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Milan-born singer-songwriter and drummer Eleonora Claps has been primarily based in London since 2007. Her second album, 10pm, to be launched on 22 March, consists of ten authentic songs, and is a “reflection on the velocity and challenges of contemporary life, infused with nostalgia and reminiscences of the previous.” Eleonora is featured as lead singer, a number of backing vocalists and drummer, with John Crawford on piano and Wurlitzer, and Andy Hamill on bass. Interview by Sebastian Scotney.
LondonJazz Information: You’ve given the album the title 10pm. Why?
Eleonora Claps: 10pm is when my two daughters – who’re nonetheless small at 7 and 5 – lastly surrender and fall asleep (they’re very reluctant to relaxation, and appear to favor a ‘Mediterranean’ strategy to bedtime). So 10pm is once I can begin desirous about music: I put my headphones on and write. All of the songs on this new album have been written round or after 10pm.
LJN: You have been a drummer earlier than you have been a singer, and in an electro-pop band, is that proper?
EC: I’ll all the time be a drummer at coronary heart. I began drumming in my teenagers and by no means actually stopped. My first critical drumming gig was with an all-girls pop rock band in Milano – Vertigini. We did an album, toured Italy, and likewise had just a few live shows within the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. I used to be residing the dream!
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Right here in London, amongst different experiences, I had a good time drumming with this excellent 60s storage trio known as The Lysergics. We recorded an album in 2014 and I nonetheless love these songs – very highly effective stuff.
The electro-pop band was really my first foray into lead singing, however I used to be already within the UK then. That’s the time once I began to let go a bit and located the arrogance to jot down melodies and lyrics for the primary time. The undertaking was short-lived, however I realized quite a bit.
LJN: In your first album of songs from 2015 you recorded largely covers, and now you’ve written all of the songs. What led you to this modification?
LJN: In my first album, I did embody a few originals. One was the title observe “Stars, Life and Nini” (with a melody primarily based on Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance No.2). I had written different songs on the time, however didn’t really feel assured sufficient to share all of them.
Then I turned a mom, and that modified all the things. I now have little or no time to fret; I let issues movement out and return to them later, with a lot much less judgment on the second. I really feel far more free for some purpose. I’m not scared to simply share my very own songs, share my ideas in music.
LJN: From what I hear, you’ve gotten listened to and absorbed a number of rock and pop. What was the primary affect?
EC: I’m extra of an (growing older) rock chick than a pop sort of particular person. There are such a lot of rock singers I like for his or her angle. As a young person, Courtney Love was my idol, and I had all of PJ Harvey’s first few albums. However as somewhat lady I used to be additionally all the time listening to the radio in Milano and that meant a number of pop music. Janet Jackson was a specific favorite, with all the attractive layered backing vocals in albums similar to Management or Rhythm Nation – I nonetheless love these songs!
In the previous few years I’ve loved listening to a number of totally different singers: Beyoncé, Hayley Williams, Georgia Mancio, Charli XCX, Emma Smith, Samara Pleasure, Esther Bennett, Polly Gibbons… I might go on.
LJN: In a tune like “Working” there’s a totally endearing honesty and directness, but additionally lightness and enjoyable. You have to be happy with the best way that one’s labored.
EC: That’s my tune for exhausted working mums – watch this house for a video illustration of it sooner or later. It truly is a treadmill juggling all of it, and I’m conscious it’s the identical whether or not you’ve gotten youngsters or not, however for me this explicit part of getting younger youngsters with a full time job is basically fairly one thing – particularly if in case you have different aspirations as nicely. I find yourself taking all of it on as a result of I need to be the most effective I can, present, and never utterly betray my pre-kids self. However it may be fairly difficult, so typically I’ve to simply give myself a break. So the tune is a bit like two situations: me cleansing the kitchen after which me going out to occasion.
LJN: And “Contemplation” – as your unrealisable intention when you’ve gotten a lot to do – is such a catchy hooky tune.
EC: I’m glad you discover it catchy! On this fashionable life it is rather uncommon to have moments of peace and calm. Then once more, you solely reside as soon as, time is ticking, so I really feel the necessity to add as a lot to my plate as potential, whereas being conscious on the identical time that I can’t have all of it. So the tune gives just a few peaceable photographs of water simply flowing and light-weight simply shining, in distinction to this fixed transferring, fixed planning, fixed finding out of issues.
LJN: The 2 songs in Italian are very totally different, far more like pure expressions of calm and sweetness. For us non Italian audio system, what are these songs about?
EC: “Il tempo che passa” (time that passes) is a tune about my mom, specifically about the best way our relationship has modified now I’m a mom too. I was very indignant at her as a young person (and past!) for not completely understanding or supporting my decisions in life. Now I realise she simply has her personal views, and the bond we share is stronger than our disagreements. So the tune paints some photos of moments in our relationship, and tells of how issues have modified.
“E’ sera” is a form of lullaby for my daughters – some type of painful realisation of the ability of social media and the impression it may need on their lives as younger girls…and a want for my mothering abilities to move on the instruments they should rise above feedback on how they give the impression of being or what they do. It appears to me that youthful folks these days want to stick to some type of stereotype. Typically social media is the wrongdoer for giving these pointers on what life ought to seem like. However there is no such thing as a stereotype to stick to, and the arrogance to grasp that is one thing valuable. I hope my women have it after they develop up.
LJN: Inform us concerning the different musicians on the album?
Fantastic John Crawford is on piano and Wurlitzer. What can I say: he’s an inspiration, and a inventive powerhouse – he’s by no means too removed from a musical instrument! Similar to in my first album, John’s recommendation was key when within the recording studio. He has that particular musical sensitivity that may form a tune into an emotional journey, and I like the best way he can adapt to any style. He brings a lot ardour to the keyboard – all the things lights up when he performs a tune. Look out for his new album Room for Dancing together with his quintet: will probably be launched in April on Elsden Information, with lovely authentic music and beautiful preparations of tunes from around the globe.
Incredible Andy Hamill is on double bass and electrical bass. He’s one other musician who performs together with his coronary heart: he feels the songs after which turns that feeling into lovely sounds. It was nice to witness his dedication within the studio – the best way he checked out matching the phrases with the basslines – it was simply inspiring. I’m so grateful he agreed to be a part of this.
A few of these songs sound so particular due to the chemistry between John and Andy. The stuff that was captured within the studio is simply magic.
LJN: The place and when will the launch be?
EC: The launch can be at Jazz Cafe POSK on Friday 22 March, with John on piano, Andy on bass, and Andres Ticino on percussion – and I’d enterprise behind the drum equipment for a few numbers if I handle to get the vocals/drum independence factor going! Want me luck!
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