Roland Satterwhite from Tolyqyn
Tolyqyn are a sonically adventurous three piece band that emerged from the Neukölln improvised music scene. They blend rock-jazz and progressive blues with plucked viola grooves. Roland Satterwhite, who provides voice and viola, is answering the questions.
What are your favourite qualities in a song?
Uniqueness, depth, hookiness, lilting or grooving rhythm.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Folk music, Flamenco, Romanian wedding music, Gnawa from Morocco, Kora music from Mali, Delta blues.
Where are you happiest?
When I have made something I think is beautiful, or accomplished a difficult goal.
As a performer, what makes a show special or memorable?
When there’s magic moments that are not planned.
As an audience member, what makes a show special or memorable?
To see people be vulnerable and unselfconscious.
What is your idea of success?
To feel like there is a need for what I want to offer. Like the world is receptive to my offering.
What is something you would like to learn more about?
Motherboards, economics, diplomacy.
What was your biggest musical failure?
Probably not learning the piano.
What was your biggest musical success?
My emotional connection to the violin and my ability to express that. (In Tolyqyn I play viola, a related but distinct instrument)
Who do you look up to?
I look up to musicians who do not let their musicianship define them but rather reflect who they are.
What was the first song you have ever written like?
The first song i ever wrote is a tritonal humming pulsing wordless train.
Who deserves a plug or shoutout?
Ed Pastorini. He finds beauty in places others would ignore. Check out his masterpiece “Loss” on YouTube.
You can find out more about Tolyqyn here. Check out their live performance of ‘Touch Me Right’ below.