Erik Friedlander (photo by Peter Peregrine)
Cellist Erik Friedlander is a prolific solo artist, bandleader and film composer. Having been a sought after studio musician and improviser in New York’s downtown music scene for years, Friedlander has recently become well known for his work scoring film and television. He most recently scored the film Baby Ruby in 2022. In the fall of 2018, he scored an episode of Matthew Weiner’s (Mad Men) show The Romanoffs. In 2017, Friedlander composed the score for Thoroughbreds, a feature film directed by Cory Finley, which garnered critical acclaim. Also in 2017, he scored the film Oh Lucy!, directed by Atsuko Hirayanagi, which premiered at Cannes Film Festival.
Erik is has released a new record She Sees which was recorded in the January of 2023 with Ava Mendoza (guitar), Stomu Takeishi (bass), and Diego Espinoza (drums). In 2018, Erik released A Queens’ Firefly with his quartet The Throw. Firefly was Friedlander’s 23rd record under his own name. Other recent releases include 2016’s Rings, featuring Black Phebe; and 2015’s Oscalypso, a grooving tribute to bassist and sometimes cellist Oscar Pettiford. Erik has also composed music for ads, dance, and documentaries including the score for 2013’s Nothing on Earth, about the work of landscape photographer Murray Fredericks and his dangerous visits to the Greenland icecap. Erik also scored the feature film Future Weather, which saw release in 2013. Since the start of 2018, Friedlander has been releasing an original track for free each month.
Friedlander started studying music at an early age, beginning at five with guitar, before commencing cello lessons at eight. He grew up in a house filled with music, as his father, an avid music lover, made countless mixtapes which played daily in their home. He has performed and recorded with artists as diverse as The Mountain Goats, John Zorn, Dave Douglas and Courtney Love. Erik's desire to actively participate in the swirl of musical styles he was surrounded by led him to find new ways of playing the cello. This discovery drives his solo work, and work as a composer, which is varied and unusual.
MAILING LIST
I will send you occasional updates about recordings and performances.