Review Fix chats with Singer/Songwriter Jann Klose, who discusses his new album “Stereopticon,†as well as his upcoming show at Rockwood 3 in New York City on Dec. 29.
About Jann Klose:
Jann Klose has periodically collaborated with members of classical rock group Renaissance and tours regularly in the U.S., Europe, Africa and Asia. He has opened for or performed with a wide range of artists including Pat Benatar, John Oates of Hall and Oates, Suzanne Vega, Paula Cole, Annie Haslam, Brett Dennen, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Rusted Root, Vonda Shepard, Ben Taylor, Gary Hoey, Jeffrey Gaines, Bret Michaels, Willy Porter, Rosanne Cash, The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn, Marty Stuart, The Yardbirds’ Jim McCarty, Elliott Murphy, Pete Seeger and Les Paul.
Review Fix: What inspired your current album?
Jann Klose: STEREOPTICON came to life after I met Gary Lucas at a Jeff Buckley Tribute at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Gary and I hit it off and started writing together. After we had a few tunes that we felt strongly about Gary mentioned a friend of his Dan Beck. He wanted to see if Dan would want to get involved in the project as a writer and/or perhaps more. I remember when Gary mentioned Dan’s name to me and replying, “I know Dan!†I had met and started to have regular chats with Dan after he was introduced to name by my friend Kink Kume, a Japanese music promoter. Anyway, long story short, after Dan got involved we eventually had enough tunes together that felt like an album and released it in January of 2016 via Cosmic Trigger Records.
Review Fix: How is it different from your previous work?
Klose: It’s a collaborative album so I was just one wheel on the car. I really enjoyed sitting back a bit and lifting together, so to speak. I really hadn’t done anything quite like this before but was into the material and Gary’s playing was so inviting to add melody to. I love coming up with a good melody and it was nice to sort of get out of my element and try something new. I love that we kept it all really simple and didn’t overproduce and even left some small mistakes in. It gives the record a pretty raw feel.
Review Fix: What song has the best story behind it? Can you share?
Klose: Probably Mary Magdalene as it pertains to Superstorm Sandy. We actually filmed the video out on Long Island in one of the communities that was hit very hard the storm and is still rebuilding after all this time. We wanted to get into the heads of folks that live and work in those communities and had to deal with the consequences of the storm first. I myself spent a day on Staten Island with Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz in a clean up effort. Something I won’t forget! Dan came up with the lyrics after we call would sit and discuss the emotions we felt about this event.
Review Fix: What was it like to work with Gary Lucas and Dan Beck?
Klose: As mentioned in my previous answer, we would hang out and chat and give each other ideas all the time. Usually it would start with a guitar riff from Gary, then I would add a melody and tweak the arrangement and then we’d give it to Dan and he’d write lyrics that we would then all tweak together. Because of the time we’d spend together in the City we would chat and come up with topics to write about. It was a really fun process.
Review Fix: Bottom line, why should someone buy this album?
Klose: I think if you are a lover of music, especially into minimalist guitar/voice performances you’d enjoy this record. Gary’s guitar playing is fabulous and I loved performing these tunes live. In fact, all performances are live with very few overdubs. We recorded the album onto two-inch tape and mixed it in that medium as well. Analogue is still the best and sonically it’s a very warm and pleasing record. Ben Kessler did a fab job mastering the album and really opened it up in just the right way. I also have been told it’s a great “driving record.”
Review Fix: How do you want this album to be remembered?
Klose: I think that’s up to the listener. I personally learned a lot form the experience about collaboration and enjoyed the fact that it’s a live studio album.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Klose: I’ve been on the road in the US, England, Canada, Germany and South Africa over the last two years and played a lot of shows… I’m taking a hiatus after the Dec 29 Rockwood show and will start working on a new studio album of my own.
Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?
Klose: Yes, I’ll have a few social guests with me at the Rockwood show including flautist Elsa Nilsson, singer/guitarist Kirsten Maxwell and drummer/percussionist Rob Mitzer on cajon… I wanna try out some new tunes in an intimate setting. Rockwood Stage 3 has the best sound I’ve heard in any venue of that size, hands down.
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