Five Favourites: Joanna Sternberg

Probably my most listened to artist of the last twelve months, New York based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Joanna Sternberg released their second album I’ve Got Me last year; an exquisite rumination on life’s difficulties and hopes which perfectly showcases their vast musical talent, I can certainly see why it received such widespread acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. As well as solely writing each and every song on the record, Sternberg also played every single instrument that you hear; creating a truly unique, genre-spanning collection. With an education in Classical and Jazz music, throughout the album they weave a rich tapestry of beautifully lilting folk-strewn sounds alongside reflective narrative lyricism; all brought together with their raw, impassioned vocals. It really is something quite special that I urge you all to immerse yourselves in, if you’ve not yet already.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate Joanna Sternberg’s upcoming tour dates, I caught up with them to find out about the music that inspired I’ve Got Me most. Read about their favourite songs (we’ve allowed them six choices!) and see details of their upcoming live dates below.

I remember the night before the first day in the studio, Matthew Johnson (of Fat Possum Records) told me to come up with at least one song that I wanted to use as an example to inspire each track of the album. It helped SO much and also made me even more excited to get into the studio. Here are a few of the songs that helped to inspire me!

The Pogues – ‘If I Should Fall From Grace With God’
The Pogues are one of my all-time favourite bands, rest in peace Shane MacGowan. And I actually wrote the song ‘I Will Be With You‘ while I imagined him singing it (with The Pogues accompanying him of course!).

Judee Sill – ‘The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown’ 
The ironic and strange thing is that I wrote ‘Drifting On A Cloud‘ before I was even aware of Judee Sill, though once I became “aware” of her, I immediately became OBSESSED! But then, when I was in the studio playing this song, I really had Judee Sill in my mind, especially this beautiful track, ‘The Lamb Ran Away With The Crown’.

Tom Petty – ‘I Won’t Back Down’
This is a song that I have been obsessed with since the age of twelve! It helped me get through the horrors of being bullied and excluded in the public schools of New York City. I wanted ‘People Are Toys To You‘ to have a similar feeling and arrangement as ‘I Wont Back Down’.  

Leon Russell – ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ 
I first heard Leon Russell’s cover of this song (it’s originally by Hank Williams) in the movie A Poem Is A Naked Person. It was near the beginning of the movie and I became so fixated on it that I don’t remember anything else about that film (except for the disturbing scene that I had to cover my eyes for involving a snake…)! Anyway, I definitely tried to emulate the feeling and energy of this song in ‘She Dreams’. 

Randy Newman – ‘Losing You’
Randy Newman is in the top tier list (in my humble opinion) of the greatest songwriters of all time. He has so many songs that make me cry, and I definitely took so much inspiration from ‘Losing You’ when I recorded ‘Right Here‘; I’m sure that I’d recently been listening to ‘Losing You’, so it was definitely in my mind and my soul while I was writing, even if I was not consciously directly thinking of it.

Roy Orbison – ‘You Got It’ 
Another song that I have loved this song since I was twelve (this is the age where I discovered Limewire and the art of making mix tapes!). I wrote ‘I’ll Make You Mine‘ while imagining I was writing it for Roy Orbison to sing. At the time when I wrote it, I was not even singing my songs – my friends would sing them, as I was too scared and insecure.

Massive thanks to Joanna for sharing their favourite songs with us!

I was lucky enough to catch Joanna Sternberg at a beautifully intimate gig last year at King’s Place, and would highly recommend making sure you catch them live too! They’ll be playing at Primavera festival in Porto on 8th June and End Of The Road festival between 29th August and 1st September, as well as opening for Jessica Pratt for a special night at Union Chapel in Islington on 6th June. Tickets available here.

Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez

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Five Favourites: Erica Nockalls

Having collaborated with renowned bands such as Echo and the Bunnymen and The Proclaimers, and performed at legendary venues such as The Royal Albert Hall, musician and songwriter Erica Nockalls released her innovative album Dark Music From A Warm Place back in 2021, a partnership with Parisian studio producer/artist Jean-Charles Versari. Oozing a dark ethereal splendour throughout, and showcasing Nockalls’ soaring crystalline vocals, it’s a beautifully cinematic collection, brooding with a shimmering grace and immersive musicality. And, more recently, to celebrate her September tour dates with Echo and the Bunnymen, Nockalls shared her own unique rendition of Roxy Music’s ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’.

