A Talk with Kappeler Zumthor on Music, Love, and Breakfast Preferences
How are you feeling about this week/tonight?
Peter Zumthor: We don’t know yet, cause we have not played yet, but the hospitality and people are great here, so we are looking forward to it.
Vera Kappeler: Yes, every space or venue is unique and I think it has an impact on how we play. Even if we have played this program a lot. Every time it’s a kind of adventure, because the music is also inspired by the setup and room where we are. Also from the food and the people. It all makes me kind of curious how the music will work tonight.
Z: Depends on the food indeed, haha.
How do you feel playing on the piano that you are not used to?
K: That’s always unique. It’s like meeting a new person. You have to find a kind of language on this specific instrument. Every time it’s like another world or another person, and it’s not always easy, but it’s also a kind of opportunity to try out and learn new things that I am not used to. If something is kind of new, I am more awake or alert, more in the present moment, you know.
What is your favourite breakfast?
Z: Never eat breakfast. I just drink coffee. But if I eat, then it’s scrambled eggs.
K: And good bread. And good coffee.
Do you often share breakfast together?
Z: No, because I never eat breakfast at home.
K: Maybe when we are at the hotel, then we eat together and he likes the buffet.
Z: That’s how you can judge a hotel. You can judge them by the scrambled eggs. If it’s good, the hotel is good.
If there would be a genre for your music, how would it be named?
Z: I knew this question would come! We don’t actually know, and we always get asked this question.
It’s kind of an experimental instrumental song.
K: Rather dark. It’s really not easy. Experimental… soundscapes…?
We like other people to tell us.
What is that you heard the most that people are saying about your music?
K: A lot of people say that it sounds a little bit like a motion picture. Like a soundtrack for a black and white movie.
How did it happen that you started doing music together? Did you first fall in love and then started making music, or you started making music and then fell in love?
Z: That’s a very private question, haha. I let you go first.
K: I think it happened simultaneously and we were too shy to tell each other, but then we got closer first through music. But the other thing was already there, but we did not show it to each other. But the music was a good excuse or starting point to get to know each other better. We were interested in this instrumental combination. And before I met you, I never had a duo with drums and I think you never had a duo with piano. It was very exciting to try out.
How it works out for you working as a couple. Do you have a separate time to work on music or sometimes it just happens that you both wake up in the morning and share something?
K: I think it’s both. Sometimes we have to make an appointment, to say next week, we want to rehearse from 2-5 and we would write it in our agenda. But also when we see each other in the kitchen, we can have an idea and it can happen spontaneously.
Do you have any preference time for rehearsal, is it important if you do it in the morning or in the evening?
Z: For me it doesn’t matter.
V: We are totally open there.
Z: The rehearsal space has no windows so it's always the same.
Have you ever been to Estonia?
Z: Estonia!
K: Oh you are from Estonia? I was thinking of asking you where you are from.
Z: No, unfortunately not. You should invite us!
K: It's a totally strange country for me. I don’t really have an idea where it could be.
Interview and pictures made by Alina Birjuk
5th May 2023