Episode 4: Tina Guo

Rockstar Violinist Podcast

Tina Guo is an internationally acclaimed and Grammy-nominated virtuoso cellist, recording artist, and composer. With a multi-faceted career and mastery in a wide range of genres, her passion for musical exploration, artistic expression, and technology are expressed through live performance and visual media. Tina can also be heard as a featured soloist in many Blockbuster Film, Television, and Game scores. Tina is a Yamaha artist and performs on an SVC-210 electric cello. You can hear her music, watch her amazing videos, buy her albums and more at tinaguo.com. Follow Tina on Instagram @tinaguocello, facebook.com/TinaGuoMusic and youtube.com/c/TinaGuoMusic. Since this is a cellist edition of Rockstar Violinist' our friend Shana Tucker conducted the interview with Ms. Guo. Below are timestamps for the broad range of topics covered in this great interview! (0:00) Intro: 'Forbidden City' by Tina Guo from her album Cello Metal (2:40) Growing up in a musical household and fitting in with the cello (4:34) Breaking out of classical and evolving into an electric player over time to meet the needs of her gigs. (11:34) Tina's electric cello, plus her own line of acoustic instruments and colorful bows. (18:05) Acoustic vs. Electric cello (23:38) Amp experimentation (25:47) Music: 'SkyRim' by Tina Guo from her album Game On! (27:28) Being a woman in the recording/performing music industry. (35:15) Building a following, expressing yourself and keeping it real on social media. (40:57) Music: 'Metal Gear Solid' by Tina Buo from her album Game On! (42:30) Talent vs. work ethic (44:18) Leaving school to start her career and her parents' reaction to Tina's non-classical musical success (47:34) The expressive advantages and difficulties of playing the cello while standing (50:18) On composing her own music vs. working on collaborative composition projects (54:47) Wonder Woman film project and touring with Hans Zimmer (57:16) Advice for acoustic cellists looking to go electric (1:00:23) Outro music: 'Genesis Rising' by Tina Guo from her album Ray of Light A big thanks to our sponsors D'Addario, a manufacturer of the finest in strings for violin, viola, cello, and upright bass, and CodaBow, pioneers of carbon fiber bows serving a worldwide network of professional artists and teachers. Visit daddario.com/orchestral and codabow.com to learn more, or visit electricviolinshop.com to purchase their fine products!