David Soldier has achieved a rare distinction — not only is he an accomplished Columbia University neuroscientist with over 200 papers and publications, several research grants and numerous prestigious awards to his credit, he is an equally successful and prolific musician in almost every genre of music. His musical undertakings include his work with the Soldier String Quartet (since 1984), a punk chamber group which has recorded with Guided by Voices, Rick Ocasek (Frontman for The Cars), Elliott Sharp, Leroy Jenkins and frequent collaborator John Cale (Velvet Underground); The Kropotkins, comprising Lori Velvette, Velvet Underground Drummer Moe Tucker, Charles Burnham (James Blood Ulmer’s Odyssey Band) and Jonathan Kane, the latter with whom David formed the versatile duo, Soldier Kane. Other prolific legends with whom David has collaborated include Bo Diddley, Pete Seeger, Richard Hell and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo. He wrote two chamber operas with Kurt Vonnegut (The Soldier’s Story and Ice-9 Ballads), with Vonnegut playing multiple characters in the works. Films David has arranged or scored include I Shot Andy Warhol (Jared Harris); Andy Warhol’s Eat and Kiss; and Basquiat, directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Jeffrey Wright and Benicio del Toro. From an experimental side, he has collaborated with conceptual Russian artists Komar & Melamid; and formed the Thai Elephant Orchestra, a musical ensemble consisting of 14 elephants, which he assembled, coordinated and composed. In our conversation, we discuss David’s unique discovery of music in Southern Illinois; working with the giants of music; creating music which transcends genre; the origins of rock and roll; and the power of simplicity in hip hop.

Opening Credits: Independent Music Licensing Collective (IMLC) - New Lands; Closing Credits: Jack Adkins - Little Stinky