Before The Chorus

Episode 58: Feist

Feis uses "Breadcrumbs" for re-encounter ideas

Feist uses the image of breadcrumbs as she retrieves her ideas for a later time: "And so I'm going to put a breadcrumb in the forest in the form of this particular line so I can re-encounter that idea again in 10 years and five years, in six months, 30 shows from now."
^[3]

Sodajerker

Episode 259 - Feist

Feist's songwriting and the sock puppet

If you're invited to the Sodajerker Podcast, you'll get an in-depth look at songwriting. In this episode, the three musicians Feist, Simon Barber and Brian O'Connor talk about the album 'Multitudes'. It's about how songwriting for an album and touring relate to each other. Feist describes how the songs were not written in isolation from touring. She calls it an “inductive process” in which the songs are written. Feist gives a visual example of this, namely a sock puppet: "So it's actually been like the sock puppet was turned inside out and all you see is the threads put back together, turned back into the sock puppet, turned inside out again." ^[4]

Q with Tom Power

Feist on Multitudes, motherhood & memories + Nico Paulo’s new record

Feist's success and later music

The end of the interview addresses Feist' songwriting after her great success.
Tom Power asks Feist to what extent her great musical success at the time (especially her song “1234”) ad an impact on her. Particularly how this success influenced the music she made from then on.
Feist talks about the influence of success on her later music production. There was a joking break for instruments such as the glockenspiel and the tambourine. But that this was only temporary. After a few years she tried to remember what life is about and get to a place where she can be in the moment. Writing her new music is not about repeating something or being different. It's about capturing the new moment. The music is the result of her inner longings. Feist hopes that listeners can find a similar emotional connection to her music. Feist appreciates it when people listen to her music with a headphone experience. Her job offers the opportunity to create such shared experiences.^[5]

References

[1] Madden, E. (2023, April 10). Feist on multitudes, motherhood, arcade fire, and twee-ness. Vulture. https://www.vulture.com/2023/04/feist-multitudes-album.html

[2] Barton, L. (2023, April 11). ‘I was singing myself through the grief’: Feist on losing her father – and finding her voice. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/08/feist-multitudes-arcade-fire-interview

[3] Loporcaro, S. (2023, August 23). Episode 58: FeIST | Interview. Before the Chorus. https://www.beforethechorus.com/post/episode-58-feist-interview

[4] Episode 259 – Feist. (n.d.). Sodajerker. https://www.sodajerker.com/episode-259-feist/

[5] Feist on Multitudes, motherhood & memories + Nico Paulo’s new record | Q | On Demand | CBC Listen. (2023, April 17). CBC Listen. https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-50-q/clip/15978636-feist-multitudes-motherhood-and-memories-nico-paulos

[6] Dolan, M. (2024, August 5). Episode 254: Feist. Song Exploder. https://songexploder.net/feist

References

[1] Musician Julia Jacklin on protecting your definition of success – The Creative Independent. (n.d.). https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/musician-julia-jacklin-on-protecting-your-definition-of-success/

[2] Marsh, W. (2022, August 24). Julia Jacklin finds the light: ‘I’ve wasted a lot of energy in my life trying to be cool.’ The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/aug/24/julia-jacklin-finds-the-light-ive-wasted-a-lot-of-energy-in-my-life-trying-to-be-cool

[3] Julia Jacklin: “The world would be nicer if we broke up with our friends.” (2022, August 30). Loud and Quiet. https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/julia-jacklin-i-feel-like-the-world-would-be-slightly-nicer-if-we-broke-up-with-our-friends/

[4] Lochrie, C. (2022, August 29). On her third album, Julia Jacklin lets go and finds herself. Rolling Stone Australia. https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/julia-jacklin-interview-42392/

Ironing

Ironing is not exactly the most exciting activity and for some it can get a bit monotonous and boring. Why not use the time while ironing to listen to your favorite music?

Washing dishes

Washing dishes is a household chore that you do pretty much every day if you don't have a dishwasher. Doing the dishes doesn't have to be a chore if you can listen to your favorite music or radio at the same time.

Showering

Showering is also an activity that invites you to listen to music. However, please note that you will need waterproof Bluetooth speakers or a waterproof shower radio suitable for the bathroom.

Coding

If you're a coder who can't make progress or if you just can't get into a state of flow during your coding work, then the right music can bring you closer to it.

Doing laundry

It usually takes more than an hour to wash and dry your laundry. Next time you have to do another load of laundry at the laundromat, have your headphones with you, connect them to your smartphone and listen to your favorite music.

Cooking

If you're passionate about cooking, preparing a meal can take longer than an hour. So it's good to have your music playlist ready to listen to while you cook.

Baking

Do you like to bake a cake, bread or other treats from time to time? Listening to music while baking can boost your creativity to try out new baking recipes.

Gaming

Video games are fun, but can be quite exhausting in the long run because you're looking intently at the screen for a long time. A playlist with relaxing and motivating music can be a good balance when gaming gets stressful.

Cleaning

Do you know that too? It's time to clean your home again, vacuum, mop the floor, dust. It takes a bit of effort. But if you combine cleaning with your favorite music, you'll be more motivated to tackle this necessary task.

Studying

The music you listen to is important when learning. If the music makes you nervous and impatient, if it distracts you too much, then certain types of music don't make sense for learning. The music should also ideally not contain any words, i.e. no lyrics, rather instrumental.^[1]

Drawing or painting

Creativity is required when painting or drawing. You become a real artist when you create something new. This works best with inspiration. Listening to music has helped many an artist to create something so beautiful that no one before them has succeeded.

Running

Some enjoy the silence and the sounds of nature while jogging. Others need motivation to run longer distances. There are special playlists with motivating songs that give you a tailwind, figuratively speaking, to get you closer to your running goal.

Waiting

There are countless ways of waiting in everyday life. At the doctor's or in the administration waiting room, in the queue at the supermarket checkout or in front of the ice cream parlor in summer. Take your smartphone or MP3 player, put on your headphones and make longer waiting times more pleasant by listening to your music.

Workout

Motivation and endurance are required in the gym and music is a great motivator. Nowadays, you no longer need to wear heavy and large headphones, which can sometimes be a nuisance. It's also less hygienic if your sweat runs into the ear pads of your over-ear headphones. It's more pleasant to listen to your music in the gym with in-ear headphones that connect via Bluetooth.

Meditating & Yoga

Especially if you are a beginner at meditation or yoga, specially tailored music will help you not to get too lost in your thoughts and not to jump from one association to the next and not find your way back to the object of meditation.

References

[1] Anon. (2021, March 10). Does listening to music really help you study? – The College of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University. https://liberalarts.tamu.edu/blog/2021/03/10/does-listening-to-music-really-help-you-study/

References

[1] Sanfilippo, K. R. M., Spiro, N., Molina-Solana, M., & Lamont, A. (2020). Do the shuffle: Exploring reasons for music listening through shuffled play. PLOS ONE, 15(2), e0228457. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0228457