300: Dan Styffe on solo projects, life in Norway, and the importance of sound

Dan Styffe is a man in constant motion.  It's astonishing the number of musical projects that he has going on:

• a new solo album coming this spring (his eighth album in 11 years!)
• appearances at events like BASS2016, RCM International Festival, and ISB 2017
• serving as Co-Principal Bass of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra
• teaching at The Norwegian Academy of Music and Barratt Due's Institute of Music

New music for the bass is a major area of interest for Dan.  He works regularly with composers like Rolf Martinsson, Teppo Hauta-Aho, Bernard Salles, and Simón García.

We dig into all kinds of topics today:

• growing up deep in the woods of Sweden
• how starting to play on his beautiful Gasparo da Saló bass changed his technique
• life in the Oslo Philharmonic
• what Dan finds exciting about the modern double bass scene
• tips for finding practice time in a busy schedule
• why Dan places the greatest importance on sound

It was such a pleasure to spend time with Dan at BASS2016 in Prague, and I can't wait to see him again in person!

Links to check out:

• Dan's website
• Octophonia (Dan's most resent release)
• documentary of Dan premiering Rolf Martinsson's Bass Concerto (YouTube)

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