My Palace in Dallas: Scott Tixier
Scott doing the things he love the most.
“Solitude requires you to move past reacting to information created by other people and focus instead on your own thoughts and experiences – wherever you happened to be”
As the world starts getting back to normal as time progresses, I continue to wonder, what have I accomplished last year? Aside from all these things that helped fill that endless void in my heart, I’d like to believe I came out of this quarantine experience stronger and able to appreciate the chance for total solitude more.
This is the exact idea that gave birth to this project, I want to know, I want to see, more importantly, I want to document what the people around me have become after this unprecedented year, they can be artists, comedians and they can also be the people you meet daily on the street (which is quite hard cause apparently people in Dallas don’t walk at all). What is it that they do? What are their stories and what does their Palace in Dallas look like?
Without further ado, allow me to introduce to you, Scott Tixier! Although I believe he needs no introduction being a well-loved talented musician himself! During September, I was lucky enough to listen to his work live on stage at Jeff Fest 2 while shooting the event, took me a lot of courage to reach out to him and he is gracious enough to sit down with me and show me around his house! HE ALSO MADE ME PASTA HE SPOILS ME!! It was a great hang and I hope y’all enjoy this conversation as much as I did !
Hi Scott! Thank you so much for opening your doors to me and having the time to chat! Before we start anything would you mind telling the readers who are you?
Hello! To begin with, I am someone who is constantly trying to be free, and to do so I need to be free of my own boundaries and use the time I have on this planet to find the best way to live honestly and unconditionally free. I am also a violinist, an improviser of strings, a composer, a professor, and overall, I’m just a person who is a music fan and loves to share music with other people. And now here I am from Paris to NY and now Dallas being an educator and violinist improviser.
From studying classical violin in France to being a renowned and no doubt amazing violin professor in Dallas, how do you get to where you are now? Would you mind sharing your journey with me on how did you end up in Dallas?
I was in New York for a really long time when an opportunity came for me to create a new program at UNT (University of North Texas,), which is really cool because they are the first university in the world that created a jazz program! (since 1947). They contacted me looking for a professor to teach their new jazz string program, I auditioned and got the job! It was an opportunity for me to leave New York to try something new.
Life is constantly changing, and I embrace any chance for me to change location, try out new things and develop new routines to keep things fresh and new. So eventually being a professor is what brought me to Dallas, teaching improvisation for strings and helping my students from various levels develop their own voice through their instruments.
To answer your question, I wouldn’t say I am renowned at all, the violin industry is a small and niche world, if you are in the scene long enough like me you will know people and people will know you, so I’d really say I’m just in the scene here!
To be part of the scene you have to come with authenticity and expressivity and artistic vision. If you are only here to play and impress but lack artistic vision you might lose a chance to be connected to something that is greater than the world you are in. I’ve always been like this since I was a teenager, I try to remove myself from my ego and fully understand what I am trying to create here, it could be something abstract: just a sound or a groove. I hear a sound and I want to be able to create it in the real world.
Sometimes I wake up in the morning and just think to myself “Wow, after all these years and I still managed to have control over my own time” and honestly that was the coolest feeling ever. Regarding my journey, I think looking back the reason I managed to keep up my relevancy or still am part of the scene is by following my dreams, trusting my intuition, and just being authentically me. I Never compromise on what I love, and I am ready to die for it, I’m at where I am now because I have no choice! I wouldn’t know a life without me playing violin, my body just can’t! If I can’t play violin I’d rather die. My goal has always been just to be able to have a roof above me and food in my belly so I can have the energy to keep playing violin. I also love having genuine connections, am always open to learning and expressing myself through my instrument!
From growing up in France to being in Dallas, with all the years you’ve been in this city, how do you feel about it? From one four-year transplant to another.
