Everybody got some favourite albums. Music that accompanied yourself through difficult times, records that acted like a friend when there was real one around. Whether it was the sound around the times of your first kiss or the starting point of your own attempts to take a deeper look into new musical territories. We all have this record somewhere in our hearts and private collections. In this category NOTHING BUT HOPE AND PASSION lets the artist’s do the writing as they share their personal stories and feelings on their most loved record with us.
Ahead of their forthcoming performance at the Ja Ja Ja Club Night in Berlin on February the 12th we asked EVA & MANU to participate in our little Q&A about influential albums of their past and who would have guessed – the duo indeed choses two quite different record that are separated by three decades but also, in some way, combined by great songwriting quality.
Attention! The ‘Ja Ja Ja Club Night’ also features performances by DNKL and KID ASTRAY but is already sold out. We’re giving away some of the last tickets for the event! So don’t hesitate to write a mail to win@nbhap with the subject ‘Ja Ja Ja’ and your full name. Good luck!
EVA: Joni Mitchell – Blue (1971)
Do you remember the time when you bought that record?
Yes very well. I will explain it more in the next question, but I was in high school, it was a warm spring day and I had just sang Both Sides Now for the first time ever. I had never heard of Joni Mitchell before. I definitely will remember this buy for the rest of my life, it was life changing.
Was there a special trigger that initially made you buy the album?
When I went to high school, I started to listen to a lot of songwriters music. In fact, I had a really strong hippie era myself, all dressed up in big dreads, only organic clothes, hemp bags and so on! I had started to take vocal lessons, and my teacher gave me Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell to sing. Oh my god. That was it, I totally fell in love with the song and could memorise the lyrics in a second, the song went somewhere so deep in the heart! Naturally, after my class I skipped school and went to by the record Blue, the only Joni album they had in store.
Please explain in a few words why it is so special for you?
There’s some certain sensitivity, happiness and melancholia in her songs that really got me. I can of course relate to her songs, and she was a very big inspiration for me during the time I was growing up and trying to find my own sound. The songs were not too easy to play yourself, so that gave me a challenge that I really liked.
What’s your favourite song on the album and why?
Definitely Little Green. When I was I hearing the album through for the first time in my crappy CD player behind the store, this song immediately got my special attention. I wasn’t quite sure what the song was about, but I felt that its something very special. The chords and melody together are just perfect and easy to remember. Later on I read that the song is about Joni’s daughter she had to give up for adoption.
Why should one listen to that record today? Anything about the album that speaks to the people today as well?
This album will speak to people forever. No doubt. The subjects are just the same, we still fear, love, hate, are afraid. Her songs are so stripped down, there is nothing extra added and I believe this will never go out of style. No wonder the Rolling Stone Magazine listed Blue as one of the best female albums of all time.
Any other work by the artist you can recommend?
I highly recommend her 17th studio album Both Sides Now. Her high angelic voice is pretty much gone, but now there is an older women singing with a different sound, but telling the same stories with even more experience and stories. The album is recorded with an orchestra, arranged by Vince Mendoza. I also recommend to listen throughout her whole repertoire, so many different kinds of albums following her life. Incredible.
MANU: SUFJAN STEVENS – ‘Illinoise’ (2005)
Do you remember the time when you bought that record?
Funny thing is that I can’t quite picture how I got this album in my hands. There used to be a time where I really enjoyed going to the Mediatheque (sort of like Media Library) and borrow CDs etc… I think I got that record from there though I mostly listened to it on my iPod. I have been looking to get the vinyl for some years now but I never took the step. It’s always exciting to want something deeply and not have it yet.
Was there a special trigger that initially made you buy the album?
I remember reading that SUFJAN STEVENS was gonna do an album for each American state and I thought: ‘Damn that is such a cool idea!.’ I guess that was the original trigger though I was 15 or so when the album came out and I was starting to discover new artists, trying to find the sound I really loved.
Please explain in a few words why it is so special for you?
My dad being a big fan of progressive and hard rock I grew up with YES, GENESIS, THE WHO, but I also listened to a lot of artists such as NEIL YOUNG, CSN, JAMES TAYLOR, SIMON & GARFUNKEL, CAT STEVENS, etc… I really think that SUFJAN STEVENS brought on this specific album every aspect I loved about my dad’s old records. Illinois has quite a large sonic palette, it has like 20 something tracks from very orchestrated to super minimalistic singer-songwriter songs. I really fell in love with it and it gave me confidence in writing songs. In short: it spoke to me, I could really see myself in his songwriting.
What’s your favourite song on the album and why?
I really love Chicago, That song has everything, it’s a masterpiece. The orchestration is so emotional and the way he performs his lyrics and tells his story will always strike me. It’s one of those songs where every time it gets played I need to stop whatever I am doing to fully listen to it, close my eyes and enjoy the ride. I saw myself in the line: ‘I drove to New York, in a van with my friend, we slept in parking lots, I don’t mind, I don’t mind’, thinking I would be driving to New Y someday… eventually it happened! Chicago really followed me for years, I often find myself listening to it if I feel in doubt of slightly unfocused, it gives me strength.
Why should one listen to that record today?
Illinoise is now 10 years old, so we could celebrate its birthday. (laughs) I think the lyric writing is wonderful and will speak to people for generations. It’s a very deep and full album, so well orchestrated and so well produced. It’s almost raw at times, like unpolished and I think that’s a wonderful thing that will attract new listeners. He is referred as an indie artist, and in his case he did most of the album by himself. For singer songwriters and producers like myself, it’s so inspiring to see someone put up such a great record with nothing more than a handful of mics and production skills. Good songs and strong emotions.
Any other work by the artist you can recommend?
SUFJAN STEVENS has released a few different records from very acoustic to noisy electronic music. I think his album Seven Swans has some of his best songs, for example To be alone with you, I even sang that song to my friend’s wedding! I also really enjoy his new project called SISYPHUS, especially that opening track Calm it down, it’s the perfect commuting track, such a great way to get to work, gets you moving in the right direction!
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