"I want to touch your heart and show you
through my music what I feel,
what I see beyond the surface of life. To
express everything I've experienced...
the anguish, the darkness, torment,
suffering, hopelessness, and the beauty of
resurrection, of peace, of seeing the light,
of finding enlightenment, the eternal
ecstasy of love, the joy of finding my
soul."
THE INTERVIEW:: conducted
by
JiZO Jewles
JiZO Jewles:Tina, let's start with some background: you
were born in Shanghai. At what age did you
exactly move to the U.S?
Tina Guo: Hi! I moved to the US when I was 5
years old.
JiZO Jewles:You mentioned in an online interview that
you were not happy as a child? Can you elaborate
on that?
Tina Guo: Well, it's kind of hard to be
"happy" when you're not allowed to date, go out
to parties, and forced to practice for hours and
hours every day. Like most Asian parents, mine
were extremely strict and overbearing. But, of
course they were raising me in the way which
they saw as best to raise me. Now, I'm
definitely thankful and happy that I was forced
to work on my music! Developing a solid
foundation is the most important thing in
whatever you're trying to achieve, and without
their pushing and enforcement, I would have
probably wasted most of my time frolicking
around with friends and throwing away precious
time.
JiZO Jewles: I know that you have
studied many religions, do you believe in God?
What is your religion?
Tina Guo: I believe in researching and
studying about anything you claim alliance with
or a belief in. Believing in something or
someone out of circumstance is questionable
Unfortunately, people can be a product of their
childhood and what they're told and surrounded
with growing up.
As for myself, I feel that there is something
more than just flesh and blood. There are
unexplainable connections and feelings that
people can share, sometimes I can feel so
connected to... something. Maybe the universe.
So, I guess you can say that I'm spiritual.
Spirituality and religion are very different.
I can see how belonging to any organized group:
whether it's a religious group, a cult, a book
club, a fraternity, etc. can give people a sense
of belonging and meaning in their lives.
I was a very lonely, awkward, and unpopular kid
with no close friends. I was attracted to
religion and desperately wanted to believe in
something that would make me feel like I
belonged. However, every time I started delving
deeper into a religion's teachings, I would find
myself wondering how anyone with rationality
could believe certain things that were stated
with no evidence and no apparent reasoning. To
quote something I heard once: "It's good to have
an open mind, but not so open that your brain
falls out."
Whatever works for each person is what works for
them, and I'm not going to judge anyone based on
my own opinions or the opinions of "God" written
by people in books. I think that people
interpret religion in a way that reflects their
own self. To preach universal love and
forgiveness in the same breath as condemning
people to hell is very funny. I think that for
some sick reason, relishing in how fucked up
other people are make some feel better about
themselves and their imaginary righteousness.
I try to think about what I would believe if I were
born on a deserted island where no one had ever
heard of the concept of "God." Where no one had
been exposed to any religious groups and their
beliefs, and where there were no age-old
prejudices due to the aforementioned.
JiZO Jewles: To date, what has been your most memorable
life experience?
Tina Guo: I've always been very into
romance... I think that I will always remember
each man I've fallen in love with. There's
nothing stronger, more vibrant, more exciting,
more soul-encompassing, more painful, and more
beautiful than love.
JiZO Jewles:What sparked your interest in music? At what
age did you start playing and when did you know
that music was something you wanted to make a
lifelong pursuit?
Tina Guo: My interest in music was cultivated
by my parents. I started piano when I was 3,
violin at 6, and cello at 7. Up until the start
of High School, I didn't necessarily enjoy
playing music. But I think that really changed
my sophomore year when I joined the San Diego
Youth Symphony. It really ignited something in
me that was dead. I stopped seeing the cello as
a forced punishment, and realized it could be
fun, and a great way to express myself.
JiZO Jewles:Where did you go to college and what did you
study?
Tina Guo: I went to USC and studied cello
performance.
JiZO Jewles: You have played with a lot of great
musicians. Are there any that stand out in your
mind?
Tina Guo: It's always an amazing experience
to make music with different people. I think
that sometimes playing music together can be
much more intimate and connecting than having a
conversation said with words. Playing in a
chamber group with Midori while at USC was
definitely one of the most memorable musical
memories that I have.
