There’s a lot of piano music out there – I should know – I make it myself ;-p, but there’s something about Cristian Vivaldi’s particular brand of playing that caught my ear. I had missed his initial submissions to the musicto community – but going back and listening I immediately fell in love with the sad romance of A bottle of rouge .
By now I was firmly down the Cristian Vivaldi rabbit hole and playing his latest release – Unfold – on repeat. I love the dynamism of the piece and how it flows – but I also really appreciate the EQ of the production – so much piano music strips out the low end and can feel crisper than a gene editing tool – there’s something about the open face of an upright and the warmth of the tone that I just really appreciate.
We ask every artist who submits a track to the community to answer the question “What Are You Afraid Of?” This is part of our current community project to tackle the rise of hate. We’re targeting over 1,000 responses and are already close to 300 at time of writing. Artists who respond get invited to submit a track to the accompanying playlist: music to combat fear – when Cristian submitted Time Goes By, I was ready to reach out and ask if he’d be up for a spotlight feature.
Here are his wonderful responses – you’ll find links to Cristian’s music at the end.
Tell us about Unfold, what inspired it, and what is the meaning behind the song?
“Unfold” was born from a deep moment of introspection. I wanted to capture the feeling of gradual revelation: the way emotions, thoughts, and experiences unfold within us over time. The delicate piano melodies reflect that slow unraveling, like turning the pages of a personal story or watching a flower bloom in its own time. It’s about embracing the unknown, allowing oneself to be vulnerable, and finding beauty in the process of self-discovery.
What are your upcoming plans and how can people support you?
Listening to my music over a long period of time is the best support of all! Haha
As for upcoming plans/project: my energy and focus are being invested on a course that I have been polishing since September 2024, which teaches musicians how to make a living from their music through streaming platforms i.e. how to accumulate millions of streams that allow you to make a living from what you love. All of the secrets and technics I know, which I have developed during the last years, that allowed me to surpass the 80 million streams mark, and allow me the possibility to be played by half a million monthly listeners every single month!
Name one song, or album, other than your own, that you would recommend to listeners – why?
I would recommend “Void” from “Moises Daniel“. I remember when I discovered this song for the very first time, I instantly added it to my Good Night Piano playlist, and it pushed me to try and get in touch with the composer. I ended up developing a fantastic relationship with him, in fact we ended up making a song together that has almost 20M streams. I feel like the melody in his song is fantastic, I never felt tired of listening to it and it always reminds me of my early beginnings when I nearly had 10k monthly listeners, and how much I was able to grow my audience from that point onwards.
What are you curious about at the moment? Why?
I am deeply fascinated by humanity and the profound impact social media has on our minds. The constant pursuit of dopamine and instant gratification has rewired our brains, making us impatient and dependent on immediate rewards. This relentless cycle prevents us from embracing long-term thinking, hindering our ability to plan for the future and appreciate life in its true essence.
I often find myself trying to draw society’s attention to this pressing issue, hoping to raise awareness so that people can recognize its effects and take action. Life becomes far more enjoyable and manageable when we learn to resist the pull of instant gratification and instead embrace the values of the past—working hard for meaningful results, cultivating patience, and avoiding the anxiety that comes from expecting everything to happen instantly.
If you had $2,500 to spend on music marketing, where would you spend it and why?
I would take the time to carefully curate the ”perfect” playlist designed to help people relax and find peace. Then, I would allocate the entire budget in the most strategic and effective way to promote this playlist and reach the right audience. (Probably meta ADS)
There are two main reasons why I would take this approach. First, I believe it is one of the most cost-effective ways to recover the investment—when done correctly, the returns are almost guaranteed. Second, I genuinely love observing how people react to certain relaxing tracks and how music has the power to tap into their senses, evoking deep emotions and bringing them a sense of peace.
More importantly, my mission is to help people through my music. In a world increasingly filled with anger and greed, providing listeners with even a brief moment of serenity makes me feel truly accomplished. Knowing that my music can offer comfort and tranquility, even for just a few minutes, is what drives me forward.
If you could summon one musician back from the dead to collaborate with, who would it be? Why? What do you think you would create?
I would summon Michael Jackson. He has been a profound inspiration to me—I used to impersonate him at parties as a kid, completely lost in his energy and artistry.
If we had the chance to collaborate, I imagine we’d create something in the spirit of Heal the World or We Are the World—a song with a powerful message, one that inspires unity, hope, and change. More than that, I believe working with him would reignite something within me. It would push me to dance again, to sing fearlessly, just like I used to—without worrying about what others think. And honestly, my ego would be soaring, knowing that MJ himself was collaborating on a track with me!
What is a piece of music that has changed you?
“This Land” from the Lion King. I have listened to that melody countless times, it is the most powerful instrumental song I have ever listened to. Do not ask me why but it was the very first song that gave me the goosebumps and made me feel extremely emotional while listening to it (and I was not even watching the movie lol)
What do you think of Nick Cave’s response to an AI-generated track “in the style of Nick Cave”?
I honestly do not argue much about AI. I think it is a tool that can perfection your craft quite a lot, and that any musician nowadays must learn how to use it. Not only Chat GPT, but I am talking about hundreds of other apps out there. If you want to use AI to cheat, you are welcome to do so, but if you want to use it to make your art better while still providing your uniqueness, then you will be way ahead in the game.
How do you feel about the future? Optimistic? Pessimistic? Why?
I feel very optimistic about the future, and I make a conscious effort to maintain that mindset. I always strive to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. No one is forcing us to be here, so if we choose to live, we might as well give it our best—pursuing a life that feels truly rewarding.
This isn’t just about chasing dreams; it’s about taking care of ourselves in every way. Prioritizing rest, staying active, seeking inspiration, and letting go of the fear of others’ opinions. It’s about embracing freedom, being relentless in our pursuits, loving deeply, shouting, dancing, singing, feeling everything fully, and sometimes, simply being still.
If you were granted a short audience with the omnipotent being and could play them one track of yours so that they would know who you are (in that moment), what track would that be?
I would play them “Time Goes By.” This song resonates deeply with me because it reflects the sudden rises and falls we experience as human beings—the unpredictable nature of life and the realization that, in the end, the only thing we truly control is how we react to what happens around us.
Time is relentless. It moves forward, indifferent to our struggles, our joys, and our regrets. It can be a silent killer or the force that transforms us; a friend or our greatest adversary. But no matter how we perceive it, it will never stop. The key is to make peace with time, to understand its consequences, and to live in a way that minimizes regret when our final moment arrives.
An omnipotent being might never know what it feels like to be bound by time—to live with the knowledge that every second is fleeting and finite. They may exist beyond the constraints of mortality, never feeling the weight of irreversible moments. That’s why I would choose this song—it encapsulates what time means to us, the fragile and beautiful impermanence of being human.
Cristian Vivaldi
Cristian Vivaldi is a passionate music creator who believes in the power of sound to deeply connect with human senses. He focuses on crafting music that soothes the listener, offering moments of peace and introspection. By exploring different genres, he strives to create pieces that evoke emotion and leave a lasting impact. Always on the lookout for new and exciting projects, he seeks to push the boundaries of musical expression.
I have a “Solitude” playlist that I use when I want to get into a deep, almost hypnotic reflective state – often used when I’m up super early – the 4 and 5 am hours – before everyone is awake – and I want to journal or sometimes just stare out the window and clear my mind. I always start with Wordless Flight’s “Hope” but I couldn’t resist throwing Void and Time Goes By in at 2 and 3 and see how they feel.
Guess what? They feel bloody amazing ;-p
