Picture Credit: Myosotis Media Group
We spoke with Claudiu Dumitrache, the Romanian artist who acquired encouragement from Miley Cyrus in his musical profession. A singer, poet, author, journalist, and cultural promoter, Dumitrache, at simply 25 years outdated, is at present the youngest author in his nation and one among its most revered cultural figures. He shared his ideas with us on the essence of music and artwork, which he views not merely as types of leisure however as profound expressions of humanity and the seek for that means. In his perspective, music is a accountability, a bridge between souls, and a language of concord and unity.
Designated because the European Artist of the Month in Beverly Hills final August, Dumitrache critiques the path of latest artwork, which, in his opinion, has usually deserted its non secular dimension in favor of business success and fleeting experimentation. He argues that fashionable psychology’s affect on artwork has lowered it to a mere outlet for emotional launch, stripping it of its increased objective. In literature and music, this pattern is clear in an growing superficiality, the place success is pushed by marketability reasonably than real inventive worth.
He’s an award-winning singer, recognized in Hollywood as a Revelation from Wallachia. Admired by celebrities, enterprise leaders, and members of the Grammy Awards committee, he holds titles reminiscent of Cultural Ambassador of the Euro Schooling Federation, Honorary Citizen in his hometown, and Peace Ambassador in India. In 2020, he set a nationwide document as The youngest writer of an autobiography, formally acknowledged by the Romanian E-book of Data. Two years later, in 2022, he turned the youngest recipient of the Union of Skilled Journalists of Romania Awards.
In music, Dumitrache acquired the very best variety of votes within the Battle of the Voices competitors in 2016, profitable the Particular Music Awards TV Prize in Bucharest. With over 3,000 reside performances, he has shared the stage with the legendary band Alphaville, Australian singer Faydee, and artist Neda Ukraden.
Our dialog with Dumitrache underscores that true tradition is not only about accumulating info however about cultivating a curious and aware spirit. Romania’s youngest cultural icon, praised by EB Davis, Jonathan Jackson, Michael James Down, and Kaven Girouard (Celine Dion’s guitarist), speaks concerning the function of the artist as a mediator between generations, the function of music as an expression of collective id, and artwork’s must aspire to one thing better than itself.
In a world dealing with a disaster of that means, Claudiu Dumitrache reminds us that the artist’s mission is to hold ahead humanity’s “ancestral prayer.”
Picture Credit: Myosotis Media Group
Claudiu, in a world the place music is commonly seen merely as leisure, you communicate of it as one thing a lot deeper. What does music imply to you?
Music is not only sound; it’s the structure of feelings, the purest language of the soul. It exists past phrases, past the bounds of human expression. It unites what’s damaged and heals wounds that phrases can’t attain. For me, music isn’t a profession or mere efficiency; it’s a accountability—an obligation to translate what can’t be seen, to present type to the inexpressible.
That is what artwork must be for us. A few of the biggest artists of the twentieth century to the current, I consider, are Sophrony of Essex, Andrei Tarkovsky, Arvo Pärt, and Ezio Bosso. By their artwork, they’ve rediscovered and reaffirmed the true nature of humanity and our final objective—our eschatological dimension. That is the true calling of an artist: to proceed the ancestral prayer.
As prophesied in Apollo’s oracles, with an unceasing melody, the century should mix with the centuries. The true cause why an individual receives the grace of expertise from God is defined within the First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 14.
How do you see modern artwork, notably within the context of common tradition? What’s the state of artwork in the present day?
Up to date artwork, each in Romania and globally, has largely deserted its conventional function of elevating the human expertise. As an alternative of in search of magnificence, depth, and that means, it usually focuses on shock worth, industrial enchantment, and fleeting experimental developments. In lots of instances, artwork is now not an act of creation however reasonably a type of psychological launch—a mere catharsis. This shift has been inspired by theories that cut back human expression to instinctual impulses, failing to acknowledge its non secular and mental dimensions. One writer who explains this phenomenon is Savatie Bastovoi, who has written concerning the Freudian influences in modern artwork.
Artwork has all the time had the facility to encourage, to disclose one thing better than ourselves. When artwork turns into merely a way of non-public catharsis or an instrument of ideological propaganda, it loses its increased objective. The fashionable artist usually rejects custom within the title of hypothetical originality however finally ends up conforming to a different type of uniformity—one dictated by developments, industrial success, and cultural pressures.
A real artist ought to search one thing past mere self-expression; they need to create one thing enduring—one thing that speaks to the human soul. Artwork mustn’t simply set off chemical reactions however ought to transcend human nature.
Would you say that this alteration is a results of fashionable psychology’s affect on artwork?