JiZO Jewles: Pardon my ignorance but what is an electric
cello? Does it really sound different than the
classical one?
Tina Guo: An electric cello to an
acoustic cello is exactly what an electric
guitar is to an acoustic guitar. The tone
depends on the type of electric cello, but yes
overall the acoustic and electric cellos do
sound different. My electric cello by Yamaha is
hollow bodied; however the body only consists of
a long rectangular box shape instead of the
traditional full-bodied cello.
When the electric cello is plugged in, the sound
depends on what effects and processors you put
it through, just like an electric guitar.
JiZO Jewles:
How did you feel about your recent performance
at the 2008 Grammy Awards with the Foo Fighters?
Tina Guo: It was fun to meet the Foo
Fighters and it was also great to hang out with
the other musicians involved in the performance.
JiZO Jewles:You are not only a classical cellist but
also an active member of the band "Off the Deep
End"? How and when did you join?
Tina Guo: Off the Deep End is my band that I
started with my boyfriend Baraka. He's the lead
singer and also plays guitar in the group, and
there's Will on bass and Tom on the drums. It
started out as an acoustic duo with Baraka and I
when we first started dating, and eventually it
developed into a full progressive metal band!
JiZO Jewles: What is your opinion on the current
representation of Asian Americans in the movie
and music industry overall?
Tina Guo: I think that Asians are still
a minority in the media, but over time I'm sure
it will increase. Honestly, I'm not extremely
race-conscious but sometimes I do feel pressured
to learn martial arts since all the cool/hot
Asians do it in the movies. Haha!
JiZO Jewles: Are you currently working on an album? If
yes. What can we expect from that and what is
your overall goal for that piece of work?
Tina Guo: Yes! My first solo CD, "Autumn
Winds" will be released next week (end of
February.) I'm very excited about it and the
music in the album. It's a blend of new-age and
classical, with some classical favorites
arranged by myself as well as original pieces.
I'm not expecting anything out of the ordinary
from "Autumn Winds," just hoping that people
will buy the CD and enjoy the music.
JiZO Jewles: You have been already all over the world at
the age of only 23? What has been your favorite
destination so far?
Tina Guo: That's a tough one! I really loved
Majorca... It was for a show for the
International Philanthropy Summit, and I brought
my boyfriend along which was wonderful. We
stayed at a beautiful hotel one block from the
sea and it was just gorgeous, relaxing, and fun!
Walking down red carpets for the parties and
having dinner with Mr. Universe was interesting
too. Traveling with a companion is really more
enjoyable than going alone... it can be
depressing sitting in airports and hotel rooms
by myself if I'm not in a really good mental
space.
JiZO Jewles: I am sorry but I had to ask you this...How
do you stay so beautiful? Any secrets? ;-)
Tina Guo: It's the makeup. You don't want
to see me bare faced. Hahah! I try to eat well
and exercise. I aim for going to the gym every
day but sometimes I slack off when I'm in town.
I LOVE to eat but I'll balance out splurging
days with dieting days. Surprisingly when I'm
on the road I have a great eating/working out
regiment... maybe because I'm very focused!
I never blow dry my hair, and I use skin care
products for my face, always remove makeup
before bed!
JiZO Jewles: Are you possibly going to tour the U.S
soon? Any plans to stop by Dallas, TX?
Tina Guo: I have a couple of projects in
development, but nothing set for a US tour as of
right now. So sorry! All my shows are listed at
my websites though:
www.tinaguo.com and
www.myspace.com/tinaguomusic.
JiZO Jewles: Do you have any advice for
other aspiring young chamber musicians out
there?
Tina Guo: Well besides the obvious one
(practice,) I think that in order to have a
successful career you have to get outside of the
practice room. Playing shows, meeting people,
networking, marketing yourself in various ways,
etc., are all very important. I find that
having a balance will keep you sane, and no
matter how busy things get it's always good to
have your family and loved ones to keep you
grounded. And don't be afraid of doing your own
thing.
