- Wed, 2012-08-29 14:51
What's up... I'm Jesca Hoop. You can call me Hoop.
As you might guess I make records and write music and perform for people round this blue planet. I am a California girl living and working in Manchester, UK. I am grateful for the work that I am fortunate enough to do.
It's hard to describe how I feel about music however. It's complicated... A love-hate relationship you might say. Sometimes it gifts me its burden, sometimes it is my burden's relief. The cure and the cancer it would seem. I am never easy when I am not writing. It's like I'm keeping my very own child locked in my basement. I am not fond of this kind of feeling, so you can imagine its opposite when indeed I am successful in my writing. I feel quite blessed to have been raised a singer. It is really such a lovely thing to be able to do. God I love it. I thank the stars for it. I don't know where I would be - or who I would be for that matter - without my voice.
So here is a playlist of songs that bring me Joy, along with a feature of a song and album and a video.
Much Love, Hoop x
Click the play button below to launch the pop-out player and stream Jesca Hoop's playlist, then scroll down to read her features...
I chose this song for its featured soloist, whose name is Yanka Rupkina. This singer had a large part to do with the Bulgarian choir's popularity, and if you listen to this track you will see why. Her voice - and especially in this song with its heart bleeding melody - is unlike anything I have heard. It is a healthy voice used in the most elastic way... this performance is a real display of fitness, not just physically but emotionally as well. Though I do not understand the language in this song, I am able to feel through her (and the choir supporting her) expression and the heart she pulls through the voice. I don't know what they are saying, but I am held very close, and I'm inside the feeling as they sing. It is sad and soothing and full of hope... full of triumph even.
I have also included a link to watch a little interview on Yanka Rupkina and Kate Bush (who incorporated them into her recordings).
I would take this record to a deserted island. I have been listening to this record since I was a child and I know every word. It starts with the song Obvious Child and features fantastic Brazillian rhythms. Paul Simon's mastery of story telling shines through on this record and features some of his best ever works. He is able to traverse lifetimes in these songs without becoming over verbose. This album is full of energy and effervescence fuelled by awesome rhythmic and brass arrangements. Every song on this record is great.
Just like most Bjork videos, this is wild, weird and wonderful. I love the metaphor she is carrying on her back and the buffalos in this video. An overall visual treat.
The House That Jack Built is the latest studio album by Jesca Hoop, and the fourth collection of eccentric, leftfield pop tunes that the celebrated singer-songwriter has produced since waltzing playfully into our lives back in 2004. It confirms her position as one of the more unique and gifted songwriters around today; if you don't already know Jesca the journey starts here...