We think one of the best ways to get to know an artist is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’, we caught up with Erica to ask about the music that has inspired her the most. Read about her five favourite songs and watch the video for her cover of ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ below!

Imogen Heap – ‘Hide and Seek’
I discovered and listened to the shit out of this track in lockdown, somewhere in between sneaking to the studio to mix my own album Dark Music From A Warm Place under the cover of nightfall, and gleefully drinking cocktails for breakfast. Imogen has penned a masterpiece here, and I would very much love to work with her one day because of this song. Her still, honest vocals, layered, creating a vast and chillingly brutal landscape of desperation, sorrow and loss. Lyrics lines effected, ebb in and out, (“Spin me round” has a Leslie effect on it, for example, which I consider to be a production stroke of genius). I enjoy hearing the stacked close harmonies and complex cluster chords, probably (definitely) because I do the same. Such a brave stance to take these days – solely using vocals as your musical ingredients, climaxing into her accompanying herself rhythmically and harmonically without any additional instrumentation. I even believe you can hear a chink of glass bottles been taken out for recycling at one point, which made me think that this evolved from a home recording (or maybe even remnants of a demo) that was lovingly coaxed and manipulated into a thing of utter beauty, but maybe I’m reading too much into it. Best line of the song? “Crop circles in the carpet”… alluding to, in my mind, imagery of recently moved large furniture, because someone just left with their possessions. Heartbreaking, and exceptional. 

Versari – ‘Brûle’
I had the honour of hearing the whole Sous la peau album by Versari, new and fresh from mastering, one warm (and admittedly decadent) evening, on the balcony of a Parisian hotel. I was instantly impressed. I was charmed by how one three piece can deliver such a thorough obliteration both sonically and viscerally; their sound took my breath away. Sung in French – at the time I didn’t understand the lyrics, but I almost didn’t need to – Jean-Charles’s vocal style is low, distinctive, seductive, and effortlessly and tastefully distressed. Now, even though I understand the lyrical content, I still feel the same when I hear this song, which led me to release a remix of it.

Devin Townsend Project – ‘Failure’
I paint a lot to the Transcendence album. I use it as a temporal yard stick – once the record has finished, it’s time to stop painting. Complex, agressive, powerful. A truth behind the personal complexities of performing. Most of us feel like a failure at times. Devin’s honest admissions here gave me the strength to consider continuing what I was doing, even if it scares the absolute shit out of you. I particularly like the drum work here delivered in this track by the epic force that is Ryan Van Poederooyen. His style is watertight yet dynamic, with a playful musicianship not often found in the metal world. Bravo.

Immaculate Fools – ‘Two to Tango’
Raymond is a special human to me. Half godfather-type-figure, half cool uncle, half mentor… (I’ve always been excellent at maths). I was in a testy place just before I moved to Spain to write my third album, ‘Dark Music From A Warm Place’ and, prior to getting my own place, I lived a short while with Ray. He would play guitar in his music room late into the night, and I would fall asleep in the next room listening to him, which was a much needed comfort to me. This track was one of the songs he was working on at the time, which in my humble (and correct) opinion is one of the greatest songs ever to have been written. It’s genius. I often think Ray’s music is a little like Bowie’s, in that they both have the ability to make music sound simple, and palatable, when it’s anything but.

Roxy Music – ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ 
I remember my Mum driving me to youth orchestra rehearsals on many a friday night in her lovely old Saab. We’d sing along to the tape of For Your Pleasure, both laughing at our occasionally misheard lyrics. ‘Dream Home’ stood out to my juvenile brain. The emotional temperature of the lonesome lyrics spoke to me. Despite sounding so serious, Mum told me it was about a blow-up doll, and… on paper, that does sound like a joke, right? I was happily perplexed. And I liked the album artwork. I loved this song so much. Electing to cover and release it recently was one of my better ideas!

