Brothers in arms
Braimah and Sheku Kanneh-Mason are inspiring young people to take up music. RT catches up with them ahead of their Prom
Getty
- Michael Hodges
Add BBC Proms to your watchlist.
Ad
You’re performing at the BBC Proms again this year. How do you find playing the Royal Albert Hall?
Sheku: It can be an intimidating venue, but there’s such energy from the audience standing close to the stage, it can feel intimate at the same time. That’s the vibe we’re going for.
Braimah: When you’re in that ideal state of flow in a performance, you’re completely present with what you’re doing, but you have a third eye that’s aware of the audience. Ideally, you’re not focusing on, “Oh, this person just folded their hands. I wonder what that means?”
The title of your concert, Songs and Dances, suggests it’s a fun programme.
Braimah: A festival like the Proms has a lot of darker, sombre moments. But this is such a celebration for Sheku and myself, being brothers and also friends with the Fantasia Orchestra – all of us went to the Royal Academy of Music.
Sheku: The light and playful nature was definitely in our brief. We had fun thinking about what we wanted to play, fun in arranging the music, and selecting the group of players as well. But we invest everything with seriousness, it’s a serious approach to fun. If that makes sense!
Is classical music opening up to diversity?
Sheku: Probably not quickly enough. But I’ve seen a change in the past few years. Very young people say they’ve been inspired to learn the cello because of seeing me. That’s a beautiful thing. But large-scale change has to come from education, which we will always be pushing for. After the result of the election, there will perhaps be more of a focus on that. I’m hopeful.
As a family of seven siblings synonymous with classical music, the Kanneh-Masons are figureheads for change. Can that be a burden?
Sheku: I’d say more of a responsibility. It’s something we’re quite determined about. Growing up, our focus was on learning our instruments. Now we’re grateful to be in
a position where we’re able to help others in that pursuit.
Does it still hurt whenever racism is directed at the family?
Sheku: When there are violent or horrible comments, of course it hurts, every time. Unfortunately, one has to accept that will always be the case, particularly in the position that we’re in. On balance, most people are wonderful and brilliant.
Braimah: The trick is to focus on things we can control and the work we can produce. Otherwise, it becomes slightly depressing.
Can you imagine not being in this remarkable family?
Braimah: We’d be very different people. It’s difficult to imagine our lives without lots of siblings around. Our parents deliberately created an environment in which we were all encouraged to do things together. We were always either drawing or making things, and then playing music. I was practising in one room, Sheku would be next door and then someone else was downstairs playing the piano.
Has your relationship been strained by fame?
Sheku: The one thing we’ve always had in common and has kept us close is music. A lot of the time we bond over talking about what we do. Growing up, we were just one year apart and the only two boys in our family, a unit from the start. I’m the younger brother so I always had an older brother to look up to and follow.
Braimah: But I would always lose the fights.
Sheku: When younger, I was perhaps not as well behaved as I am now. We did an awful lot together, climbing on top of the garage and lots of rebellious things.
Braimah: We would talk each other into doing stuff. Later on, we’d get the blame for things that we didn’t do.
Were your parents strict?
Sheku: There was structure and practice every day. We had to be polite going to church. They didn’t like it if we misbehaved in front of adults.
You’re in your mid-20s now — is it a relief to no longer be the young prodigies?
Sheku: From a very early age, we’ve been trying to improve with our instruments and comparing ourselves to others and thinking about the competition. Not all the time but a lot. It’s nice to be past that, to be honest.
Is there ever a danger of you becoming divas?
Ad
Braimah: Well, definitely not here! [they are talking to RT via Zoom in Antigua.] There’s not much room for diva-ishness – you’re always brought down to earth. We have many cousins and relatives on the island because our grandmother was one of 12 children, and our grandfather was one of seven. We have a connection here and it’s a really small place. Walk down the street and a car horn will beep.
Authors
Michael Hodges
Ad
Ad
Subscribe for £1 per week
Too much to watch this autumn? Let Radio Times magazine and app do the choosing, with expert picks across TV, streaming and film.
Loading...
Ad
Loading...