I’ve been here four years now, but I only know a few spots, I haven’t hung out as much as I wish I could in this city cause I’ve been traveling a lot. I like midnight rambler a lot because it was the spot for me when I want to get out of the house. Then it’s probably sons of liberty in Fort Worth. (James: Damn those two are far apart!) I am already a Texan cause I like to drive :D
I am a really intuitive and energy-driven kind of person, and I think there’s a big difference between here and New York that is for sure. Dallas has a specific kind of vibe, every pocket in here has developed a vibe of its own. I like the strong creative energy here, people here are humble, genuine, and candid, open to new things without bringing their ego in which is just like me! Unfortunately for me, it has the attributes of a big city but It constantly reminds you how small of a town it is, it’s nice having that sense of community but also suffocating at the same time. You run into the same people every time and you might feel like you’ve explored everything in a short period of time and think maybe that’s what all the city has to offer.
However, every now and then it surprises you by throwing completely new experiences and people in your way, so ultimately, I’d say I like it here!
I was lucky enough to hear THE MAN play!
I’m sure there are places that want your talent and teaching skills along with passion in music everywhere, in your opnion, what makes Dallas stood out among all the other cities? Is there something special about the strings/jazz music scene in Dallas?
Throughout my journey, I did receive several offers on teaching, and I did accept some and did a few classes as a guest in institutions like Julliard, NYU, and all these institutions.
For me, Dallas had a very cool and unique situation because it was where the first jazz program was born (UNT 1947) and I’ve never been to Texas, so I was curious about it. I was like “Let me check it out and see if I like it”. I followed my intuition and just go where my heart tells me to go, I saw this opportunity in Dallas, and I jumped!
Obviously, 2020 has been a hard year for everyone, take me for example I had several sobbing episodes under my own crappy Ikea work desk during last year. What I want to know is, while being cooped up together in this house, how did you manage to stay happy or, remotely not sad? Especially with the impact on the movie industry going on, what got you through that year?
I feel like I was forced to be prepared for this pandemic because I had a really traumatic breakup two years prior leading up to the pandemic so in a way I feel like I went through what everyone kind of went through before all these started. I’m comfortable sharing this cause I’m not in pain anymore and maybe someone going through the same thing will see this and know it will eventually be ok. I went through a heartbreaking divorce with someone I was madly in love with.
Throughout the years I lost myself and became very dependent on that relationship cause having someone you trust and love and feel close to especially being an immigrant like me it was special and fulfilling having that in a city where you came all by yourself. When we had to divorce for many reasons it wasn’t easy and painful on both sides, it was the first time I felt slapped in the face and punch in the stomach when I realized I cared about someone more than for violin. I couldn’t eat, sleep, had my first panic attack and very dark thoughts. It was a horrible time like I was stuck in a nightmare, and I’ve never had to deal with that before, which made me more aware of people’s suffering now.
So I decided to take care of it, rebuilding my energy and myself. There was this quote from Eryka Badu during an interview “Focus on one day at a time, If you can do it today, you can do it every day” that helped me a lot and after a while, I started feeling better. I start working out every day, cooking for myself. Surprisingly I didn’t practice violin as much because it was part of the trauma and I felt resentful and wasn’t enjoying myself anymore even when I was making an album with John Legend, playing with Hans Zimmer, recording for Lion King, playing in Madison Square Garden with Coldplay but it was all so blurry, I was so removed from it that I didn’t remember much of it. People would kill to have those opportunities, but I just want to be done with it and go home to cry without collapsing halfway through.
It took me two years to regain and realize my worth, I stop feeling like a piece of shit constantly, I hated everything about myself and wasn’t even comfortable looking at myself in the mirror. I thought I was done for; I was too old for happiness, and this is it.
I’ve gotten so much better with myself when the pandemic hits, everybody was super stressed about their job, but I was lucky enough to still be working. I had remote sessions, I was still traveling safely and had sessions with masks, I was recording albums from my home for John Legend and won a Grammy for that (Bigger Love). I did Coming to America with Eddie Murphy and Lion King right before pandemic hits. So, when I was in the midst of it I was somehow fine, “Pandemic? You mean all I need to do is stay home and don’t see anybody and put a mask on?”, next to what I just went through when I was also stuck at home but always crying and sad this is a piece of cake! I don’t even have to smile under the mask especially when my best feature has always been my eyes. So overall I was doing fine and lucky enough not to be as heavily affected as everyone else.
