ere are some rough takes of songs I wrote in New York for my next album, Yo, Baby, Yo. The tracks are in chronological order of when I wrote them, and follow a story arc of my departure from California, to navigating New York, to fleeing the city and returning home to the tropics. The title track is about finding myself in the middle of one of the world's most famous cities, shocked and bewitched, dealing with a devastating loss and a profound shift in my life.
My first album, Mellow Mood, is described as haunting, melodic soul folk originals with shades of early reggae and pre-war country. In 2004, two of my sisters and I, Nikki and Ninah Jackson, began performing as Mellow Mood, named after one of our favorite early reggae songs. The album was composed between 2004 and 2007, and recorded on a Tascam analogue 8-track in the summer of 2007 in Silverlake, California. The recording engineer was Davin Givhan, who is a very talented musician and songwriter.
I performed all vocal and guitar tracks live and simultaneously, one take at a time. The tightly interlocking backing harmonies sung by my sisters were also recorded live and simultaneously, onto one track. Bass, organ and percussion was then recorded by Davin, who also mixed the album. The exception is the track Be For, recorded and mixed in Long Beach in 2007 by Jim Schwartz of Innaway and Gang Violets. You can read more and purchase it at cdbaby.
SOME BACKGROUND As a snotty nosed litte girl I lamented that I’d never have a pretty voice, but singing brought me the unique, incorruptible satisfaction of expression and execution, so I kept singing. My phrasing, timbre and delivery are those of an untrained voice finding its way and getting a song sung as best it can.
I played guitar for six years before I wrote a single song. I’ve now been songwriting for thirteen years and I hope each new song is increasingly sophisticated, more acutely conveys mood and emotion, and more skillfully incorporates my inspirations. Some of my favorite artists are Air, Sade and Cat Stephens. The best vocalists I have heard are Sara Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. The music I most like to listen to is instrumental jazz from the late 50’s and 60’s, because it lets me relax and think.
I played guitar for six years before I wrote a single song. I’ve now been songwriting for thirteen years and I hope each new song is increasingly sophisticated, more acutely conveys mood and emotion, and more skillfully incorporates my inspirations. Some of my favorite artists are Air, Sade and Cat Stephens. The best vocalists I have heard are Sara Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. The music I most like to listen to is instrumental jazz from the late 50’s and 60’s, because it lets me relax and think.
