Reflecting on a Decade of Neoclassical Piano Creation | Interview with Vivian Roost

In our newest artist spotlight, we sit down with Vivian Roost, a Paris-based pianist, composer, and producer whose evocative neoclassical sound has resonated deeply with listeners around the world.

With over 100 million global streams and releases on prestigious labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Vivian reflects on more than a decade of creating heartfelt piano music. In this conversation, he revisits his early inspirations, shares the lessons he has learned along the way, and speaks about the importance of staying authentic in an ever-evolving musical landscape.

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You’ve been releasing your own music for over 12 years. How do you started, what were your music al influences and how has the neoclassical piano world transformed during that time?

Wow, already 12 years? Time flies! After producing music in different genres for others for 10 years, I felt that I wanted to return to my musical roots: the piano. I started learning music on my favourite instrument at a very early age.

At that time, I was very interested in composing music for films.

I listened to a lot of instrumental and film music. Many of the artists that we would now describe as being in the neo-classical/modern classical music genre were involved in film composition. The genre of neo-classical music was not so common compared to today.

One of my favourites at that time was Michael Nyman, who composed the beautiful theme ‘The Heart Asks Pleasure First' for the film 'The Piano'. When I first heard it, I knew that I wanted to compose that kind of music!

In France, Yann Tiersen (composer of the film « Amélie from Montmartre ») was also a huge influence. I also listened to artists such as Craig Armstrong (Massive Attack's pianist), Arvo Pärt, and, of course, French classical composers such as Erik Satie and Claude Debussy.

I discovered Ólafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm on YouTube when they weren't so famous and enjoyed watching them grow step by step. Then Ludovico Einaudi, with Intouchables (Fly & Una Mattina), helped to establish the neo-classical genre as a fully-fledged and widely acclaimed genre in its own right.

All these artists guided and encouraged me in some way on the path to neo-classical music and the desire to become a full-fledged member of this musical family. So I started out like everyone else, self-producing my first albums in various studios in France and abroad.

During the lockdown of 2020, the 'piano music' genre became one of the most popular on streaming platforms thanks to extensive playlists such as Spotify's 'Peaceful Piano'. At the same time, I was working on my third album and finally had the opportunity to record for the first time entirely independently in my own studio using my own piano, a 1909 Pleyel upright.

The period after the pandemic has enabled many independent labels to flourish, and neo-classical music is gradually becoming more widely accepted in live performances. Previously, if you weren't performing classical pieces, it was very difficult to perform in a venue. I can’t wait to see what the next few years will bring!

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If you were starting from scratch today, what steps would you take to reach where you are now and what would you do differently?‍

It is difficult to say, but perhaps I should have realised sooner the importance of streaming platforms. Everything change so quickly so I would also worked sooner more on promotions and social media!

My first two albums were mostly released on CD and vinyl. For me, 'Streaming sound quality was poor with bad compression...'. So I completely ignored it. It was only in 2019, when I released my second album, that I looked at my Spotify account and saw that I had only 20 followers! I decided to learn how to work with these platforms as an artist. 2020 was the starting point!

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After years of collaborating with renowned artists like Zaz, what prompted you to step away and dedicate yourself fully to your own music?

I worked in the music industry for ten years as a composer, arranger, producer and sound engineer for different artists in many genres of music, such as electronic, pop, rock, ambient, classical and French music. After a while, I realised that I was missing something deeply and that it was time for me to explore new horizons. This meant that I could start from scratch as a full-time solo artist, without having to balance between projects. And now, more than 12 years later, I know it was the right decision.

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Can you share a career highlight that you’re especially proud of?‍

In August 2020, during the year of the pandemic, I released my first single with one of the world's most prestigious classical labels, Deutsche Grammophon, as part of a project called 'Project XII'. It was like a dream and I was so surprised and so proud too ! It was a rework of Gymnopédie No. 2 by the French pianist and composer Erik Satie.
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Looking back, what would you say to your younger self now that you’ve accomplished so much in your field?‍

I still have so much to accomplish, but I'll share some fairly basic things that we all need to hear at some point: be patient, take your time, trust yourself and don't say 'yes' to projects that don't feel right for you, or to people who don't respect who you are and what you do. Most importantly, follow your intuition.

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How do you navigate creative blocks, and what helps you overcome them?‍

Creative 'blocks' are a normal part of the process. Creativity is like a muscle that can be exercised daily by composing, analysing or listening to music. That's what I try to do every day. However, like muscles, creativity is not always available when needed!

Sometimes, you have to let it go and do something else, even if it's just for a few minutes, such as closing your eyes and breathing without thinking. Most of the time, I try to go for a walk in nature, go to the gym, enjoy a coffee on a terrace (as we do here in Paris) or meet friends and have fun.

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Is there a project or piece of music that you feel best represents who you are as an artist?‍

Since releasing my single, “Home”, and then my third album, “From Home” I have felt that I was where I always wanted to be. Everything I did in the past helped me to reach that goal. But it never ends. Even now, I feel that I am getting closer to my most authentic creations and feelings.

Music is a way to connect with your true feelings, and sharing them with people around the world is the greatest gift.

Not so long ago, I realised why music was so important to me. It's a way of expressing myself, but also a kind of therapy, a daily meditation that heals me day after day.

And to realise that it could also have an impact on others and perhaps bring them more peace, inner calm and well-being, makes me want to continue so much more.  

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As well as being a composer and pianist, you are also a sound engineer and producer. Did you study specifically for this, and what motivated you to pursue this career path? ‍

Having studied classical music and the piano at the conservatoire, I decided against pursuing traditional studies. I always knew that I wanted to work in the arts. Studying sound techniques gave me the knowledge I needed to work in both studio music and film. I studied at a specialist school in Paris called E.S.R.A., in the Sound Engineering department (I.S.T.S), and I also studied acoustics at the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers. This gives me an advantage as an artist because it enables me to work independently and understand the entire creative and production process. My dream was to create my own recording and mixing studio. I didn't realise at the time that this would be so useful for my own music today.

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What project or goal are you most excited about in the near future?‍

I toured for years around the world as an independent artist, organising everything myself, and realised that it was taking up all my time and energy. Covid disrupted things somewhat, but in a positive way, as it prompted me to focus more on production and set up my sound studio. After a three-year break, I'm returning to concerts, which I'm really excited about.

In September and October, I started with three shows in Berlin and Amsterdam. The next ones will be in Tahiti and Paris at the beginning of 2026. I can't wait to share the new dates with you soon and of course new music in 2026!

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