Standing like a lion
BLIND Pilot’s Israel Nebeker has turned loss into inspiration on the band’s third album And Then Like Lions.
Written and composed by Nebeker over the course of three years, the record is a transcendent, cathartic response to the loss of his father and the end of a 13-year relationship.
Blind Pilot teamed up with producer Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, Neko Case, My Morning Jacket) and the album was mixed by Peter Katis (The National, Interpol, Kurt Vile).
They completed the record at Nebeker’s studio on Oregon’s north coast, in the town of Astoria.
Umpqua Rushing was the first song written for the album, Israel’s reflection on the end of a 13-year relationship.
The Umpqua River in Oregon holds memory for him, and becomes a metaphor for the pulling current of his relationship.
Much of the songwriting took place after Nebeker’s father was diagnosed with cancer. Seeing Is Believing was written as a song of encouragement for his dad as he was battling sickness and Nebeker moved home to help him.
‘‘I think of this album as a conversation about different kinds of loss and the courage we find when we face loss honestly, cracked open and unsure of what we will become, which is the only real way to face it,’’ Nebeker says.
After his father died, Nebeker wrote Like Lions, which would become the album’s finale.
The title comes from a story about Nebeker’s nephews, who stood up to a bully by ‘‘standing like lions’’ as they told it. Lions play a central role on the album; Nebeker’s father painted the lion flagon on the album cover as a boyhood gift to his son.
SIMPLY FAMOUS
The Naked and Famous release their new album, Simple Forms, on October 14.
Simple Forms was conceived in the Echo Park, Los Angeles, home studio of Thom Powers at a point where the band had come close to tearing apart under the strain of the breakdown of the eight-year romance between Powers and covocalist Alisa Xayalith.
‘‘My production idea in The Naked and Famous has always been to set the insularity of our songwriting in a space where intimacy and explosive excitement can bring tension and release,’’ Powers says.
‘‘To me, that is what contemporary pop should be.’’ ● Compiled by Mike Alexander NEWYork-based Kiwi jazz organist Adrienne Fenemor has immersed herself in the roots of jazz and blues on her new album Mo Puddin’. Where were you born? I was born in Blenheim and moved to Nelson when I was 4, that is where I grew up. After college I moved to Wellington where I studied jazz at Massey Conservatorium of Music. My family was musical, especially my Dad who is also an organist, who can play accordion, piano and guitar. Mumand Dad owned a music store in Nelson. As a result I was surrounded by music. I was 4 when I performed on stage for the first time at various country music competitions.
What attracted you to the organ and jazz in particular?
I have an uncle who is a hi-fi enthusiast who introduced me to music I hadn’t heard before. I especially fell in love with Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Dave Brubeck. At the time I was around 13 and still hadn’t come across jazz organ music yet.
I was actually a trombone player for many years, majoring my first year at university on trombone.
I soon met Josh Hindmarsh, my ex-husband, who is a great guitarist. He listened to a lot of guitar and organ music which I really enjoyed.
I grew up watching my Dad play the organ. I had always dabbled with it so I knew I had the co-ordination to play foot pedals, left and right hand, so one day I suggested to Josh that I acquire the skills to become a jazz organist. After years of hard work and commitment my goal has been realised.
What’s the most invaluable thing you have learned by developing yourself as a musician ‘‘on the road’’?
That would have to be the art of performing; it’s one thing to practise for multiple hours, it’s another to be able to deliver an exciting performance with variety and flow in front of an audience.
Playing with the best musicians possible, pushes one to perform at the top of their game. You get to witness and experience great musicianship as it’s