ZAGORO MOJA
Ante Tešija
Hrvoje Bubić; ESTHER CANATA INTERVIEW
Hrvoje Bubić
Esther Canata je američka umjetnica koja živi i radi u Hrvatskoj. Za SolinLive govori o sebi, svome radu, kao i o životu u Hrvatskoj
Foto: Nemi Bulat
First, can you introduce yourself and tell our readers something?
Hello, my name is Esther Canata. I am a multidisciplinary artist from NYC based in Croatia. I create art, music and film.
You started doing music and acting at a young age. Could you tell us more about your beginnings?
I was bitten by the creative bug at a very young age, probably born an artist because it’s all I have ever known. I started singing in Church choir when I was 5 and started acting when I was 11, doing my first play. I remember being so nervous my legs were shaking on stage. I was also in school acapella choir throughout my formative years and high school. We used to travel and compete in big music conventions in Toronto, Canada. Those were exciting trips. I had my first solo in one of the competition’s and it felt magical to be a part of something so spacious and full of four part harmonies perfectly blending in a huge auditorium. I am very moved by the Klapa singers for this reason, the way the singers sing together so perfect and beautifully in harmony- it reminds me of my childhood.
As a musician, you are known for your style of fusing traditional soul with a modern twist. You are also collaborating with composer Lionel Cohen on an indie electro project called LionGale. Tell us a little about that.
Yes, I have been singing professionally for a long time, so I have tried many different styles…classic soul is my roots, but I have evolved a lot throughout the years, I have grown as a singer/songwriter and have been influenced by many contemporary singers and styles. It has been a very natural evolution, and the LIONGALE project w/composer/producer Lionel Cohen started some years back in LA. It is some of my favourite songwriting work and Lionel is a genius to collaborate with. You can currently hear LionGale on Spotify and all music platforms. You can also watch my official video for Wild Ones Do shot here in Croatia- see the youtube link below. We will release new music soon.
In addition to music, as I already mentioned, you are also an actor and have starred in films such as Hired Gun, Metro, and Slammed. Could you tell us more about your movie career and what it was like working on those films?
Well, as an actor I did a lot of what aspiring actors do… a lot of ‘bad’ movies. Hahahha. But of course, it is a part of honing one’s craft, growing, learning and gaining experience. As an artist, we never stop learning! I enjoyed being able to do what I love in those films, and I had a lot of fun playing edgy, crazy characters and working with wonderful colleagues, especially with Michael Madsen. He is a great actor and a great person. I am prouder of my stage experience doing Shakespeare Festivals, Rock Operas and contemporary theatrical works in NJ, NYC and of being a member of a prestigious Theatre Company in LA doing original works as well. The freedom of improvisation, existing in the moment and the intoxicating adrenaline rush of being on stage in that medium, is incomparable. Film can be a great, but I will always be a ‘theatre kid’ at heart.
During December, you had a performance at the Ghetto club where the set of songs was divided into two parts; the first part was from the LionGale project, and the second part was yours, a singer-songwriters.
Yes, I love the Ghetto club, it was a lovely intimate evening. LionGale is also mine as singer/songwriter but the other half of the show was a trip down memory lane…sharing a collection of some of my older writing and styles throughout my career written with various amazing award winning composers and producers . I have been very lucky to work with some incredible musical giants.
In addition to the above, you are a painter, and on Women’s Day you had an exhibition at the Ghetto club, in which artists such as Nemi Bulat, Sunci Sun, Betty Flores, Brigita Ercegović, Judita Peran, Magdalena Kudelik, Daja Vušković, Georgette Yvette Ponte, Karolina Miše and Nikolina Buzov participated.
Yes, all of these women are incredible dynamic artists and wonderful women. I was asked to perform my music for Women’s Day but I wanted to make it more of a collaborative night to celebrate all women and include more art. So, I invited these amazing female artists to share their works and something magical happened. It was a great collaborative night and experience. All artists shared their different works including sculpture, painting, photography . It was eclectic , fine work and strong. I have always been a huge supporter of women and women in the arts especially. We must support eachother. It is very important. Women sometimes are pitted against eachother, but I don’t accept that. There is room for all of us to share our gifts and shine our light. I enjoy uplifting and being inspired by other female artists and women in general. We are stronger together.
Although you come from the US, you have been living here in Croatia for many years. Could you tell us more about that, as well as the cultural differences?
Yes, it has been quite an adventure, a lot of culture shock and a lot of personal growth. I love Croatia and living by the beautiful Adriatic, the beauty here is unmatched, the culture and food is amazing and the history is very compelling and intense. Obviously, it has been difficult in certain ways to navigate how to be an artist here. But I work hard and I never give up. I did everything I wanted to do in America and now can appreciate a quieter life. I have found a lot of personal peace here. As a mother, the safety factor in Dalmatia is very important to me, it is wonderful to raise my two young boys here In NYC, I love my city, but I know that I could never give them this kind of freedom to simply be a child and explore on their own. It is a different time from when I was a kid, in America. Things have become really crazy and unsafe. In Dalmatia, my kids can feel safe and feel free. This is very important for their development. I feel very blessed to live here and I am grateful.
