Suzanne Ciani

Musician and Composer

Suzanne Ciani

Suzanne is a Grammy nominated composer and pioneer in the field of electronic music and sound design. Described as the ‘American Delia Derbyshire of the the Atari generation’, she is best loved for her 15 albums of original music which cover a broad array of styles including pure electronics, solo piano, piano with orchestra and piano with jazz ensemble.

In 1974 she formed her own company, Ciani/Musica. Using a Buchla Analog Modular Synthesizer she composed sound effects for video games and scores for television commercials.

In the 1990s Ciani founded her own music label, Seventh Wave, on which she has released all her subsequent albums.


1.) WHICH RECORD HAS HAD THE MOST PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON YOU?
Glenn Gould’s performance of the Goldberg Variations. He was a master of both precision and emotion and let the music speak for itself.

2.) HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU SPEND A WEEK RECORDING/PLAYING/CREATING?
I work on “projects” and so I’m either intensely working on a music project or not working on music at all. Before a piano concert, I rehearse for at least 2 weeks. Before an electronic concert, I need several weeks of intense work. If I’m doing a new album, I cut out everything else and just work on the music, sometimes traveling to a distant place so that I can concentrate better.

3.) WHICH OF YOUR OWN CREATIONS IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
Seven Waves, my first album, will always have a special place in my heart.

4.) WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST REGRET?
Perhaps not doing more film scores after being the first woman to be hired by a major Hollywood Studio: Universal Pictures to score The Incredible Shrinking Woman. I could have made more inroads for women composers if I’d taken some of the opportunities offered after that film.

5.) WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?
I play tennis.

6.) OTHER THAN FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION?
Nothing comes close to family and friends.

7.) TELL ME THREE OF YOUR HEROES/HEROINES?
Ilse Bing, a photographer whose work I collect and who was an artistic mentor to me.
Roger Federer for being such a great tennis player.
My father, for teaching me how to do things well.

8.) WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN THE WORLD?
Home.

9.) IF YOU DIDN’T HAVE YOUR ART WHAT OCCUPATION DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING?
I would be a professional tennis player.

10.) IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW ABOUT YOU THAT YOU HAVE NEVER CONVEYED IN AN INTERVIEW BEFORE WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
I’m lonely… I think that is the human condition… and I don’t always feel it, but sometimes I do.