Empathy in Harmony: Larissa Maestro’s Vision

Prepare to be captivated by the multifaceted talent of Larissa Maestro, a celebrated cellist, composer, and collaborator whose extraordinary journey will be showcased at Rancho La Puerta’s Folk Festival the week of June 14th. From her ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ award to her work with a stunning array of musical icons, Larissa’s unique perspective and boundary-pushing artistry promise an unforgettable experience amidst the serene beauty of The Ranch.

Listen to a curated Spotify playlist featuring Larissa Maestro’s diverse collaborations and solo work, showcasing her talent.

Hi Larissa.  We’re thrilled to have you as a retreat artist at this year’s Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest!  You have such a broad and dynamic approach to your collaborations, having won “Instrumentalist of the Year” at the 2022 Americana Music Awards and recorded, collaborated, and performed with such a diverse array of artists, including Allison Russell, Hozier, Chaka Khan, Eminem, Brandi Carlile, H.E.R. and John Legend.  What first drew you into music, and how has that expanded into this beautiful multi-dimensionality with your collaborations?

I have felt connected to music for as long as I can remember. I started on the piano and began cello lessons at about 7 or 8 after begging my parents for a year. Aside from a short period when I thought I wanted to be a paleontologist, there has been no doubt that music was how I wanted to spend my life. At its best, music can be a fully collaborative, non-competitive, and deeply connective act. Though I did grow up in the classical music world, which can be the opposite of those things, music was always a profound source of joy in my family, and the root of my love for art kept me grounded. I grew to feel connected to all parts of the musical experience, from independent practice, collaborative creation, performance, and communication. I see participation in music as a non-hierarchical communication tool, and I try to approach all of my musical collaborations with that in mind.  

As a composer, you use non-lyrical driven music and imagery to express your rich inner world, relationship to your neurodivergence, and identity as a Filipinx-American.  Can you share more about this connection, what you’re particularly drawn to express or explore at this moment, and a little more about your solo pop/chamber music project MTZTA we’ll have the pleasure of hearing at The Ranch?

All of the music I create is deeply personal. As someone with many intersectional marginalized identities, I have often struggled with being misunderstood, or with not fitting into cultural/societal norms and systems. I found that the only things I could really know to be true were my own thoughts and feelings, and that music, as an art form, had the ability to express those nuances without the world needing to question my meaning. Instrumental music, in particular, is very powerful in this way, inviting more interpretation from the listener. I do take a similar approach to the lyric-driven music that I make; I tend to focus mostly on my lived experiences and feelings. MZTZA is an amalgam of many of my most favorite kinds of art, including pop, incidental music, chamber music, R&B, OPM (Original Pilipino Music), poetry, and theatre.

Your passion and generosity also come through in your volunteerism and social activism. You have organized many ambitious fundraisers and co-founded the Nashville Concerto Orchestra, a volunteer-based community orchestra. How does your social activism weave into and influence your life and artistry today?

I have found few other forces in the human world capable of guiding the acts of change, empathy, and metamorphosis the way that art can. Engaging in music, in particular, can activate all parts of the human brain simultaneously. We exist in a time in which empathy is in short supply, so any connective activity, to me, is as important now as ever. As an artist, I am responsible for contributing, in any way I can, to the evolution of humankind toward a more equitable, sustainable, and empathic existence. Nina Simone said, “An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” To me, this means sharing our experiences of the world through our art. We are helping to weave the threads of empathy through ourselves and our communities.

One of our highest hopes for each artist at the retreat is that you, who are giving so much out on the road, can have a space of restoration and inspiration to nourish your creativity and well-being. What are you looking forward to during this week?

I look forward to sharing and collaborating with Amber, Chris, and Jake, as well as expanding my perspective through collaboration. Musicians tend to be hard on our bodies and brains, especially while on tour, so I’m also looking forward to being kind to my body and participating in some healing practices, physical and mental. My partner, Dan Sommers, will be performing with me during the week, so I’m also very much looking forward to enjoying his company in a different environment than we are used to. We all allow ourselves to experience some joy during the week! 

Thank you so much Larissa, what a pleasure.  Is there anything else we missed that you’d like to share with the Rancho La Puerta community?

I’m very excited to participate, and grateful to Carissa and Amber for their invitation!

See the other amazing artist joining us at Folk Week, June 14- 21.