An Interview with Alla Arutyunyan

An intense and beautiful new album from Alla Arutyunyan comes through in a set of emotionally driving and classically approached piano pieces that each set particular kinds of moods, but stick to a bit of a darker theme, and it's very easy to get engulfed in this album because of the performances throughout it all.

The Endgame album is all piano. Alla is a gorgeous performer who puts a lot of passion and heart into the performances of each individual song. A lot of these songs hold true to particular kinds of moods, but you can feel that sort of authenticity behind all of them, and I think this is because most of it is very emotionally backed.

Pieces of music like these come from someplace genuine. The entire record puts you in the moment, and you end up getting wrapped up by this beautifully constructed set of pieces, but also by just the tones of the natural piano and how those elements feel somehow warm but can also come through vastly as well.

This record does indeed have that vastness in its undertone, and the whole thing is wonderfully intense, as I mentioned earlier. There are waves of intensity that come and go throughout the record, and that brings us back to not only the emotional drive but the actual personality and character behind these songs.

There is such a massive amount of raw emotion that comes through that you find yourself actually connecting with these pieces of music very quickly.

The first track on the record, called "Melancholia", is amazingly done and serves as such a great introduction to the record because it bears a lot of staples that you will hear throughout the course of the album as a whole.

This is definitely a record that will pull you into it. You will have memories of your own that pop into your head, it can change your mood, or you may start feeding off of that emotion that the songs give off.

To me, this was beautifully cinematic, and again, that comes down to the piano performances and that passion that just comes seeping through every track.

Songs like "On My Knees" hit me pretty hard because of the melodies, progression, and dynamics of the performance, but no matter how a song hits you, it's going to be powerful. 

This is why I recommend listening to this album in full. Start from the beginning and listen through to the end because then it becomes this enormous experience that you do indeed get engulfed in and the music starts to swim around in the air that surrounds you. 

It is such a unique escape and experience to listen to this record with headphones on and without stopping. 

Looking at the titles of the songs and listening to those pieces of music gives me the idea that this is a bit of a concept record in a particular way. 

You can tell that this is a sort of closing of a huge chapter in the artist's life and that those feelings, intensities, and emotions came along with that and were let out through the music, so the record feels very vulnerable and was even perhaps cathartic for Alla to write, perform, and finally release.

It is unique to have that level of vulnerability and personality, honesty, and authenticity come through on an instrumental album like this.  It is almost classically composed and is certainly derived from contemporary classical music, but it has all of these other elements that give it a different kind of life as well.

This one was outstanding, and when I was done with the entire album, I had to reacclimate myself back to reality again because it had pulled me away so quickly and put me in these other places for so long.

With the release of such a gorgeous record, we wanted to chat with Alla to talk about where this album actually came from and what might be coming next for the artist.

Here's what happened.

Buzz Slayers: Let's talk about Endgame! This is a massive album with such emotion and cinematic undertones! Where did this album come from? 

Alla: It was written and recorded in a time of tumult and endings in my life. I always intend to express things in a raw way. It can be as dirty as it can be beautiful. Life happens in different ways, and should be accepted as such.

Buzz Slayers: I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?

Alla: Music came to me as a pleasant surprise very late in life. I tried to leave it behind many times, but it gave me no choice. I had to succumb to its power. And the only influence my work has ever had came from life experience.

Buzz Slayers: Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?

Alla: It's a simple process. Everything being recorded from a home studio. Nothing getting in the way, and no mastering done in the aftermath.

Buzz Slayers: How did this all start for you as a songwriter?

Alla: Ever since I was a young girl, I had a strange feeling I had to touch the keys of the piano. Never had any kind of formal training or access to music theory. It still baffles me to know that I could get past that somehow. I picked up different instruments along the way, and music came effortlessly. It just needed a way to express itself all this time, and I kept ignoring it.

Buzz Slayers: Are you performing live right now? 

Alla: I do live concerts, but only virtually.

Buzz Slayers: Now that this is out, what's next for you as an artist?

Alla: I'm working on new music, and hope this gets out to as many listeners as possible. That's the dream.

Buzz Slayers: Who's in your headphones right now?

Alla: I hum to myself from time to time, and try to avoid hearing music that doesn't belong to me.

Buzz Slayers: What would you tell people they can expect on this release?

Alla: Along with unfiltered emotion, there's more vulnerability and imperfection on this record than I ever allowed myself to express before. I wish it inspired those listening to accept that in themselves.

Buzz Slayers: Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music? 

Alla: Thank you for opening your heart to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3MLsC-tiUs

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