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Eska – Influences

 
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Zimbabwe-born, Lewisham raised Eska exhibits some evident influences in her music, such as Kate Bush's Hounds Of Love era songwriting on one new track Boundaries, and the soprano vocal leaping of Joni Mitchell. What might not be so obvious are the various artists she has picked here as her current influences that range from 80s new wave keyboardist and singer Tommy Mandal to the alphabet song in Sesame Street (the latter a ploy to get her daughter Wonder to learn her ABC); a reflection on a voracious appetite for music without genre discrimination as well as the reality of life as a recent mum. Never one to overlook a musical style, Eska grew up with the sounds of Madonna, Herbie Hancock and Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. You would think the outcome would be a weird medley of trumpets, vogueing and operatic lamentation, but it's not. It's warm, a li'l bit folksy, honest yet intricate. Dive in… 

Eska plays Islington Assembly Hall on 27th November. More details here.

More info on Eska right here

LISTEN
Judee Sill - The Kiss

She looked like a librarian and sang like an angel. Asylum record’s first ever published artist, Sill had an incredibly turbulent life; heroin addiction, imprisonment for robbery, prostitution culminating in her death via a drug overdose at the age of 35. Sill never achieved the recognition of label mates who included the likes of Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne.

  • Judee Sill - The Kiss

    She looked like a librarian and sang like an angel. Asylum record’s first ever published artist, Sill had an incredibly turbulent life; heroin addiction, imprisonment for robbery, prostitution culminating in her death via a drug overdose at the age of 35. Sill never achieved the recognition of label mates who included the likes of Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne.

  • Marker Starling (Formerly Mantler) - Author

    When I first heard this song it reminded me of Todd Rundgren – all those pretty slash chords! I love Marker Starling’s sonic and visual aesthetic. It feels authentic and I’m impressed whenever someone manages to find a synergy that works for them.

  • Tommy Mandel - Allow Me (To Destroy You)

    What a lyric, ‘Allow me to destroy you, my love.’ Tommy Mandel is most famous for playing with the likes of Bryan Adams and Dire Straits among others. Mandel’s one and only solo record was a self-titled EP released in 1981. This track makes me wonder what more he could have done in his own name.

  • Africa - Here I Stand [1968]

    This obscure soul lament is so raw and real. The group ‘Africa’ is comprised of seasoned LA vocal veterans; you can clearly hear the experience drawn in from voices drenched in gospel and rhythm and blues. This hybrid is perfection to my ears.

  • Louis Farrakhan Performs Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

    This. Is. Mesmerising… Period.
    Farrakhan prefaced his recital by declaring that he would, “Try to do with music what cannot be done with words and try to undo with music what words have done.”

  • Space Art - Love Machine

    French electronic music pioneers – A fave on my daughter Wonder’s YouTube playlist.

  • Sesame Street: Patti Labelle Sings The Alphabet

    Look, I’m a mum now. I have to find ways of teaching my child colours, numbers and the alphabet. The reality is, most musical versions are just hideous so Wonder’s dad and I make up our own songs for her. And Patti? Well, she can sing the alphabet to Wonder anytime.