INTERVIEW: Johanna Glaza — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Willie Nash

Johanna Glaza

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THANKS to Johanna Glaza...

PHOTO CREDIT: Willie Nash

for talking about her epic new single, Albion, and the E.P. of the same name (out tomorrow); what is coming up next year and how the Lithuanian-born, London-based artist mixes those two rather different lands – Glaza highlights a rising musician that we should have a look at.

I ask whether there are tour dates coming and whether she has a favourite music memory; the albums that are most important in her life and who she’d support on tour given the chance – she ends the interview with a great track selection.

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Hi, Johanna. How are you? How has your week been?

I’m good, thanks. I’ve been trying to spend more time off line this week and it feels wonderful.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

I’m an independent, London-based artist, writing long Baroque-Folk songs with an Avant-Garde twist.

Albion is your latest track. Can you reveal the inspiration behind the song?

I intended to compose a song using William Blake’s words just for fun for a friend of mine but ended up writing an eight-minute piece which took me months to complete. The dramatic events of the poem perfectly mirrored my own heart at the time.

It is from the E.P. of the same name. What sort of themes and ideas influenced the music?

The desire to live and to be alive. I was coming out of grieving for my both parents whom I lost one after the other.

You are from Lithuania but based in London. Is it easy to balance the two worlds?

They merged naturally into one strange world for me. I need both the energy of metropolis and the complete solitude in the wild. The only difficulty is trying to figure out where am I in the first seconds after waking up.

PHOTO CREDIT: Willie Nash

In terms of artists; who do you count as idols?

They die in me from time to time. At this moment, I’m still looking for the new one.

Do you already have plans for 2019?

I fear the word ‘plan’ more than anything. I just hope to keep doing what I’m doing.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

The shooting of the video for Albion felt like being in a different world. I’d love to relive it.

PHOTO CREDIT: Rachel Poulton

What does music mean to you? How important is it in your life?

Good question: I never thought about it. Music has always been there in my life. Like oxygen - I didn’t question it. It's my own world I can escape to any time.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Björk – Debut

For breaking all the boundaries I knew at the time.

Joni Mitchell – Blue

For being so naked.

Roy Harper – Stormcock

For teaching me that a song is not just a verse-chorus thing.

As Christmas is coming up; if you had to ask for one present what would it be?

One way ticket to India? Don’t ask me why (smiles).