As for the end, what are your future projects? What would you recommend to our readers?
Currently I am off to London for a week to shoot an exciting tv series that I was cast in, it’s a small role but in a big show and I am very grateful for the opportunity. I am also taking a more behind the scenes role, working as a co-writer/ producer on our first feature film by writer/director Marea Čović -which will shoot in September w/Tylo Productions, my husband Robert Bilus and mine’s emerging production company which is named after our two boys, Tyger and Lorenzo. I am also creating/producing a docuseries that I will share more of when the time comes. It’s all a very exciting new chapter of this crazy artist life. Stay tuned!
As far as what I would recommend to your readers, I’d say, keep creating things that make you feel alive and in your purpose. Do what you love and love what you do! Life is happening today, Tomorrow is not promised. Be authentic, Seize the moments and share your individual magic in whatever creative way that you can . The world needs it!
Thank you!
HRVATSKI PRIJEVOD
Prvo, možete li se predstaviti i nešto poručiti našim čitateljima?
Bok, moje ime je Esther Canata. Ja sam multidisciplinarni umjetnik iz New Yorka sa sjedištem u Hrvatskoj. Stvaram umjetnost, glazbu i film.
Glazbom i glumom počeli ste se baviti u mladosti. Možete li nam reći nešto više o svojim počecima?
Ugrizao me kreativni kukac u vrlo mladoj dobi (postati vrlo zainteresiran i uzbuđen da nešto rado, op.prev.), vjerojatno rođena kao umjetnica jer je to sve što sam ikada znala. Počela sam pjevati u crkvenom zboru s 5 godina, a glumiti s 11, izvodeći svoju prvu predstavu. Sjećam se da sam bio toliko nervozna da su mi se noge tresle na pozornici. Također bila sam u školskom a capella(glazba koju izvodi pjevač ili pjevačka skupina bez instrumentalne pratnje, op.prev.) zboru tijekom svojih godina obrazovanja i srednje škole. Putovali smo i natjecali se na velikim glazbenim konvencijama u Torontu, Kanada. Bila su to uzbudljiva putovanja. Imala sam svoj prvi samostalni nastup na jednom od natjecanja i bilo je čarobno biti dio nečeg tako prostranog i punog četverodijelnih harmonija koje se savršeno stapaju u ogromnoj dvorani. Iz tog razloga sam jako dirnuta klapskim pjevačima, način na koji pjevači zajedno pjevaju tako savršeno i lijepo usklađeno – podsjeća me na moje djetinjstvo.
Kao glazbenica, poznati ste po svom stilu spajanja tradicionalnog soula s modernim prizvukom. Također surađujete sa skladateljem Lionelom Cohenom na indie elektro projektu pod nazivom LionGale. Recite nam nešto o tome.
Da, već dugo pjevam profesionalno, tako da sam isprobala mnogo različitih stilova…klasični soul su moji korijeni, ali sam se mnogo razvila kroz godine, izrasla sam kao pjevačica/tekstopisac i bila sam pod utjecajem mnogih suvremenih pjevača i stilova. Bila je to vrlo prirodna evolucija, a projekt LIONGALE sa skladateljem/producentom Lionelom Cohenom započeo je prije nekoliko godina u LA-u. To je jedan od mojih omiljenih tekstopisaca, a Lionel je genij za suradnju. LionGale trenutno možete čuti na Spotifyju i svim glazbenim platformama. Također možete pogledati moj službeni video za Wild Ones Do snimljen ovdje u Hrvatskoj – pogledajte youtube poveznicu ispod. Uskoro ćemo objaviti novu glazbu.
Osim glazbe, kao što sam već spomenuo, bavite se i glumom te ste glumili u filmovima kao što su Hired Gun, Metro i Slammed. Možete li nam reći nešto više o svojoj filmskoj karijeri i kako je bilo raditi na tim filmovima?
Pa, kao glumica radila sam puno toga što rade ambiciozni glumci… puno ‘loših’ filmova. Hahahha. Ali naravno, to je dio brušenja zanata, rasta, učenja i stjecanja iskustva. Kao umjetnici, nikada ne prestajemo učiti! Uživala sam što sam mogao raditi ono što volim u tim filmovima, i bilo mi je zabavno glumiti oštre, lude likove i raditi s divnim kolegama, posebno s Michaelom Madsenom. On je sjajan glumac i sjajna osoba. Ponosnija sam na svoje scensko iskustvo nastupajući na Shakespeareovim festivalima, u rock operama i suvremenim kazališnim djelima u New Jerseyu, New Yorku i na to što sam član prestižne kazališne trupe u Los Angelesu koja radi i originalna djela. Sloboda improvizacije koja postoji u trenutku i opojni adrenalin bivanja na pozornici u tom mediju je neusporediv. Film može biti izvrstan, ali ja ću u duši uvijek biti ‘dijete iz kazališta’.
