Digest

This podcast features a conversation with Rick Singer and Sabin Nayena about Nayena's new ECM album, "Water Song." The album's title is inspired by Shakespeare's *The Tempest*, specifically Ariel's song, and symbolizes the transformative power of water, encompassing life, death, and emotional depth. The selection of songs involved collaboration with the band Primavera and Salonico, prioritizing melodies and lyrics related to water. The album's multilingual nature (Greek, Spanish, Italian, Irish, English, Arabic) presented challenges in pronunciation but allowed for diverse cultural expressions of emotion. Nayena discusses the difficulties and rewards of singing in multiple languages, emphasizing the importance of conveying emotion regardless of linguistic nuances. The podcast also introduces the band members and their instruments, highlighting their diverse musical backgrounds and influences, which contribute to the album's rich and layered soundscape. Finally, Nayena details her long-standing collaboration with ECM Records and producer Manfred Eicher, emphasizing their collaborative approach and the freedom to explore diverse musical possibilities.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction to "Water Song" and its Creation

This podcast introduces Sabin Nayena's new ECM album, "Water Song," inspired by Shakespeare's *The Tempest* and exploring themes of language, nature, and emotion through art. The album's multilingual nature and diverse instrumentation are highlighted.

00:00:49

Musical Concept and Song Selection

The podcast discusses the album's concept, the selection of multilingual songs, and the challenges and rewards of singing in various languages. The collaboration with the band Primavera and Salonico is also discussed.

00:13:50

The Band, Collaboration with ECM, and Album Production

This section introduces the band members and their instruments, detailing their diverse backgrounds and influences. It also covers Nayena's collaboration with ECM Records and Manfred Eicher, emphasizing their creative freedom and collaborative process.

Keywords

Q&A

• What inspired the concept behind the album "Water Song"?

  Shakespeare's *The Tempest*, specifically Ariel's song, and the idea of water's transformative power, encompassing life, death, and emotional depth.

• How did the selection of songs and languages for the album unfold?

  The process involved collaboration with the band, prioritizing melodies and lyrics related to water. The multilingual aspect presented challenges but also allowed for exploring diverse cultural expressions of emotion.

• What are the unique challenges and rewards of singing in multiple languages?

  Singing in multiple languages presents pronunciation difficulties. However, it also offers a unique opportunity to convey emotion through different linguistic and musical nuances.

• How did your collaboration with ECM Records and Manfred Eicher shape the album?

  ECM's open approach to diverse musical styles allowed for creative freedom. Manfred Eicher's input, particularly in song order, enhanced the album's overall flow and impact.

• How does the band's diverse instrumentation contribute to the album's sound?

  The band's diverse instrumentation creates a rich and layered soundscape that reflects the album's themes of cultural exchange and emotional depth.

Show Notes