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Interview: Norah Jones' soulful new sound
Norah's got a thing goin' on, and it's much too strong to let go! The pop-jazz chanteuse releases her new soulful sound.
By Mary Dickie
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Image courtesy of EMI Music Canada
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Not all of her new songs are dark, though. In "Little Room," Jones fondly recalls the tiny New York apartment where she and Alexander first found refuge from the big city. The couple still live in New York, where they enjoy a fairly anonymous life. "I rarely get recognized," she says. "I think it's in the way you carry yourself. People don't notice me. I wouldn't live here if I couldn't walk around. I was lucky that the cover of my first album didn't really look like me. Now I try to make sure that no pictures resemble the actual me!"
Jones has been risking that precious anonymity with a busy schedule. Her acting debut in Kar Wai Wong's My Blueberry Nights can be seen later this year, and she has been collaborating with artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, the Foo Fighters, OutKast and Mike Patton.
"It's not like I'm trying to prove anything; I just really enjoy these people," says Jones. "I can't say no in certain situations. I mean, I was in love with Dave Grohl when I was 11 -- I used to air-drum to Nirvana in my bedroom -- so of course I'm going to sing with the Foo Fighters! And probably my favourite thing in the world is to sing with Willie Nelson. It feels so good, getting onstage with him, listening to his voice, looking at him and having him look at me and then singing.... It's just the most amazing feeling."
Little Willies
In fact, Jones is so fond of Nelson that she, Alexander and a bunch of friends started a country cover band called The Little Willies, and they play small venues in New York whenever they have the chance. They even put out a self-titled album last year. "When we started it, I was like, 'Thank God, I can get away from my own crap and play with my friends,'" recalls Jones. "At first, I didn't want us to put out an album because playing small shows was too much fun. But it was important for us to do the record."
Nelson's one thing, but don't expect her to perform with her father, sitar legend Ravi Shankar. "We play completely different music," she says. "We're on good terms, but it would make no sense because I don't listen to Indian classical music and he does not listen to Willie Nelson."
Jones hits the road next month with her band: Alexander, guitarist Adam Levy, singer Daru Oda and drummer Andy Borger. "I'm going to play some guitar, and Daru is going to play some bass -- it's going to be a bit more like musical chairs," explains Jones. "Luckily, we play material that's stretchable. We like to mess with it a little."
Check out hot celeb party spots in Vancouver and L.A.!
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