Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have taken another dimension outside the cryptocurrency space. Artists from all walks of life are collaborating to create different forms and types of NFTs for all sorts of reasons.
Now classical music has also officially entered the cryptocurrency space!
Popular cellist Nina Kotova, Sibylle Szaggars, Actor Robert Redford and Thomas Mcbee teamed up to create a special NFT project with a focus on the environment.
The project was released in tandem with Kotova’s latest album which if you’re a fan of classical music is a “must have” by the way.
We reached out to Kotova about the project and her thoughts on other issues.
Here is what she said.
Nina Kotova Popular American Cellist
E-Crypto News:
Congratulations on your new Non-Fungible token (NFT) partnership! Please, can you tell us more about it?
This project is a collaboration between me, Sibylle Szaggars, Robert Redford and Thomas McBee.
I have been working closely with Bylle and Robert Redford for many years and this project is a culmination of other projects we have had in the past.
Both Robert and Bylle came to festivals we organized over the years, and performed and work with us on several occasions.
We decided to choose a movement of the Reger Suite for solo cello for the NFT project.
It is for solo cello and Bylle and Robert were inspired to create the video and the narration for the video (which Robert Redford reads) from this music.
It has resulted in a wonderful collaboration that is unique in the NFT space.
Related: Artificial Intelligence-Generated NFTs Explode To Stardom In 2021
E-Crypto News:
Please, can you tell us more about the other collaborations on the project?
The project comes from a recording I just released on Warner Classics. It is one of the tracks on the CD: the Reger Suite for solo cello.
E-Crypto News:
Please, can you tell us more about the creative process for this project?
When I decided on which music to use for the NFT, we spoke at length with Bylle and Robert Redford about the video art and narration to accompany it. All of us care deeply about sustainability and the environment and the idea of the project is based upon the importance of water as a resource and as an asset to treasure.
That is the inspiration for the project.
E-Crypto News:
Why have you decided to use a Proof-of-Stake blockchain to mint your NFT? Please, can you tell us more about this?
As all of the stakeholders in the NFT project are environmentalists for whom energy conservation is an important theme of our lives and artistic production, we discovered that proof of stake blockchains are far more environmentally friendly of course that proof of work blockchains.
The proof of stake blockchain uses significantly less energy to produce NFTs than proof of work blockchains such as Ethereum or Bitcoin.
E-Crypto News:
Why are artists collaborating to create new forms of intellectual property?
The digital and crypto space for artwork and music is not only a new canvas upon which to work, but it is a new way of registering and monitoring ownership of art, music or any other creative project.
It is not only a new from of showing art, but it is a way of helping protect an artists’ intellectual property and compensate them for it in a risk-free and legally binding way in a decentralized world.
E-Crypto News:
How did your journey into cryptocurrencies and NFTs start?
I because fascinated towards the end of 2020 when I started reading more about NFTs and their benefits.
As the market developed and I saw many of the first ground-breaking projects being launched, I decided to start working on my own.
E-Crypto News:
Please, can you tell us more about the sales process of the NFT?
We have had a tremendous amount of interest in the purchase of the NFT. It is unusual and combines several art forms together.
We have not only my fans, but Robert Redford and Bylle Szaggars fans as well interested.
Because of the this, the amount of collectors that have approached us, so we decided to take a private approach to the sales process and are speaking with potential buyers right now.
E-Crypto News:
Please, can you tell us about the contributions of a portion of proceeds to The Way of rain Inc.?
Yes, we have decided to contribute a portion of the proceeds to the Way of the Rain.
We haven’t yet finalized the amounts, because some of this depends on the buyer and how we handle the sale, but it will be a significant contribution.
E-Crypto News:
What does The Way of Rain Inc. do, and why is there a focus on this nonprofit
The Way of the Rain focuses on sustainability and the protection of our global water resources.
It is the project of the video artist Sibylle Szaggars and Robert Redford. The artists are therefore part of it and close to it.
E-Crypto News:
How is this project a history-making project? Please, can you tell us more about this?
First of all, this is the first major foray of a classical musician into the NFT space.
Classical music in general is a very conservative space, and I felt that it would be important to bring innovation to a very conservative and traditional space.
This in itself is ground-breaking. Secondly, we have not only myself as an artist involved but one of the greatest actors and directors of all time, Robert Redford, and Bylle Szaggars, an accomplished environmental artist and videographer, involved.
Related: Digital Horse NFTs Are A Thing?
E-Crypto News:
What is the place of classical music-inspired NFTs in the NFT space?
Well, to date, it is almost nonexistent. This is why I wanted to create one of the first.
E-Crypto News:
Are there any other NFT projects you’re working on? Please, can you tell us more about this?
This is the first one. I want to build this particular project out to include more of the works on this album, so we will expand this over time and then I would love to perform the NFT in public as we mint more of the album on the blockchain.
E-Crypto News:
What’s the next big thing for you within the cryptocurrency space?
I think this project right now is a big one for me and for us. I plan to do more, but one that at a time!
E-Crypto News:
How has crypto native art evolved over the years? Please, can you tell us your thoughts on this?
Crypto native art is really just coming into its own right now.
At first , crypto native artists began to work in the space, but now you see many other artists that aren’t just native to crypto beginning to explore NFTs and the world around it.
For me, that’s a great thing, because NFTs are really just a canvas and a structure for ownership. Every artist should at least explore this world to learn more.
E-Crypto News:
In what other ways can we increase awareness of the environmental issues that pervade the cryptocurrency space and beyond? Please, can you tell us more about this?
I think through live performance, through the marketing of these NFT projects that involve great minds, thinkers and celebrities and through online promotion, we can make sure the public better understands the risks that the blockchain brings.
But we can also use blockchain and crypto projects to more generally have the public understand the risks of environmental change as well.
E-Crypto News:
Do you have any secrets you want to tell us? Care to tell us any?
It wouldn’t be a secret anymore if I told you!
E-Crypto News:
If you had three wishes and a Genie that could make them come true, what would they be for classical music and NFTs?
Firstly, that more artist discover and use the blockchain and NFTs to help in their goals.
Secondly, that NFTs make it easier for artists to communicate with their fans and their public in a world that is quite rarified and difficult to communicate from and lastly (and perhaps the most important), that we can attract new admirers and fans of one of the greatest art forms there is to know.
We need younger new audiences so that we can perpetuate the greatness of this music.