Scott working his magic in the kitchen, yes he’s making me lunch! <3
You have a really amazing-looking house and really the layout was just how I’ve dreamt for mine! Could you show me your favorite or, what is your favorite/prized possession here?
It’s going to sound cheesy, but it would be my heart. But the next best thing after my heart is this corner of my couch, when I had the studio tour here, I immediately knew where every piece of furniture is going to be and this is the spot where I sat down first after I settled in, you get to see the entire place and my CD collection!
I’ve been growing my collection as I travel from place to place when I was a teenager, some of them are from collectors or the ’90s which you can’t even find on Amazon or Spotify. This one is from Didier Lockwood, in here you can see his outfit, what kind of pedals he uses, and I use similar equipment today. So, when I look at this it brings me back to the time when I was listening to it and studying it, trying to understand the mindset of the composer and the player/improvisers so this collection is almost like my own study.
Some of them are movie soundtracks that I am a part of you can even see my name on it for example this John Wick movie soundtrack and this Anthony Brixton – Trillion J. I helped coach some of the actors In Le Quatuor which was a funny story, they found me on craigslist when I was selling my violin so you can even see my violin case in the movie, and they were like “Well why don’t you come and help coach the actors too”! Craigslist back in the days am I right?
Scott showing me his name on the John Wick Original move soundtrack.
Before we wrap this up, is there any advice you would like to give to those who are curious about getting into this industry? Or is there anything you wished you could’ve known that you want to tell your past self?
I would tell my younger self ENJOY and ENJOY, it’s going to get rough but just remember to keep breathing and respect yourself, don’t give up. You’ve seen so many goods but there will be a wave of bad and it’s going to hit you hard, but you will be fine even if it feels like the end of everything.
For those thinking about getting in or are in the industry, whenever you have the thought of compromising or playing safe, ask yourself is it worth it to go on this path and what it would bring in the long run. This is something I constantly remind myself of is looking at the big picture, all these self-doubts or frustration you experience now might be something funny five years from now.
Connect with different people, open up your world because it can be easy to be trapped in your own bubble especially in this industry. This helps you and this works for me to see things from a fresh point of view and have greater opportunities to keep developing my own voice as we constantly grow and see.
To any students, be good and be patient, work with all that you can, and dedicate your every last breath and energy to your music and your instrument. When you come to the point where you know your technique and skill, you need to ask yourself what is it that you are trying to express, what is your intention? Why do you want to make music? You can be the best at playing but if you have nothing else to offer other than skills there might not be many doors open for you which can be frustrating.
So, try to see the big picture and keep your artistic vision. Ask yourself, what do you want your older self to be, and is this decision you’re making now going to contribute to what you envisioned for yourself in the future. Isn’t it cool how you let your older self talk to you before becoming one? Be authentic and true and talk to your older self, envision what you want to be, and work towards that vision!
The conversation continues! Because there will always be an older version of you!
Red lentil pasta and steamed veggies with a splash of olive oil and fresh lemon juice. I TRULY AM SPOILED
Again, thank you so much for having the time for me especially opening your place up for me and shown me around! One last thing before I go, is there anything on the horizon that you are excited to share with the world about?
Many potential plans! I might be working on writing music for an organization here in a few months and I want to go on tour with my band maybe even European and just keep making music! I’ve been in touch with things abroad as well. So plenty of things I plan to work on as an arranger writing for strings and improviser too with my jazz band. It’s winter break now!
So I can finally focus on my career cause working on these is how I fuel myself and my teaching, which is really exciting! I am first and artist and then I teach so I won’t have anything to teach if I’m not constantly working on being an artist!
And scene!