Tijekom prosinca imali ste nastup u klubu Ghetto gdje je set pjesama bio podijeljen u dva dijela; prvi dio je bio iz projekta LionGale, a drugi dio je bio vaš, kantautorski.
Da, volim klub Ghetto, bila je to lijepa intimna večer. LionGale je također moj kao pjevač/tekstopisac, ali druga polovica nastupa bila je putovanje niz uspomene…dijeljenje zbirke nekih mojih starijih tekstova i stilova tijekom moje karijere napisanih s raznim nevjerojatnim nagrađivanim skladateljima i producentima. Imao sam veliku sreću raditi s nekim nevjerojatnim glazbenim divovima.
Osim navedenog, bavite se slikarstvom, a za Dan žena imali ste izložbu u klubu Ghetto na kojoj su sudjelovale umjetnice poput Nemi Bulat, Sunci Sun, Betty Flores, Brigite Ercegović, Judite Peran, Magdalene Kudelik, Daje Vušković, Georgette Yvette Ponte, Karoline Miše i Nikoline Buzov.
Da, sve ove žene su nevjerojatne dinamične umjetnice i divne žene. Zamolili su me da izvodim svoju glazbu za Dan žena, ali želila sam to više učiniti večerom suradnje u čast svih žena i uključiti više umjetnosti. Stoga sam pozvala ove nevjerojatne umjetnice da podijele svoje radove i dogodilo se nešto čarobno. Bila je to sjajna suradnička večer i iskustvo. Sve umjetnice podijelili su svoje različite radove uključujući skulpture, slike, fotografije. Bio je eklektičan, dobar i snažan. Uvijek sam bila veliki pobornik žena, a posebno žena u umjetnosti. Moramo se podržati. Vrlo je važno. Žene se ponekad sukobljavaju, ali ja to ne prihvaćam. Ima mjesta za sve nas da podijelimo svoje darove i zasjamo svojim svjetlom. Uživam u podizanju i inspiraciji drugim umjetnicama i ženama općenito. Zajedno smo jače.
Iako dolazite iz SAD-a, već dugi niz godina živite ovdje u Hrvatskoj. Možete li nam reći nešto više o tome, kao io kulturološkim razlikama?
Da, bila je to prava avantura, puno kulturnog šoka i puno osobnog rasta. Volim Hrvatsku i živim na prekrasnom Jadranu, ljepota je ovdje neuporediva, kultura i hrana su nevjerojatni, a povijest vrlo uvjerljiva i intenzivna. Očito je na određene načine bilo teško pronaći ovdje kako biti umjetnik. Ali marljivo radim i nikad ne odustajem. Radio sam sve što sam želio u Americi i sada mogu cijeniti mirniji život. Ovdje sam našao puno osobnog mira. Kao majci, faktor sigurnosti u Dalmaciji mi je vrlo važan, divno je odgajati svoja dva mala dječaka ovdje u New Yorku, volim svoj grad, ali znam da im nikada ne bih mogla dati takvu slobodu da jednostavno budu dijete i istražuju sami. Drugačije je vrijeme nego kad sam bio klinac, u Americi. Stvari su postale stvarno lude i nesigurne. U Dalmaciji se moja djeca mogu osjećati sigurno i slobodno. To je vrlo važno za njihov razvoj. Osjećam se vrlo blagoslovljeno što živim ovdje i zahvalna sam.
Za kraj, koji su vaši budući projekti? Što biste preporučili našim čitateljima?
Trenutačno sam tjedan dana u Londonu kako bih snimio uzbudljivu TV seriju za koju sam dobio ulogu, to je mala uloga, ali u velikoj seriji i jako sam zahvalan na prilici. Također preuzimam ulogu iza scene, radeći kao koscenarist/producent na našem prvom dugometražnom filmu scenarista/redatelja Marea Čovića – koji će se snimati u rujnu s Tylo Productions, mojim suprugom Robertom Bilušom i mojom produkcijskom kućom u nastajanju koja je nazvana po naša dva dječaka, Tygeru i Lorenzu. Također stvaram/produciram dokumentarac koji ću više dijeliti kada za to dođe vrijeme. Sve je to vrlo uzbudljivo novo poglavlje ovog ludog umjetničkog života. Ostanite s nama!
Što se tiče onoga što bih preporučio vašim čitateljima, rekao bih, nastavite stvarati stvari zbog kojih se osjećate živima i u skladu sa svojom svrhom. Radite ono što volite i volite ono što radite! Život se događa danas, sutra nije obećano. Budite autentični, iskoristite trenutke i podijelite svoju individualnu magiju na kreativan način koji god možete. Svijet to treba!
Hvala!
