Woodpigeon: Das ist der kanadische Singer-Songwriter Mark Andrew Hamilton.
Und so kommentiert Woodpigeon seine Songauswahl:
These songs are in no way listed in any particular order. It is also impossible to pick only 10 favourite songs in the history of music, but these are 10 songs that I like enough at this exact moment in time to tell you about and consider as a “favourite”.
Withered Hand – "Black Tambourine"
Withered Hand is Dan Willson, who is not only one of my best friends in the world, but one of the best songwriters I have ever heard. It honours me that we’ve played together so much.
Deerhunter – "Nothing Ever Happened"
I am always amazed by songs that can move through several movements and change so drastically from the beginning to the end. Deerhunter are incredible at this.
Alexis Weissenberg – Suite Bergmanesque: 3. “Clair de Lune”
Certain piano pieces (like this one and any of Satie’s Gymnopédie) feel so much more powerful to me than even a full orchestra blaring its way through Wagner. I listen to this and see all of the great and sad moments of my life like a film.
Kendrick Lamar – "King Kunta"
I think this guy is incredible, and as a songwriter I’ve never understood people who want to separate different forms of songwriting from one another as though one is better than the other. I write folk songs, but I’m blown away by how Lamar puts his songs together, and wonder what lessons I can take from songs like ‘King Kunta’.
Nina Simone – "I Love My Baby"
There’s basically no song in the world that swells the same way this one does. Those high notes are the most beautiful thing – like finding someone who makes you feel this way in life.
Allo Darlin’ – "Talullah"
I’ve been working on an album of cover songs which, as I went through the process, I soon realized all happened to be written by women. This song gives the record its title, and is a personal favourite for its melody and perfect, breathtaking lyrics.
Janet Jackson – "Rhythm Nation"
First tape I ever bought was Thriller by Michael Jackson, and my first CD was Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet. This song still sounds so new, like nothing else has ever been modern enough to match it.
Zebra Katz – "Ima Read"
I try to stay away from categories like “queer hip-hop” because, as a queer artist myself, I don’t want to be categorized as somehow separate from the artistic world in which I work. Zebra Katz is an artist I truly love, who takes pieces of his own queer experience and puts them in your face the same way “straight hip-hop” puts certain experiences front and center: bold and uncompromising.
Cate Le Bon – "Are You With Me Now?"
I love Cate LeBon and her album Mug Museum has been on near-constant rotation in my life since it came out almost two years ago. Imagine if Nico was born in Wales and had Television as a backing band.
Roy Orbison – "In Dreams"
This you can put down as my favourite song, as it is certainly one of the best things I’ve ever heard. Nothing repeats – there’s no verse, chorus, verse. Just several beautiful movements put one after the other and it just gets better and better from start to finish – and even improves the longer you have had it in your life.
(Woodpigeon, 2.7.2015)