with Jasmyn Burke
Jasmyn fronts the Toronto indie-pop band Weaves. As part of Winterruption, she and bandmates Morgan Waters (guitar), Spencer Cole (drums) and Zach Bines (bass) are playing the Exchange with Marissa Burwell and The Won’ts on Jan. 25. Here are six favourite songs from Jasmyn. /Gregory Beatty
“Rama Guru” | Alice Coltrane | Divine Songs (1987)
I’ve been listening to Coltrane’s music a lot lately. I’m intrigued by how she left the mainstream in the mid-1970s and started making music with her own Ashram and followers in California. The sounds and chanting just grabbed my ear. I like when repetition creates this warm feeling in the body.
“Runnin Away” |Blood Orange, Ian Isiah and Jason Arce | (2019)
This song is from Queen & Slim, a film directed by Melina Matsoukas with screenplay by Lena Waithe. I really loved this movie, and the music was so touching and felt pertinent to the storyline. Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) scored Q & S, and this song samples The Pharcyde’s “Runnin”.
“New Cassette Love” | Angel Olsen | All Mirrors (2019)
This album came out late last year, and I think it’s a standout. There’s something to the tone of Angel Olsen’s voice and the stories told in her music that feels so real. I love the sound of strings played under someone with such a full voice.
“Cranes in the Sky” | Solange | A Seat at the Table (2016)
This song seems tender, but also tough, and that’s something I gravitate towards as a songwriter. Apparently, she wrote the chorus while staying in Miami and looking out the windows, constantly seeing all the construction and quite literally cranes in the sky. I love how such a concrete observation could be the basis for such a vulnerable song.
“Not” | Big Thief | Not (2019)
This is not a song? I love this so much. I have listened to “Not” on repeat to try to get inside and understand it. I believe they recorded it live off the floor, and you can feel it. And hey, Obama put it on his 2019 year end playlist which is pretty cool.
“Don’t Start Now” | Dua Lipa | Don’t Start Now (2019)
This is a power anthem! It’s so fun. And I love to hear women singing about being empowered and walking away from what no longer works. It’s a fresh narrative for females and I think Dua Lipa makes us all want to dance and live our best lives.