Interview: Yael Naim on Latest Album 'NightSongs' and Upcoming Tour
- by Andrew Braithwaite
- in Interviews
Yael Naim, who built a global following from her song being personally selected by Apple's Steve Jobs for a high profile ad campaign, is back with her fourth album 'Nightsongs', due next month.
We caught up with the Parisian-born, Franco-Israeli singer-songwriter to establish a better understanding of her as an artist, and to ask some questions about her latest album and tour.
Having already reviewed her song How Will I Know, which was recently released from the upcoming album, we were keen to find out more.
Q) Your April headline tour in support of your upcoming album ‘NightSongs’ spans across Europe, with a US show in May. What types of venues are you playing and have you got any that you’re looking forward to in particular?
A) This album is very particular and intimate, this is why I asked my team to build a special tour in unusual or rare venues, like Churches, Museums, pockets theatres. For sure only places where you can create a special relationship with people. For that reason, I am really looking forward to ... all of them!
Q) You have received several awards, nominations and been recognized by some huge names both in and outside of music. Are there any artists you would like to work with in the future?
A) Yes of course: Sufjan Stevens, Thomas Bartlett, Moses Sumney, Brad Mehldau again ... Lata Mangeshkar ...
Q) Steve Jobs selecting your song ‘New Soul’ for use on an Apple TV advertisement in 2008 must have been a great boost for your music. Although it wasn’t initially the plan for it to be used in this way, would you ever consider writing for future commercials?
A) Yes indeed. It can surprisingly be a great exchange and an alternative way to expose your music and keep your artistic freedom …
Q) Who are your influences as an artist?
A) Nina Simone, Sufjan Stevens, Bill Evans, Chopin, Björk, Tom York
Q) Your songs have been recorded in French, English, and Hebrew. Does this multilingual songwriting approach help you reach more people and is there a language you prefer to write songs in?
A) In fact, it’s not really about reaching more people ... Everything I do is about expressing a feeling or an emotion, and to be honest I don’t really control in which language it comes to me. May sound weird, but it's true :)
Q) There has been a slight change in your music over the years, how do you see your style evolving in the future?
A) Have no idea ...Every time I tried to start composing with a preconceived idea, I ended at the opposite!
Q) Finally, have you got a message you would like to tell your fans?
A) Vibrate as much as you can and do every day the simple things that makes you feel connected and happy ... From there, magic can happen. .
Singer-songwriter Indie folk