JiZO Jewles: Thanks Tina for everything!
Keep on rocking the scene! Hope to meet you in
person some day! Tina Guo: Aw thanks so much, I hope to
meet you in person one day soon too!
Biography::
23 year old classical cellist and multi-genre
electric cellist Tina Guo has appeared as a
soloist with many orchestras internationally,
including the San Diego Symphony, the State of
Mexico National Symphony, the Thessaloniki State
Symphony in Greece, the Petrobras Symphony and
the Barra Mansa Symphony in Brazil, and the
Vancouver Island Symphony in British Columbia.
Upcoming concerts include performances in the
USA, Portugal, Italy, Mexico, and a multi-city
tour of Indonesia on both the acoustic and
electric cellos. She performed recently at the
2008 Grammy Awards with the Foo Fighters, and
with Brazilian guitarist Victor Biglione in a
Jimi Hendrix Tribute Concert at the Copacabana
Palace in Rio de Janiero.
Season highlights have included a performance
with violinist Midori Goto in Dvorak's American
String Quartet at Walt Disney Concert Hall in
Los Angeles. Tina also performed with her
progressive metal band "Off the Deep End" at the
wrap party for the Sundance Film Festival in
Utah, and was featured in a wildlife benefit
concert at the Playboy Mansion. She has also
performed with Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, John
Legend, and Michael McDonald, and was featured
in a show for the PGA. Tina recently recorded
solo cello for John Legend and Tila Tequila,
shot a music video with Kelly Clarkson and Reba
McEntire, played in the soundtrack for Will
Smith's blockbuster movie "Hancock," and was
also featured on the electric cello in an album
for the Yamaha SV Quartet Series which were
distributed to music programs in schools
nationwide, introducing electric string
instruments to the music curriculum in America.
Tina toured with rock/classical crossover
girl-band "Metaphor" through Australia,
performing 22 consecutive shows in 21 cities on
the electric cello. She also traveled to France
and Brazil with the "Pegasus Piano Trio" for the
Franco-Américaine Rencontre de Musique de la
Chambre at the Château de la Bretesche in
Missillac and the Rio XIII International Cello
Encounter. Tina performed the Elgar Concerto
with the Petrobras Symphony while in Brazil, and
the concert was broadcasted on national
television. After Brazil, Tina performed with
crossover pianist William Joseph in Majorca,
Spain for the International Philanthropy Summit.
Tina recently gave a classical cello masterclass
at Colorado State University, and also presented
three classical and alternative electric cello
workshops at local high schools in the state.
She demonstrated the diversity of the cello to
the students in the band, orchestra, and choir
classes to hundreds of students at these public
and special program schools. Tina also gave
masterclasses in Brazil at the XIV Rio
International Cello Encounter in 2008, and will
be presenting electric cello clinics in
Indonesia as a part of her concert and clinic
tour in the Fall of 2009. Tina has won first
prize in many competitions, including the Music
Heritage Inc. String Competition, the MTAC, ASTA,
and CAPMT California State Solo Competitions,
and the Parness Concerto Competition for Young
Artists; she was awarded the "Most Promising
Talent" Award at the California Young Artists
Competition. A published composer, Tina has also
been awarded first place in the MTNA California
State Composition Competition for her series of
cello duets. They can be found in Davina Music
Publications' chamber music books.
Tina began playing the cello under the
instruction of her father, Lu-Yan Guo. She then
continued her studies with Professor Eleonore
Schoenfeld and Nathaniel Rosen at the the
University of Southern California's Thorton
School of Music on full scholarship. Tina has
just finished recording her first solo CD,
"Autumn Winds," a classical/new-age album which
will be released in February of 2009. She is
currently in the studio again recording her
second CD, "Apocalypse," a progressive metal
album which will feature the electric cello.
Tina performs on a
1787 Perry on loan from the Colburn Foundation.
On electric cello, she plays the Yamaha SVC-200
and is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician.
Tina is endorsed by Carvin and uses the BR610
Bass Combo Amp.
She is also endorsed by Voodoo Lab, Coffin Case,
Pedaltrain, Zoom, and Samson
