This blog was started years ago in part as a repository for our inspirations, yet I think we often drift away from that purpose a bit, so I want to share something that inspired me this weekend: discovering new music.
Obviously music plays a big part in most of our lives. It’s always stated as a source of inspiration by most people – certainly with creative professionals like designers. It’s a part of our everyday experience at IBC, music being that ever present magical element in our studio that guides and changes us throughout the day, affecting our moods and indeed our work. I’ve become so used to an incredible variety of music in my life that I have to admit I sort of take it for granted at times, which is a terrible shame. Well, not today. Today I am grateful for music.
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve rediscovered music and its power. My trusty iPod, which has been mostly ignored the past few months, has been dusted off, recharged, topped up with fresh beats and is my constant friend these days. My iTunes library is bulging with new tunes. And what joy and fulfillment good music can bring. Listening to a well crafted song expertly performed can affect you the way taking a deep breath of air as you take in a gorgeous sunset makes you realize how beautiful the world can be and how lucky you are to be alive and take notice of it.
Recently I was introduced to Adham Shaikh by my good friend Billy, who lives near Adham in Nelson, BC. There are a surprising amount of amazing musicians in and around Nelson, so when he told me that Adham was bring an entire band of world musicians to play at the Commodore Ballroom as part of the Jazz Festival, I was there. And he did not disappoint. While Adham played live keyboards and ran the computers, his small musical army wove together a modern global village sound using instruments such as the bansuri, conga, darbouka, djembe, mbira, flute, mouth harps, mandolin and others. The immensely talented and seductive Gemma Luna not only stunned the audience with her belly dancing skills, but with haunting Indian vocals, completely owning the stage except perhaps for a few occasions when Wassabi Collective’s Melissa showed off the percussive and vocal skills she’s so well known for.
Guest vocalists, a spoken word artist and one of the best dijeradoo players I’ve ever heard joined the large live ensemble, sometimes causing Shaikh to be slightly lost in the background of his own invention, but there is no question, that this was a special event not often seen in Vancouver. The set, which included songs from his 2004 Grammy nominated release Fusion and new album Collectivity (I’m listening to it now) was an “Indian dub fusion” sonic journey with influences from India, Asia, Eastern Eruope, Carribean and North America. I went home buzzing. I forgot that music could be this cool. Thanks Adham.
Speaking of musical armies, this weekend I saw something I won’t soon forget: Polyphonic Spree. I have to admit I wasn’t really very aware of who they were prior to my friend Jer telling me about their show. I recall something about happy music and a large orchestra and choir. What an understatement! Now that I’ve seen them perform live, a more accurate description might be a church-like experience with a powerful, high-energy guru leading his 24 musicians (you read that right – 24!) create a HUGE symphonic choral rock sound that makes Herbalizer’s “wall of sound” seem like a warm up act. Behind DeLaughter’s huge vocals are a gorgeous all-female choir, keyboards, flute, percussions, guitar, bass, cello, trumpets, trombones, violins, French horns, theremin, various digital effects—even a harp. And they are super tight.
Spree is hard to explain, so I did some online learning (of course). They’ve been described by Billboard as “less a band than a happening” and that seems pretty accurate to me. Their website About page begins with “What do you do when your surrounded by darkness and demons? Some pull up the covers and hide, but not The Polyphnic Spree.” With a high-energy marriage of passion, beauty, delight, uplifting message, and various other “hippy-isms”, it felt like I was at a rally of some sort, the only one in the room who wasn’t a member of a movement. At one point, my friend Alan—a musician himself—leaned over and said, “I’d drink his KoolAid” and knew exactly what he meant.
Led by former Tripping Daisy frontman Tim DeLaughter, Polyphonic Spree had a packed Commodore Ballroom on their feet jumping and dancing with abandon in a rain of confetti. Like a Pentacostle preacher who has worked his congregation into a Holy Spirit frenzy, DeLaughter turned the entire audience into his own choir on several occaisions, culminating in the best rendition of his lost friend’s song Lithium. Nobody should cover that song live unless you can play it the way they did. Their performance has to be one of the most powerful live music experiences I’ve ever experienced. When was the last time you saw 25 people performing their hearts out on stage after days on a bus for a whopping $25? Exactly. The concert reminded me that good music, as with any inspirations, can be unexpected and inexpensive. Thanks Spree, for making me a convert.
But the most impressive recent musical discovery? Not Adham Shaikh. Not Polyphonic Spree. Nope. Spree’s opening act actually: Jesca Hoop. Never heard of her, right? Me neither. I had no idea who she was, but when we walked into that room and heard her voice over the unfortunate din of a chatting crowd as they awaited the Spree onslaught, I was immediately hooked and beelined for the stage. It didn’t take long for the rest of the room to take notice. This young woman’s seemingly simple delivery of remarkably complex original songs was a dizying experience.
I struggle to find the words to describe Hoop’s style, if she even has one, but it was sort of like someone had jammed all the great female folk singers into a blender along with old jazz and blues masters and blended it like some musical smoothie. There seem to be so many influences in Hoop’s music that it seems as though there may be none. One moment her whymsical vocal style reminds of Bjork or Jane Siberry, the next she’s conjuring Edith Piaf or Joni Mitchell. Her fearless compositions and bold poetic lyrics are reminiscent of early Tom Waits, who I’ve since learned is her mentor and friend (she used to be Tom Waits’ nanny!). Waits describes Hoop’s music as “like a four-sided coin. She is an old soul, like a black pearl, a good witch, or a red moon. Her music is like going swimming in a lake at night.” He’s exactly right.
Sounds like jibberish? Well you try! Check out her website www.jescahoop.com and mySpace page www.myspace.com/jescahoop and have a listen or check out a couple videos and you’ll see what I mean. If you can do a better job explaining this musical hipster, post your thoughts below.
Discovering Jesca Hoop on that stage was a wonderful moment indeed. Like falling in love at first site. It was the kind of musical experience that made me so grateful that artists exist that are so creative, so passionate, so driven to express themselves, that they wake you up to view the world through their eyes. Like a filter. Like the air we breath—that air that fills us with hope as we watch those last rays of light leave after a long, hard day. Thank you Jesca, for making such unique music. It made my weekend and I can’t stopped thinking or talking about it.
So friends, that’s enough long-winded rambling for a Sunday afternoon. I’ll leave you with this thought: try not to fall into the musical humdrums like I did recently. Hit your local music shop, read the papers, magazine and websites, but most of all listen to trusted friends and keep an open mind. Don’t get stuck on your current playlist. Explore music like you’re traveling with a local as your guide. Turn away from the safety of top 40 as you would avoid the sterilized world of tourist-safe sights and restaurants as you explore a country and culture, and get lost exploring music until you stumble across something new that moves you. Something so completely different, that it seems difficult to describe. Then share what you’ve discovered just as my friend’s Billy and Jer did for me. Share your discoveries with everyone who asks or seems like they need a song to make them smile. Post it on your blog. Start a music-haring club. Be inspired and encourage others to enjoy the work of these passionate and creative artists who add unique expressions of themselves to the world musical archive.
To Adham Shaikh, Polyphonic Spree, Jesca Hoop or any of the many musicians I haven’t yet discovered, thank you for your music which makes the world a fascinating and inspiring place. To my friends who keep feeding me this brilliant stuff, thank you too.