Jann Klose's new album, Reverie, is a beautiful ensemble of soothing lyrics and sweet-sounding rhythms that take hold of the listener's imagination, inviting them into a transcendental-musical trip beyond the limitations of the nine-to-five tangible world that far too often acts as a paralysis to creativity. Carl G. Jung would be proud. Be that as it may, when asked to explain his unique and enchanting easy-listening sounds, Jann describes his music as "Melodic pop rock ... That's the quick and easy description. If I could I'd add strong folk and jazz influences as well as some soul and blues."

Born in Mannheim, Germany, Jann's family relocated to Nairobi, Kenya when he was less than a year old. A few years later, Jann and his family left Kenya for Johannesburg, South Africa. Currently residing in the Bronx, New York, we wondered what it was like living in Africa and how it contributed to him as a musician? "I get asked that a lot and it's difficult to answer. I think it has influenced me more as a person than as a musician. It has made me a more open-minded individual. I enjoy different cultures. I'm drawn to them because they have something to offer that I don't know anything about," says Jann.

Many of the lyrics in the album, Reverie, have thematic elements that include ideas pertaining to the conscious/unconscious with mystical/metaphysical overtones (see: http://www.jannklose.com/lyrics.html). Such lyrics are a far cry from the myriad of commercial music today that tries to appease the cerebrally challenged.

"I think these topics have always been relevant to me. Mystical writings and storytelling have been fascinating to me since childhood. It�s a way of escaping reality," says Jann.

When questioned about the underlying meaning to the song "Beautiful Dream" and why he doesn't want to wake up, Jann claims that "Waking up isn't my favorite thing to do... however ... Some songs sort of just present themselves to you and it's important to let that happen. Beautiful Dream was one of them. I woke up with the melody and partial lyrics in my head and worked on it from there."

In 2000, Jann moved to New York City. Within a few months he found work as part of the cast in the Broadway national touring company for Jekyll & Hyde, and thereafter in the cast of the European tour of Jesus Christ Superstar. Upon his return to New York, Jann began to focus his attention as a singer/songwriter, recording Black Box, a 2003 EP, which gained favorable reviews. Asked if he had a preference between performing his music in concert or acting and singing on a Broadway stage, Jann maintains, "Both have their advantages. In a play you work off of a character that is given to you. When I perform my own music I have to create the character from scratch or choose a facet of myself to interpret the song."

Jann credits the support of his family as having a major influence on his art. "My parents have been hugely influential. In addition to my mother and father, I was raised by my grandparents in Germany for part of my childhood. I also became close with the family that hosted me as an exchange student here in the US. My grandparents passed away last year and having been very close with them their deaths were topical more than once on Reverie," says Jann.

When asked about his overall impression regarding today's music and the music industry, Jann asserts, "...it is constantly changing. It's related so closely to technology and that has also been changing rapidly. I think we'll see parts of it take a more clear shape over the next 2-4 years. The exciting part for me is that so much is about the live performance again. Other than writing, that happens to be my favorite part of being a musician." And, as for what music he is currently listening to, Jann adds, "I got a couple of new CDs for Christmas, some Sufjan Stevens and the new Alison Kraus/Robert Plant. Last year I listened to Antony & the Johnsons quite a bit and went back to some of my Alan Parsons Project CDs."

Jann will be touring in Europe this summer, with concerts in Germany as well as first-time trips to the UK and France. He will also be performing in the states with shows in Los Angeles, upstate New York and Massachusetts. On January 25th, Jann will appear at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City for his big CD release party.

For more information, visit the official website of Jann Klose: http://www.jannklose.com.

---

Comments

Add New Search RSS

alex   |2008-01-31 10:19:43 I actually think his album is cool. Sounds like an alright guy, Reply 0   0

Write comment
Name:
Email:	do not notifynotify
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."