Now playing: Daniel Bernard Roumain

What is on composer and performer Daniel Bernard Roumain's playlist? While DBR was in town for a workshop of his new opera, Git Here (onstage at Lyric, Spring 2023 as part of Proximity), we asked him about his guilty pleasure song, the first concert he ever attended, and a few more surprising tidbits. Keep scrolling to see his answers!

You are most proud of?

There's a piece that I played with Phillip Glass — a duet — he was on piano, I was on violin. It's actually his piece, but it's our record, called "Metamorphosis." But to really answer your question, it's a piece called "Our Country," and it's my take on "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)." There's a video and a single.

Inspires you?

A song that inspires me right now is Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill," and if you know Stranger Things, then you know what I'm talking about. I've loved that song for years, well before the series, but it's kind of come back...The song is really amazing. The song has to do with kind of taking a stance, finding oneself and knowing who your people are.

Never fails to cheer you up?

Let me just start with Prince. There are so many, but let's go with "Let's go Crazy." Also, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson – I know, I'm dating myself – and let's get a little more contemporary..."Umbrella" by Rhianna. It's all about the beat and the bass line, for sure. Actually, and let's go with Bjork too, believe it or not. "Aurora" off of Vespertine.

Album you ever owned?

I can't believe I'm about to admit to this. I think it was Mötley Crüe, Shout at the Devil. Oh man, that's so 80's! But the reason why is because I was learning to play guitar. I think I went, literally, to the music store with $4 and that record was like $3 at the time...but yeah, that's how I learned to play electric guitar, that record.

Concert you ever attended?

Probably Florida Philharmonic, on the orchestra side...Prince on the rock/hip hop/arena show-side; then, I think Dizzy Gillespie and John Spider Martin on the jazz side. My parents took me to all of these outdoor concerts: Sailor Cruz, Tito Puente if I'm not mistaken, or Pequito d'Rivera in Miami. But the Florida Philharmonic definitely stands out. I remember going to the concert hall with my whole family, and it was great.

Guilty pleasure song?

Oh, Whitney Houston, "I Will Always Love You." I'm thinking of a song that I would sing along to really badly. I think, in the shower, who can resist that? Come on, aren't we all Whitney Houston in that moment? Yeah, I'm gonna go with Whitney Houston.

Love song?

Believe it or not, The Cars, "Drive." See for me, I grew up in South Florida. So, going up I-95 at 2:00 in the morning in my little Zephyr – I had a yellow Zephyr – with Lennon, my bandmate, blaring the radio. We got McDonalds from somewhere and we're blaring that song. Not even talking, the windows are down...ugh, that was my memory. Great song, right?

Break up song?

I feel like I have to say something by Drake or Travis Scott, you know. Or, Bad Bunny. But, okay, I'm 50 years old, so my breakup songs happened years ago. So, Bonnie Raitt "I can't make you love me." If I hear that right now, I'm just gonna start to cry. That one for sure.

Now that you know what Daniel Bernard Roumain is listening to, check out his recordings on Spotify and add them to your own playlist! Don't miss his newest opera, Git Here, as part of Proximity in Lyric's 2022/23 Season.