
Wallfisch mixes the complexity of Jazz with the clarity of folk and indie-pop. Image by John Mazlish
Our first exclusive of the week comes from a New York based songwriter who melds folk, jazz, and indie pop
Like many a songwriter, London’s Joanna Wallfisch comes from a musical background. Having grown up in a family of renowned classical musicians, she completed a Degree at Central Saint Martins College and then a Masters in Jazz Performance at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Unlike many songwriters, though, Wallfisch mixes the complexity of Jazz with the clarity of folk and indie-pop.
It was while completing her studies that Wallfisch released her debut album Wild Swan, a record that featured some of New York’s finest jazz talents, Rob Garcia, Joe Martin, Art Hirahara and Sam Newsome. Her second album The Origin Of Adjustable Things was a dual project with pianist Dan Tepfer and was released on Sunnyside Records last year. Her third album is out on 22 July and Gardens In My Mind is the title track. Speaking of the song, Wallfisch says:
“Sitting in my old Brooklyn apartment I was staring at the brick wall that was my view out the window. Bathed in golden sunlight as the sun set over the park behind it was a reminder of the beauty that I could not see. I picked up my uke and started singing about it. Sometimes you gotta just find those happy places in your imagination, especially in a city like New York.”
It really does stir memories of sunnier times and climes and the combination of folk, jazz, and indie pop is as expertly managed as you’d expect from a songwriter of Wallfisch’s background. Joanna Wallfisch has been compared to Aurora, Joni Mitchell and Becca Stevens. We think there are also shades of Tori Amos and Joanna Newsom on Gardens In My Mind. As always, though, we’ll leave the final assessment up to you…
Like that? Then find Joanna Wallfisch on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or her website.
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