lol
So, you've been playing the violin since age 3. Who got you started? Did you want to be a violinist as a child?
My mom. She played the piano younger. Nobody's an artist at 3, but you can find out at this age if you have what it takes to continue later.
My mom. She played the piano younger. Nobody's an artist at 3, but you can find out at this age if you have what it takes to continue later.
At what moment in your life did you realize you wanted to be a musician?
Around 22. I was finishing my conservatory in Montreal and I couldn't find my way through Orchestra or teaching the violin, so I realized I needed to do something different. I started two bands and discovered the electric violin.
We recently featured your dope-ass video for "Maniac" as Video of the Week. It's clearly a contender for video of the year! What was it like working on that video? Did you have any input to the idea/story?
It started in a café in Montreal. I was talking with Pierre-Luc Boucher, the director. He is a good friend of mine. We were talking of possibilities for this video, and we laughed at that idea. There was a silence after and we thought about it. We said to each other, "HEY what the hell this is a crazy cool idea!"
You have two amazing albums out, Eric Speed and Starland. How would you compare the two?
The first one (s/t) is more about the classical studies and soundtracks that I learned. It's a mix between game scores and movies. The second one (Starland) is more wild. I was doing some shows in clubs and the electro came a bit from those nights. I prefer the second album especially the last track, "Starland."
Your music would be perfect as the score for some cool action video game or movie. Have you scored anything yet or been approached?
I would be honored to do some soundtracks, especially videogames. I'm a videogame geek, I admit, and really love the soundtracks, especially Castlevania, Hitman 3, Mafia 2 and Uncharted. Well, I'm open to new ideas. Let me know if you want a crazy violinist-you never know! ;)
If you could re-score any film in history, what film would it be and why?
Mmm... The best movies are the movies with the best soundtracks, so I woudn't change a thing. BUT if I could do one I would say Tron Legacy. I was in total illumination when I saw this movie.
I always like to find out what bands people have on repeat. What are some bands/artists that you are currently listening to?
The training montage (song from) Rocky, the Tron Legacy soundtrack, and the Drive soundtrack. (Drive) is simply awesome and the soundtrack made it perfect.
So what are some of your upcoming plans? World tour? Another video? Maybe pick up another string instrument and attempt being the fastest cellist in the world next? ;)
I'm working on a third album and releasing the first single next week on itunes! And I'll be doing some shows in the next months. I'm very interested to create a great show with multimedia in the vibe of the video "Maniac", but live... if only I could find sponsors to help me build this idea. ;)
Mmm... The best movies are the movies with the best soundtracks, so I woudn't change a thing. BUT if I could do one I would say Tron Legacy. I was in total illumination when I saw this movie.
I always like to find out what bands people have on repeat. What are some bands/artists that you are currently listening to?
The training montage (song from) Rocky, the Tron Legacy soundtrack, and the Drive soundtrack. (Drive) is simply awesome and the soundtrack made it perfect.
So what are some of your upcoming plans? World tour? Another video? Maybe pick up another string instrument and attempt being the fastest cellist in the world next? ;)
I'm working on a third album and releasing the first single next week on itunes! And I'll be doing some shows in the next months. I'm very interested to create a great show with multimedia in the vibe of the video "Maniac", but live... if only I could find sponsors to help me build this idea. ;)
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