Skunk Anansie - Wonderlustre
I don’t know how I missed this grand event last year, but Skunk Anansie released a new record. How it slipped past me, I don’t know, but it did. Thankfully, my producer just happened to give me the album last week! Because he’s cool like that. Guess what’s been at full blast repeat in my car ever since…
This woman can sing. As far as my ultimate musical inspiration goes, she’s it. I would travel across oceans to watch her live if I could possibly afford to (and yes, I totally missed their shows in South Africa just over a decade ago and am still kicking myself). If I could switch places with anyone or emulate someone’s music and style, it’s her. A major Skunk Anansie fan since their Paranoid & Sunburnt debut in ‘95, I also loved both solo albums she released after the band split in ‘01. Her first solo album, Fleshwounds, was released at a time when I needed to suffer in the music I was listening to, with someone whose words spoke in a way I couldn’t at the time. Her second urged and inspired me to get over it. There’s a strength in her voice that moves me, that makes me believe in everything the sound makes me feel, and Skunk Anansie’s new addition to her insane portfolio captures that power beautifully.
Getting this album was perfectly timed for me. I’ve decided to redo some vocals for my new record later this month before I finalise the release. Listening to my idol paint these crazy emotional colours with her voice is exactly the inspiration I needed to get my head where it needs to be. And it’s rad driving music which I’ve clearly needed recently…
Check out the video for Over The Love here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzfFdn4g82c&feature=share
I’m not a big fan of those overstated phrases that so often frequent conversations of heartache and hardship. You know the ones… Those phrases crafted to help you save face when you’re down and out… “there are plenty of fish in the sea”, “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side”, and “every cloud has a silver lining”… The fact is, you can philosophise all you want but you still feel like crap in that moment, and until you don’t feel that way anymore, no thoughtfully manicured saying is going to make you feel any better. Having said that, I do in fact appreciate a beautiful saying, as they give us hope when we have none, offering a little extra motivation to keep on keeping on. I like to think of myself as a pretty positive person these days (yes, I had my emo moments in the past but I’m pretty put together now), and I have a few of my own philosophies that keep me going and keep me believing in this crazy cool life.
There are a few phrases that pop up a lot in the music industry, my favourite of which is that golden piece of comfort: “there’s always someone watching”. When I find myself performing to a handful of people (or less on the odd occasion), I hear that internal voice reminding me that there is always someone who needs to hear what I have to say… that there is always a reason. Truly believing that is easier said than done.
Over the past ten years I’ve had a few of those performances, those shows that I thought I would never get through in one sane piece. But looking back there have been reasons for them all. Whether it be the one album I sold that is now making it’s way across oceans to new audiences; or the great press I gained from impressing that solitary reporter who almost made up the entire audience; the sound crew who did in fact make up my entire audience but are now good friends and offer endless industry networking potential; or the promoter who now offers trips to far off lands… yes, there really is always a reason. I got a call from an agent this week who had stumbled across one of these “intimate” shows recently, purely by chance. He had only watched a few songs but made a mental note to remember my name and when a project came up this week, he thought of me. Unfortunately I’m committed to other shows during that time so I can’t take him up on this particular offer (which happened to include a trip to a private game reserve in Kenya which really would’ve been superb!), but this chance meeting is already yielding other opportunities and I’m thrilled that he stumbled across one of those seemingly pointless filler shows and look forward to the potential of this new working relationship…
There is no doubt in me that there is always some truth hidden within the beauty of a well structured phrase (even the most obscure or seemingly cheesy ones), and that there is always a reason even when none appears. Believe.
