With a bloodline that many musicians would envy, Gabriel Prokofiev came to his career in classical music through a more unorthodox route than expected.

We met with the composer in his London home to talk about living up to great expectations, his work in pop music, and his recent album with Signum Records.

MANY MUSICIANS HAVE TO CONVINCE THEIR PARENTS TO LET THEM PURSUE MUSIC AS A CAREER. WITH SERGEI PROKOFIEV AS YOUR GRANDFATHER, DID YOU BYPASS THIS CONVERSATION AND HOW DID IT HELP OR HINDER YOUR ENTRANCE INTO THE MUSIC WORLD?

I’ve never been asked that before, it’s a bloody good question (laughs). My dad was a visual artist and my mum was an artist and art therapist, both were big music fans but weren’t musicians. My dad in general wanted to move away from the shadow of my grandfather, we weren’t surrounded by his music but we weren’t hidden from it either. The extra insight I would have got as a child was that I might have gone to more concerts of my grandad’s music than other kids and then afterwards I’d meet the conductor. That’s about it though.

Classical music is an industry that’s obsessed with child prodigies. I felt a huge pressure when I was practicing to be brilliant immediately and ... READ MORE