Meet Meena Ysanne from London, who first moved to LA 14 years ago to pursue her career composing, arranging, conducting, and playing orchestral strings for rock and pop musicians, as well as for film and TV…..oh, and writing books on the side.
Was there a particular reason you chose LA?
I didn’t choose LA – LA chose me! I’m a conductor/ composer/ arranger of orchestral music, as well as playing violin. I came for the very first time in 2004 for three weeks, to work on a record out here. At that time, I was also working on a new opera commission for the English National Opera in London, and had just come off tour with (the Dutch DJ and record producer) Tiesto – and, somehow my trajectory changed, and I’m here! Everything has organically unfolded from that initial project, in a magical way. I feel incredibly blessed that LA has welcomed me, it’s a wonderful place, with unparalleled natural beauty, and the most extraordinary community of creative people anywhere in the world. That’s why I love LA. Also, the weather doesn’t suck! And the ingredients we eat are so fresh, grown right here year-round. But mostly, it’s the ability to create and the inspiration to do so. That’s what makes me happy, wherever I am in the world – doing what I am here to do. And in LA, creativity is everywhere, and that makes me happy.
What do you miss most from home?
Firstly, home is where the heart is, and as someone who has traveled so much for so many years, my home is where I lay my hat. So that’s LA right now. But absolutely, I love the UK, and London in particular, and there are many things that the UK does better than anywhere else, including Stonehenge, storytelling, and a really nice cup of tea with a biccy!
And also things
specific to my music, such as Abbey Road Studios, where The Beatles famously
recorded, and many incredible orchestral musicians I know and love. There’s a
lot to be said for Britain’s classical music scene, and the UK’s world-renowned
cool and creative talent. So yeah, now you mention it, it seems there’s a lot
of great musical places and exceptionally talented musicians in the UK that I
miss, even though I’m in LA, the entertainment capital of the world! But then,
my focus here in LA is to provide opportunities in London, as well as here, for
music to flourish.
What was your first impression of LA and has it changed since?
The first night I arrived was November 23, 2004. It was a warm night (relative to London where I’d come from), and the air was fragrant with unfamiliar smells from the garden where I was staying, right in the middle of Hollywood. Everyone seemed so friendly and open, and my first meal was pupusas at an El Salvadoran place, which was the first time I’d ever heard of them, let alone tasted them. Going to bed that first night in Villa Elaine, an old hotel where Marilyn Monroe had lived, and many other golden age Hollywood creative people, from Man Ray to one of my musical heroes, Frank Sinatra – well, the spirit of that building was so inspiring to me. The magic of this place is still so alive, and it’s still inspiring me! I mean, wow – Frank Sinatra!! Just think about how inspirational his musical career is to an orchestral arranger like me, and how incredible it was for me to live in the same building he lived in, right in the middle of Hollywood!
What do you find the biggest difference
is living here versus London?
Goodness, where should I start? Umm…. everything! From learning to drive here so I could simply get from A to B, to trying to understand the local norms regarding such simple human behaviours as meeting a romantic partner. Things are different here, in a fundamental way, from the most basic human interactions to bigger things. I mean, even going to the park for a walk is called hiking here, and the park is a piece of wild nature with mountain lions in it – everything is different!
Do you have a hidden gem in LA that you want to share with us?
I’m currently sitting in Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood. Established 99 years ago, it’s a fabulous piece of original Americana located on Route 66, only a few blocks from my home. It was a classic hang-out for 1950s beatniks, and for 1960s musicians including Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison and more recently, it’s where Quentin Tarantino wrote Pulp Fiction. It’s still an inspiring place for creative types to work, shoot pool and chow down on huge sandwiches and surprisingly good salads. Love the history of this place, and it’s still going strong because, it’s still awesome – and has free wifi, so it’s a great place to work, as well as have fun.
What would you suggest to others who are thinking about making the move here?
If you’re a creative person, it’s good to know that the cream of the crop of every kind of entertainment professional has been arriving in this town since the moment it began. So, be prepared. Be realistic. Be gracious, and although you don’t need to leave your ambition at the door, make sure you understand that this city is more about being a tortoise than a hare, in my opinion. Every person you meet will be here in the future, and will remember your words and actions, for better or worse. It’s important to treat everyone with great respect anywhere in the world, including London – and yet here, doubly so. We are a very small, tightly-knit community, despite being such a big city. I’s best to make considered choices, even if that means less haste, and leave the kind of impression you’ll be content to be reminded of for many years to come.
Lots of our members join our group Brits in LA seeking out words of wisdom – what is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
“Opportunity never has a neon sign on its head.” Meaning, you could easily miss a small crack in a door opening to welcome you to a life-changing experience, so be present, open and aware to everything, however cheesy or small it may seem! Magic lies in your periphery vision.
Lastly, how can we find out more about you ? Are you working on anything at the
moment?
I am working on a significant music project right now that will be launching at Abbey Road Studios in London, in 2020. It’s truly significant – way beyond my dreams. I wish I could tell you all about it, but we are building the team in London, LA and New York, and there are still elements falling into place before it’s officially announced. For now you could check out my main website, www.ilovestrings.com – and our new website for the big secret significant project, www.mtaloves.com – and, my assistant is on Instagram and Twitter sharing her cryptic hints with the hashtag #assistingmeena why not go and see if you can figure out what we’re up to from her posts!! Mine is @ilovestrings