Massive thanks to Erica for sharing her Five Favourites with us! Watch the stirring video for her rendition of Roxy Music’s ‘In Every Dream Home A Heartache’ below:

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FIVE FAVOURITES: Scrounge

Since we booked South London duo Lucy Alexander and Luke Cartledge aka Scrounge as support for our GIHE gig at The Windmill back in 2018, we have been avid fans of their vital, frenzied art-punk sounds. Featured on our ‘Albums of 2022‘ list, their debut mini-album, Sugar Daddy, is full of gritty, relatable anthems that hit a nerve and showcase the passion and determination that underscores all that they do. The duo have always remained loyal to their DIY roots, and their latest single ‘Corner Cutting Boredom’ is accompanied by a limited edition flexi-disc and a zine that “documents and celebrates what’s going on south of the river” in a thriving underground music scene.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspired them to write in the first place. We caught up with vocalist and guitarist Lucy to ask about her “Five Favourites” – five songs that have inspired Scrounge over the years. Check out her choices below and scroll down to listen to Scrounge’s single ‘Corner Cutting Boredom’.

 

1. Pavement – ‘Fame Throwa’
As soon as I met Luke at Goldsmiths, I knew that I wanted to be his mate. It might’ve been that he looked “dead indie” but I quickly found he is one of the most thoughtful and caring people in the world. Sometimes we’d swap song recommendations, other days we’d just have a few pints at the Marquis where we once talked about how South East London lacked a scene for guitar music, despite having so many amazing venues. At that moment, along with designer Amanda Tooke, we vowed to make our own collective to ‘Support South London and Support Your Mates’. We named it Fame Throwa after Pavement’s chaotic hit and that song inspired us to work together to run a night, radio show and record label. Although Fame Throwa is now dormant, it was our “in” to DIY activism and it introduced us to some truly outstanding human beings.

2. Italia 90 – ‘New Factory’
When we started Scrounge, we had no idea what we were doing; Luke didn’t know how to play drums and I played the acoustic guitar. We were constantly looking for nights – like Get In Her Ears – that we could perform at and bands we’d compliment on a bill. Italia 90 were recommended to us by our mate Ben so we booked them for a Fame Throwa night. We REALLY wanted to play a show with them and, as no one would book us, we decided to book them. ‘New Factory’ is a staple in their set and we’ve spent many nights shouting along to it in sweaty south London venues. This year, Italia 90 released their debut album, Living Human Treasure, and we were delighted to get a mention in the liner notes. As much as they like us, we can guarantee that we like them more and we’ll be forever grateful for their influence.

3. Piglet – ‘It Isn’t Fair’
Charlie Loane is one of South London’s most prolific performers. Over the years, we’ve watched him perform in loads of different bands but Piglet, Loane’s solo project, is utterly incredible. As an activist and beautiful songwriter, Piglet captures everyday life and the trans experience through his poignant lyrics. ‘It Isn’t Fair’ is not only anthemic but a real life representation of the awful standard of trans rights in the UK. Trans rights are human rights and as allies, we need to do better. This song is a call to action and a reminder that we can and must do more.

4. CHUNKY – ‘GNG’ (Guts N Grets)
When I first started performing at open mic nights as a teenager, I constantly sought new opportunities for young musicians. I quickly joined The Albany Theatre’s youth music group and was lucky enough to be mentored by some of the country’s most influential artists. Chunky, an MC from Manchester, mentored on the project and really believed in my music. He supported my early solo project, Fame Throwa and is equally supportive of Scrounge. Despite our genre differences, we’ve ended up working together on a few different projects and I’m in awe of his DIY attitude and work ethic. At the beginning of this year, Chunky released his long awaited debut album, Somebody’s Child, and ‘GNG’ is a standout single that really shows off the quick lyricism and sharp wit that inspired me as a young songwriter.

5. Kae Tempest – ‘Hold Your Own’
It feels like I’ve seen Kae Tempest perform a million times over the years and each performance is always as impactful as the last; it really doesn’t matter whether they’re performing poems, a play, or their music it’s always the same outcome. ‘Hold Your Own’ was a collection of poems by Tempest which I stumbled upon at university and the much needed catalyst I needed to truly accept myself for who I really am. The titular poem also features on Tempest’s album, The Book of Traps and Lessons, and is an aural reminder to persevere through adversity while remembering your own self worth. It’s a love letter to our shared community that I cherish.

Thanks to Lucy for sharing her Five Favourites with us!

