Becca Stevens - Regina (2017). Entrevista a Becca Stevens

Becca Stevens denuncia la situación de los niños albinos en tanzania en su video 'Queen Mab'

'Regina', su cuarto álbum se publica el 24 de marzo y está producido por Troy Miller y cuenta con las colaboraciones de David Crosby, Jacob Collier y Laura Mvula

El diseño de su vestuario esta firmado por Koshiro Ebata (Lady Gaga)

Con un notable video, Becca Stevens pone el foco en el acoso que los niños albinos sufren en el África SubSahariano, particularmente en Tanzania, donde muchos albinos han sido asesinados para vender partes de su cuerpo para uso médico en brujería. Dirigido por Damian Weilers y rodado en Tanzania el video 'Queen Mab'  muestra la historia de un día en la vida de un niño albino y una doctora bruja. Cuando cae la noche, ambos protagonistas aparecen en un proceso trágico de colisión.

BECCA STEVENS

Queen Mab (2017)

Siempre buscando y siempre dando de sí las ideas, Becca vuelve a reinventase en ‘Regina’. El álbum arranca en un studio que hace sobre la Reina Isabel I para una pieza de encargo que termina expandiéndose en un tributo a varias Reinas de la Historia. Las letras brotan de la leyenda y de sus vidas, inspiradas por lo divino y lo regio. La voz de Becca es, finalmente, la de una amiga de confianza o un alter ego.

 

‘Regina’, su primer trabajo para Ground Up Music, marca también una primera vez en la que Stevens graba bajo su solo nombre  en lugar de Becca Stevens Band. “No significa que me separe de mi banda, ya que ellos siguen siendo parte imprescindible en el album y serán quienes giren conmigo, se trata mejor de un deseo por abrir las compuertas a otras colaboraciones artísticas que han sucedido en este camino. Es como cuando un pintor consigue finalmente pintar a su musa tras una vida de pintar autorretratos y paisajes.”

El álbum se ha grabado en diferentes fases – en Londres con Miller y una segunda fase con Collier (co-productor del disco junto a Stevens y League), otra sesión con Miller y otra distinta con League en Brooklyn -NYC y la última sesión en Brooklyn con League y los miembros de la banda de Becca (Liam Robinson, Chris Tordini y Jordan Perlson).

Becca durante este año ha colaborado en el reciente álbum de Snarky Puppy ‘Family Dinner’-Volume 2. Ha colaborado también con Esperanza Spalding, Brad Mehldau, Jose James y Alan Hampton por nombrar a algunos. En 2015 publicó ‘Perfect Animal’ (Universal Music), disco que la llevó a girar por todo el mundo durante 2016 junto a su banda y como artista invitada en Lighthouse Band de David Crosby.

Se la compara con Bjork, Beth Orton, Joni Mitchell Sarah McLachlan, Portishead, Tori Amos y St Vincent.

La música de Becca es un compendio de delicadas canciones inspiradas por poetas japoneses, Shakespeare, la música jazz y folk.

Becca Stevens estará actuando en julio en Málaga y el 15 y 16 de julio en Las Palmas y Tenerife.

THE INTERVIEW

We still like more the sound of Becca Stevens in these new songs from your new album "Regina". It sounds more mature, more immersive and evocative sound, more elegant and precious... definitely a great leap of significant quality. What do you think that your music has evolved in these last years?

Thank you! I agree that the sound has evolved, which I believe is a result of me evolving as a person, as we all do, and then doing my best to stay true to myself along the way. In these last few years, I've grown a lot in being less precious about my writing and process, more open, and more focused on storyline rather than my own emotions.

  

What motivated this sound in Becca Stevens? What are or have been your most direct influences when making music?

I would say my most direct musical influence is my family and my upbringing. My dad and brother are both composers, and my mom and dad are both classically trained singers and performers. I grew up performing and singing in our family band, The Tune Mammals. My family has always been very supportive of my artistic endeavors which makes all the difference in the life of an artist following her dreams. My dad raised us on really interesting music. There was a lot of Irish Folk, bluegrass, Appalachian, eclectic world music, and classical music playing in the house all the time. I got heavily into jazz in my early teens while I was studying classical guitar, and got really into indie rock, west African music, and hip hop during college when I was studying jazz. All the while some of my all-time favorites are Björk, Radiohead, Michael Jackson, and Bach.

Next year will mark 10 years since you edited “Tea by Sea” in 2008. What is the difference between the music of Becca Stevens today and your music 10 years ago?

I'd say since "Tea bye sea" my music has gotten a lot more focused, less "jazzy", more eclectic, yet less prone to categorization.

What are your expectations with your next album “Regina”? What do you expect from this album?

My expectations are that I will grow a great deal from playing this music. My hopes are that it will inspire strength in the hearts of the people who hear it.

What do we will see and enjoy in your live concerts?

A group of musicians being themselves, challenging themselves, and playing their hearts out.

Is this your first time in Spain? What do you think about the Spanish crowd? What do expect from them?

I've been to Spain a few times before. The Spanish crowd is lovely. Very warm, and fun, and great listeners.

What are your plans for this current year 2017 and next 2018? We assume that you will touring around clubs and festivals. Can you advance anything to us? Any important event?

2017 is jam packed with LOTS of touring, some teaching overseas, writing/recording/touring with David Crosby, and getting married!

Do you think the digital world will end with music as we know it today? What do you think is the future of music?

The digital world? No. I think music is moving primarily to the digital world, and we as musicians and music appreciators have to find ways of catering to and embracing that change without quitting or ending up homeless.

What is your best memory about music?

This one time my students at a music camp in Denmark came up behind me and hugged me one by one while I was performing a song in a candlelit cathedral. That was pretty awesome.

How is a normal day in the life of Becca Stevens? 

A lot of traveling, schlepping, random sleep schedules, international and private teaching, performing, interviews when I can, and too much time on computer/phone but somehow never enough to catch up.

What do you think about the current economic and social situation in United States, Europe and in the World in general?

I'm severely worried about it bums me out on a daily basis. I think the responsibility of artists to inspire, awaken, and unify is higher than ever before.

BECCA STEVENS

Queen Mab (2017)

MISCELLANY

Could you tell us about...

... A book?:

True Love by Thich Naht Hanh is like a bible to me.

... A movie?:

Waiting for Guffman is a perfect movie.

... A song?:

Michael Jackson's Man in the Mirror is TRUTH.

... An album?:

No album inspires vivid emotional time travel for me like Radiohead's "kid A".

... A group or soloist?: 

I think Nai Palm from Hiatus Kaiyote is a force of nature and divine authenticity and we are lucky to have her on this planet. I feel the same about Björk, Kendrick Lamar, and Joni Mitchell.

... A hobby?:

Dancing! In another life...