Festival Blog
Singing without words - Jorane uses the cello as a means of expression
FFWD Weekly July 22,2004 Preview Article by Kenna Burima
For all the chanteuses that try desperately to emulate Tori Amos using
their pianos, it is Jorane, a Quebec-based cellist, who comes closest
to breathing new life into that now-stale emotional musical genre. The
almost-frightening emotional quality of Joranes voice, coupled with
the bizarre soundscapes she creates with her cello, shows breadth and
maturity well past her years.
Having picked up the cello at age 19, Jorane has perfectly blended
voice and cello together, creating a beautifully harmonious
instrumental duo. Though initially friends and family were unconvinced
of the pairing Joranes whispery soprano seemed an ill fit for the
rich, sonorous cello all doubts were set aside with the release of
her debut album Vent Fou in 1999. What started as a musical experiment
developed into a formidable musical expression as Jorane honed her
voice as a well-tuned instrument. Treating it as such, Jorane soars,
screeches and moans through elaborate song structures and classical jam
sessions.
Her next album, slotted to come out this summer is another wildly
divergent romp through classical and rock instrumentation, new-age
sound effects, jazz improvisation and words. Known for her vocalizing
rather than word play, Jorane is excited and pleased with what has come
from her new musical growth.
"Its really weird," she admits. "Using words definitely changed the
way I sing. I am fascinated by the power of words sometimes. But when I
would just vocalize, I had all these different sounds that I wouldnt
necessarily use when I would sing in French or English. Even though I
sing the same songs each night, each time is different because the
sounds changed all the time depending on the emotion I wanted to share.
But I have found that even with the words, the story still changes.
Its still very important for me to keep the music as the main
language."
Her cello communicates this language. Her proficiency with the
instrument is almost startling given that she has studied only half as
long as many young prodigies, but the relationship that Jorane has with
her cello is much different than that of a typical classical cellist.
Though Jorane owns hundred of instruments, crammed into her apartment
in Montreal among them a double bass, a harp, two electric cellos, a
piano, guitars, keyboards and Wurlitzers the acoustic cello is the
vessel of her musical expression. Jorane playing resembles a dance,
choreographing her left hand to swirl and sweep in tandem with the many
intense, carnal sounds.
"Its the source of creating for me," she says. "I started to sing with
the cello even before I was able to play. Id bow the open strings and
it seemed like such a natural pairing."