Follow Scrounge on bandcamp, Spotify, Facebook, Twitter (X) and Instagram

Listen to Scrounge’s latest single ‘Corner Cutting Boredom’ below

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FIVE FAVOURITES: HAVVK

One of the first ever guests on our radio show, and the first headliner of a GIHE live night, Ireland based trio HAVVK have been wowing us over the years with their distinctive-yet-eclectic array of spellbinding-yet-gritty soundscapes. With activism at the heart of all they create – with a focus on speaking out against gender equality – they’ve received acclaim from the likes of The Guardian and BBC 6Music for previous releases such as Cause & Effect and Levelling, and have now shared a poignant new single. Channelling a seething raging energy, ‘Expiry’ reflects on society’s expectations of women to ‘age gracefully’, whilst giving a middle finger to these restrictions on how you should dress or behave. Exuding a fierce sense of urgency, it’s propelled by the raw power of lead singer Julie Hough’s distinctive celestial vocals as the band’s trademark politically-charged rage emanates throughout.

We think one of the best ways to get to know a band is by asking what music inspires them. So, to celebrate the release of ‘Expiry’, we caught up with Julie and Matt from HAVVK to ask about the music that has inspired them the most recently. So, read about their five favourite songs and watch the new video for ‘Expiry‘ below!

Julie’s Choices:

Cherym – ‘Abigail’
We were dead set on having fun with this record and making obnoxiously fun hooks that people could sing along to. So I went down a rabbit-hole of listening to much poppier rock than I usually draw influence from. Cherym are masters of this kind of writing, with their poppy hooks and clever, sassy delivery. You can hear this on all their songs, but I especially love ‘Abigail’ and ‘Take It Back’.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Zx4DcyA4gc0%3Fsi%3DKYluFk5UlkOjC-NR

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – ‘Maps’
Okay, so I have always been a massive Yeah Yeah Yeahs fan so this maybe doesn’t belong specifically on this list. I draw a lot of inspiration from Karen O’s witting and performance style. But there was a particular vibe we were trying to nail down for one of our songs while we were in the studio. We couldn’t quite put our fingers on this until one of us put ‘Maps’ on, which obviously we’ve all heard a hundred times. But something clicked in that moment – the stripped back instrumentation, the loneliness of the vocal, and the slow build throughout. We were about to have a ‘sad indie prom night’ moment. 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oIIxlgcuQRU%3Fsi%3D33dJZAcwpi0jaFEZ

Matt’s Choices:

Dirty Dishes – ‘Thank You, Come Again’
Before we started recording, we spent a whole day with our producer Rocky O’Reilly talking about what we wanted to make and listening to influences. Rocky mentioned a band called Dirty Dishes who I’d never heard of. We listened to them a huge amount before and after the recording sessions. They become a staple in the car on the journey up and down from Belfast where Rocky’s studio is. Their album Guilty is mega. ‘Thank You, Come Again’ is just a really great song and the use of feedback and distortion had a big impact on how the guitars and bass on our recordings ended up sounding.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DRaxPczUxDY%3Fsi%3DOURT3BuWN7cpAeeG

Bachelor – ‘Sand Angel’
Another band we talked about during our  preproduction chat. The guitar hook for ‘Sand Angel’ is really great. The space in the track, use of reverbs and unusual structure of the song was a starting point for quite a few of our tracks. There’s a lot of harmonies on that song as well. As a 3 piece we wanted to try and make more use of harmonies on the album to fill space and add more layers to the live show.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=VrHvr7sYU_s%3Fsi%3D8F__wYTHqmNYEMaX

Matt and Julie:

Two Inch Astronaut – ‘Snitch Jacket’
This was actually slightly after the recordings were finished but I bumped into this band via Spotify algorithms suggesting I should. I can’t stop telling everyone how good this band is. So here I am doing it again. They are good.’Snitch Jacket’, and ‘Can You Please Not Help’ are just great pieces of music that I keep coming back to. (Julie chiming in here to tell you that Matt is correct, listen to this band.)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=tSNUPcL-gdY%3Fsi%3DGNG1tl38m4fsPX7E

Massive thanks to Julie and Matt for sharing their Five Favourites!

‘Expiry’ is out now via Veta Records. Watch the new video here:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=r-fdqo4L5J8%3Fsi%3DCuFoMwU6o-2gmQyn

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