WPKN Archives: Jim Motavalli

WPKN Archives: Jim Motavalli You can listen here to my interview with Jim Motavalli of WPKN talking about 'Belong' on November 13 2012.

'Belong' is released today

'Belong' is released today and it has been a busy and a wonderful release day. Here is a clip from last week's show at The Living Room. James Maddock joined me, as he does on the album, to sing this song 'Everything We Had Was Good'. We're accompanied by Brendan O'Shea on acoustic, Erik Della Penna on electric, Jason Sypher on Bass, Justin Carroll on keys and Mason Ingram on drums.

The Cover

Here is the cover artwork for ‘Belong’. Chris Carlone took the photograph at the end of July when we were at Times Square to shoot a Pledge Music video, and the design, by Gregory Jacobson, was inspired by old scans of photos from the American Library of Congress.

Last Night at The Living Room

Last night at The Living Room on Manhattan's Lower East Side, in the midst of a snowstorm, we had a warm night and a great time playing the songs of 'Belong' for a lovely audience who braved the elements to be there. It was taped for broadcast on Sirius XM's 'The Loft' during the month of December. Brendan O'Shea, Erik Della Penna, Justin Carroll, Jason Sypher and Mason Ingram were the band and they were in fantastic form. Special guests James Maddock and Jimi Zhivago brought their talents to the songs 'Everything We Had Was Good' and 'Belong'. Katie Holten took this lovely photo.

Knock

Finishing the new album meant I worked through the summer and didn't go to Ireland, so I am here now with my daughter. We've been seeing family and friends, and had a very special family gathering last Friday in the church where my mother served as church organist for many years. We spent the weekend with our good friends Deirdre and Jorge where they live in County Sligo between the ancient burial cairn of Maeve at Knocknarea and the wild Atlantic. Yesterday we travelled to County Mayo and are staying at our favourite hotel which has a fine swimming pool and a 300-year-old Mulberry tree on the grounds. On our way we met with a woman and her sister who were going to the town of Knock for a midweek break. Knock is well known because many years ago on a typical rainy night, some people witnessed apparitions of some holy figures suspended in air outside the local church. Hundreds of thousands have flocked there since to pray and touch the wall where this is said to have occurred. They have built a cathedral, an airport, and many shops.

Belonging

Certain aspects of making an album can be likened to giving birth. There is a similar groaning that goes on inside when you're getting ready to let go and release into the world that with which you have formed an intimate connection, which has grown inside you, into which you have put so much of yourself. I was reminded of that this past week when, half way through the mix, that kind of feeling accompanied the realization that soon I will once again be sending out into the world these songs, expressing in words and music some captured moments of life experience that held deep meaning for me. It's been a long time coming - I did the first recording sessions in June 2008 - and it is very satisfying to be letting go. There are wonderful musicians and guests on this album and I'm feeling immensely grateful.

New Album

Last week I woke up almost every morning with a melody in my head. I've recorded four new songs for the album and it's sounding beautiful. It was wonderful to work with Brendan O'Shea on guitar(himself a singer songwriter), Erik Della Penna on electric guitar, Jason Sypher on bass, and Justin Carroll on hammond and wurlitzer. We found ourselves back at Mission Sound and it was fitting as it is with Oliver that I recorded 'Bones' and 'Prophecy', not to mention most of my other albums. Not a lot left to do now in terms of recording apart from vocals and piano on a couple of songs before we move into mixing. I've been running a campaign at Pledge Music to fund the album: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/susanmckeown/