Saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana: ‘As someone who left Chile at 17, I'm always drawn to stories that explore the tension between origin and evolution'
My Cultural Life
Melissa Aldana. Photo: Ebru Yildiz
BOOK: The Artist's Way The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron is something I come back to when I need to reconnect with why I create. The daily writing exercises help me clear my head and tap into a deeper emotional space, something that feeds directly into my improvisation and composition.
I'm also reading essays on identity, culture and creative practice, especially from Latin American and immigrant perspectives. As someone who left Chile at 17 to pursue music, I'm always drawn to stories that explore the tension between origin and evolution.
FILM: Straight, no chaser I recently rewatched the 1988 documentary Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser – his intensity and individuality always hit me hard. He reminds me that freedom in music comes from knowing yourself and not compromising that.
I've also been watching Pedro Almodovar's films again. The way he uses colour and emotional nuance feels musical to me, like phrasing in a ballad. And sometimes I just need something quiet, like nature documentaries or short films that allow space to reflect. That silence can be just as inspiring as the music itself.
ALBUM: Emanon Wayne Shorter's Emanon has been on repeat, it's like entering a universe where anything is possible. His compositions are so expansive, and I admire the way he weaves story and sound.
I've also been revisiting South American folk artists like Violeta Parra and Victor Jara. Their emotional honesty really moves me, and I find parallels between that rawness and the way I try to express myself on the saxophone.
I also listen to podcasts that explore creativity and vulnerability – The Third Story is a favourite.
EVENT: Montreaux Jazz Festival Montreux Jazz Festival is one of the most inspiring places I've been to as a listener. You feel surrounded by history, but it's also full of surprises – people taking chances, new voices coming through. It respects tradition while embracing change, which I relat e to as an artist.
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