Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lana Drincic. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Lana, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
As a music student who has grown up in the jazz education system, I’ve frequently been the only woman in a class full of musicians. As a musician stepping foot in the jazz scene outside of school, I’ve also frequently been the only woman at gigs or jam sessions.
It’s an alienating feeling–frequently I’ve felt like I don’t belong and that I’m not doing the right thing with my life. It’s been a struggle feeling that way about music because it’s such a passion of mine and a large part of my identity.
In my life, I’ve had a few role models that have made me feel more comfortable in my own skin. In the jazz department at California State University, Northridge, where I am pursuing my Bachelor in Music, I’ve been fortunate enough to have some female faculty members to look up to. My program director, talented drummer, composer, and educator, Tina Raymond, has greatly inspired me in my time at school. Not only is she an incredibly talented musician, she’s one of the most organized administrators I’ve seen throughout my education. She’s also one of the only women on faculty in the jazz department.
Tina’s excellent work has been a huge inspiration to me. If she can be one of the few women in charge at an institution and be as good as she is at her job, I shouldn’t let the fact that I’m a woman make me feel like I can’t do things that are mostly done by men at the moment.
Having Tina as a leading example in my life has made me feel less alone. She’s inspired me to strive to reach my best no matter how alienated I may feel. If there aren’t women who are willing to step forth despite the challenges, music, especially jazz, will remain male-dominated–and we all deserve to live in a world where everybody feels like they have a chance.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a pianist and composer. Jazz is the music I’ve studied the most in my musical journey, and I would say that my playing and writing style are heavily influenced by it.
I started playing shows as a bandleader in the summer of 2022. I’ve experimented with leading jazz trios, quartets, and quintets, developing my voice as a pianist. I’ve also been developing my voice as a writer during this time, performing my original compositions with these various groups.
My goal in 2022 was to find a band that I could collaborate with to create a group sound. Eventually, I settled on a jazz quintet instrumentation, with piano, bass, drums, trumpet, and tenor saxophone. The band consists entirely of my favorite people to play with and the closest friends I made in the jazz department at CSUN, where I go to school.
In the summer of 2022, I was offered the opportunity to record my original compositions by my now friends and producers, Sebastian Jones and Jake Augustine, at their recording studio in Santa Monica called Wasatch Studios. I spent the ensuing year workshopping my originals and playing lots of shows with my band, from gigs at coffee shops and clubs, to playing at house shows and festivals.
A year later, in the summer of 2023, I spent two days in their studio with my band recording 10 of my original compositions. I am very excited to release this music in 2024.
As I said, my music is heavily influenced by jazz, but I am also very inspired by classical music, rock, indie music, and singer-songwriters. I would say my music is a blend of all these influences. Getting to play my originals with a very talented group of my friends is such a privilege, and I believe that in these recordings you can hear the love and friendship that’s between us in our playing.
The musicians in my band are AJ Reyes on tenor saxophone, clarinet, and flute, Ethan Lavenstein on trumpet, Sophia Augustine on bass, and Jonah Shin on drums. We also recorded some songs with a special guest, talented saxophonist and flautist Kaela Seltzer, who is another one of my good friends.
I am thrilled to release the music we recorded, as it’s been a project I’ve been envisioning for several years. It’ll be the first project I release out of, hopefully, many.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being open-minded is a quality that I believe everyone must have to be happy in both their career and personal life. Career-wise, as a musician, open-mindedness is essential. Throughout my life, I’ve always been interested in many types of music–pop, classical, jazz, rock, country, etc. I think musicians with diverse music backgrounds are the best artists, and when it comes to working musicians, having an interest in/knowing how to play in many different styles is what will get you work. Plus, I think life is more enjoyable when you allow yourself to be influenced by an array of different sources.
My advice in practicing being open-minded is to always say yes to new experiences if you have the means. Most things are worth a try, at least once–and if you don’t enjoy it, you can always decide not to do it again. I think it’s important to always be curious, though, because you never know when you might find a new passion that you weren’t expecting.
As someone who grew up a classical piano player, and went to college to study jazz, my dream was always to have a career as a pianist. When I went to college in LA, it was the first time in my life that I felt pressure from my community to experiment with an instrument that wasn’t the piano–the synthesizer.
I was scared to get into synths at first. I didn’t really understand them. After a few years, though, I bought a used synth, because I felt like I was missing opportunities by not having the skill of being able to use a synthesizer. After only having the instrument for a few months, I felt like my whole world had opened up. I was getting a lot of keyboard gigs, much more than I did when I identified strictly as a pianist. In LA, synths are everything. I’m glad I was able to open up to using synthesizers because, for me, they have changed the game, both in my own music and in my work as a side person.
Being kind and friendly are qualities that will get you far in life. In leading a life as a working musician, these qualities are essential. You can be the most phenomenal musician, but if you are not pleasant to be around, nobody will want to work with you. Yes, being a good musician is important, of course. But above all, you must be kind to the people around you–that will get you the farthest.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking for new people to work with. Los Angeles is an amazing city to live in as a creative person. There are so many opportunities to connect with people with interesting visions.
I am looking to collaborate with musicians in any genre. The most important thing I look for in musicians is that they are serious about their art, that they are kind people, and that they are willing to work together to create something special.
I’m interested in working with non-musicians as well. Poets, authors, artists, and designers are all amazing to me. I would love to work with anybody who wants to work together on creating something new, whatever it is.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: lana.drincic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIC2AzJkD6l0Qcrwx1cI2oA
Image Credits
Brandon Muhawi @tonykfilms
