Interview
Braimah Kanneh-Mason
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Violinist Braimah is the second eldest of seven highly talented siblings – Isata, Sheku, Konya, Jeneba, Aminata and Mairatu – ranging in age from 24 to 11 years old, who all play either the violin, piano or cello. The family have just released their first album on Decca of Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals entitled “Carnival”. Although Braimah’s cello-playing brother Sheku brought the family to the global spotlight with his performance at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, award-winning Braimah is highly sought after playing with several symphony orchestras and performing all over the UK. He has also crossed over to the pop music genre thanks to his collaboration with the well-known band, Clean Bandit, including on their number one single. Braimah managed to find a moment in his busy schedule to talk to The Citizen about his Antiguan heritage and love for music.
You and your family have just released your debut album “Carnival”. This isn’t just a musical album - can you tell us more about the collaborations and how it came about? It was a celebration of us playing together as a family and recording an album together at Abbey Road was fantastic and inspiring. It was wonderful to have the author Michael Morpurgo’s support, energy and enthusiasm as well as his amazing poems - and Mariatu felt especially happy to be reading Grandpa Christmas with him. It was also lovely to virtually meet the actress Olivia Colman. We enjoyed watching them work together for the readings and it provided a welcome break from the four-day recording which had been long and intense! Although you and your brothers and sisters collaborate regularly is there any sibling rivalry between you? Growing up we always played lots of chamber music together and so there was a feeling of collaboration rather than competition. If there was any competition, it was positive because we spurred each other on and of course, an industrious environment encourages you to do the same.