Completely. Sigmund Freud’s theories have profoundly influenced the way in which artwork is created and interpreted. The Freudian concept that artwork is a type of psychological launch, a way for the artist to precise repressed feelings, has fostered a tradition the place shock, provocation, and even vulgarity are seen as markers of authenticity.
This shift has distanced artwork from craftsmanship and aesthetics, steering it towards uncooked, generally chaotic expressions of inside battle, complexes, and discontent. Whereas psychology actually has its function, lowering artwork to a mere outlet for emotional discharge limits its true significance and noble objective.
How does this attitude have an effect on literature, notably in Romania?
In literature, the affect of this method is simply as obvious. Many modern writers concentrate on themes like existential void, nihilism, and private trauma. Whereas these topics aren’t with out inventive worth, they’re usually handled superficially, missing the complexity and depth present in classical works. One would possibly even say that many modern works are written with out critical mental engagement or considerate analysis.
Right now, success is commonly pushed extra by marketability than literary advantage. Books with sensational titles or provocative themes acquire visibility, whereas extra refined and well-crafted works battle to search out an viewers. Romanian literature, very like Western literature, is being reshaped by these unorthodox developments, generally on the expense of its wealthy heritage.
If we have been to show our consideration to authors like Seraphim Rose—one of many nice figures from California who created an important physique of labor for understanding human historical past and evolution—our vital method and inventive consumption could be radically completely different. As a result of when you’ve a broader imaginative and prescient of the world, you now not have time for “philosophical playing.” Philosophy is essential to us, nevertheless it can’t evaluate to the Philokalia, and it can’t provide the understanding that the latter does.
You’ve spoken about the concept that unity and individuality usually are not in battle. How does music replicate this philosophy?
A single be aware is gorgeous by itself, however its true energy emerges when it joins others in concord. In an orchestra, there isn’t any opposition between the violin and the cello; they coexist, reply to 1 one other, and create one thing better than themselves.
That is the essence of human society, as exemplified by Ezio Bosso. Individuality is the melody, unity is the concord, and collectively they type the symphony of existence. If we understood this in our lives as musicians perceive it of their music, the world could be a greater, wiser, and extra compassionate place.
What’s the connection between music, artwork, philosophy, and training?
They’re all expressions of the identical pursuit—the seek for that means, for understanding. A guide, a bit of music, a philosophical concept: all are bridges between minds, hearts, and generations. Schooling, in its purest type, shouldn’t be about memorizing information however about cultivating curiosity—educating folks to hear—to 1 one other, to historical past, and to the whispers of artwork.
We must always not educate youngsters to change into environment friendly staff, however to change into accountable thinkers, free people, dreamers, and creators.
Many artists communicate of creation as a private course of, but you say that music belongs to everybody. Are you able to elaborate?
No melody belongs solely to the composer, simply as no poem belongs solely to the poet. The second a bit of music is performed, it’s now not simply mine—it turns into yours, theirs, ours. Music is an act of sharing, a dialogue between souls. I’ve usually felt that I’m merely a vessel by way of which music flows, not essentially its supply. And that’s the biggest privilege—to be a part of one thing better, one thing that doesn’t undergo organic automatism.
You’re recognized on your dedication to cultural diplomacy and your efforts to deliver collectively completely different traditions. What function does artwork play in uniting cultures?
Artwork achieves what politics usually fails to do. When a melody strikes you, it doesn’t ask on your nationality, beliefs, or historical past. It speaks on to your soul. I’ve traveled to locations the place I didn’t know the language, but we understood one another completely by way of music. That’s why artwork isn’t simply essential—it’s important. It teaches us that, earlier than anything, we’re human, and that’s the one id that actually issues.
Some argue that artwork is and must be utterly free. What are your ideas on inventive freedom?
Artwork is rarely utterly free, nor ought to it’s. True inventive expression comes with accountability—to tradition, to historical past, and to the viewers. If freedom means abandoning all construction and that means, we threat lowering artwork to mere chaos.
The best artists in historical past labored inside traditions, honed their craft by way of self-discipline, and, on the identical time, introduced innovation and private imaginative and prescient. The problem in the present day is to revive this steadiness—creating artwork that’s each profound and masterfully crafted.
Picture Credit: Myosotis Media Group
How do you see the way forward for artwork?
The way forward for artwork depends upon our means to maneuver past the constraints imposed by a tradition obsessive about problem and self-indulgence. If we proceed down this path, artwork will change into more and more fragmented and devoid of substance. Nonetheless, if a brand new era of artists can look previous quick developments and rediscover the values which have made artwork timeless—magnificence, fact, and depth—then we could witness a creative renaissance.
Artwork should aspire to one thing better than itself; solely then can it really endure. What satisfaction can artists derive if their work brings “nothing new underneath the solar,” if the inventive act lacks profound, revealed values?
Printed by HOLR Journal.
