Ludovico Einaudi: composer behind soundtrack of our lives

Korea Herald

24-02-2025

Italian composer with 39 billion global streams talks about source of inspiration ahead of his visit to Korea
You may not recognize the name Ludovico Einaudi, but chances are you've heard his music. The Italian composer's delicate piano melodies have resonated worldwide, featured in films, advertisements and streaming playlists. His compositions have surpassed 39 billion global streams -- more than Mozart or Beethoven in the digital era -- while his track 'Experience' has amassed 15.6 billion views on TikTok.
His music has left a lasting impact on cinema as well, appearing in Academy Award-winning films such as 'Nomadland' and 'The Father.'
On April 2, Einaudi, who recently released his 17th studio album, 'The Summer Portraits,' will perform at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, marking his first visit in eight years after a 2020 trip was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Life of endless inspiration
Einaudi's inspirations are vast. His early exposure to Chopin, Bach and Schumann, thanks to his pianist mother, led him to explore European folk music, the Beatles and other 1960s rock. Over time, his influences expanded to include Vivaldi, Stravinsky, Bartok and even Billie Eilish, Eminem and Radiohead.
'I've listened to such a variety of music throughout my life, and I know I will continue to, as music remains a constant source of inspiration,' he said during a recent online interview with Korean media.
Books are another creative wellspring. He always carries Henry David Thoreau's 'Walden' and 'The Journal."
"Walden" is a classic reflection on simple living and nature, while "The Journal" is a collection of Thoreau's personal writings and observations. Both books explore themes of self-sufficiency, solitude and humanity's connection to nature.
'Reading Thoreau's work every day provides me with new inspiration. Each time I turn a page, I discover something fresh — not only about where we are now but also about where we should be heading in the future,' he added.
For Einaudi, making music is like writing a book -- each album tells a different story.
'I see creating an album as similar to writing a book. It's about searching for the stories that will go into it. For example, my latest album, 'The Summer Portraits,' is about memories of summer. I once created an album centered around the theme of waves, and I like to think of each album as a book with its own unique story. The music within them is like the chapters of that book,' he said.
Constant search for new territories
The 70-year-old composer emphasized that he has no interest in repeating himself musically.
'Even if I had a successful piece from five or 10 years ago, I have no desire to repeat it. The power of what you create is always to find a new territory to explore something new. I like to be involved in the excitement of exploring new territories with new ideas with my music,' he said.
When facing creative challenges, instead of actively searching for inspiration by traveling to specific places, he simply sits at the piano, follows his instincts, and refines his ideas.
'I analyze them and I develop the ones that I think are good and sometimes I find new territories of my soul,' he explained.
His upcoming visit to Korea might be another source of new discoveries.
'I'd love to explore something interesting during this visit -- maybe even dive into the K-pop scene and its possibilities,' he said.