What's Your Music?
with Veda Hille
How would you like to introduce yourself and/or your work?
I am a songwriter living in East Van. During the pandemic I have worked on theatre shows that may someday go up, made a record of covers like everyone else, and befriended the neighbourhood crows. (Peanuts are the secret.)
Where’s your head at these days?
As long as I remember to play music I’m ok. Staying in the present seems to help in these weird times. Uncertainty is more apparent than ever.
What are you spending time on?
I love cooking fall food. Soup, risotto, crumble. Also working on the East Van Panto, a few new theatre pieces, and getting ready to release an album in the new year.
If you were given the task to curate an event bringing a local and an international artist together who would you invite?
I long to see Tom Ze. Maybe paired with Peggy Lee’s ensemble with Mary Margaret O’Hara? That seems suitably ecstatic.
Any book and/or movie about music you recommend?
I’ve been reading a lot of music autobios lately. The books by Sinead O’Connor and Rickie Lee Jones contain wild stories, but I think my favourite was the Nile Rodgers book Le Freak. He was in so many amazing rooms.
How can we follow you?
Sign up for my newsletter at vedahille.com, I’ll only write you once a year. Or Instagram @loveyoulikealion, twitter @vedahille, fb @vedahille. Otherwise just flag me down at Santa Barbara and check in while we buy our groceries.
[This interview with Veda Hille was realized in November 2021.]
[press play and enjoy the whole playlist continuously or skip tracks using the next button]
Here’s some of the music I’ve been into lately, in no particular order.
Sophia Kennedy: the album Monster
Sophia is an American songwriter living in Hamburg. I got into this through the incredible video for Orange Tic Tac, but the whole record knocks me out.
Daniela Gesundheit: the album Alphabet of Wrongdoing
Daniela is a songwriter and a cantor, I’m still diving into this deep heartfelt record. She writes about it really well on her bandcamp page. Try out In The New Year.
Carmen Braden: the album Seed Songs
Carmen lives in Yellowknife. This album just came out, 18 small songs, each distinct and precise. Check out Cascade as a teaser.
Issam Alnajjar, Loud Luxury & Alie Gatie: the single Turning Me Up
Just a bop. Which is no small thing, right?
BTS: the single Butter, all the singles really
Because I repurpose pop songs for the East Van Panto, and because I live with a 13 year old who loves modern pop, I’ve had to stay up to date with the Current Sounds Of Youth. I freaking love BTS. They’re built on formula, but what a formula! Plus the outfits omg.
Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou: Ethiopiques Vol 21 Piano Solo
Tsegue-Maryam was born in 1923. She is a nun in Ethiopia, and a beautiful piano player and composer. Mother’s Love is a good track to start with.
Deerhoof: the album Love-lore
Oh wow this album. Deerhoof is a monstrous band, and on this album they intertwine more than 40 songs into a 35 minute piece. Listen for pieces of Kraftwerk, Dionne Warwick, Laurie Anderson, Anthony Braxton, Sun Ra, Stravinsky, Ennio Morricone…it’s the best noise puzzle ever. Track 1 to start!
Futuro Pela: the song Warming
The TV show Los Espookys is wild and very funny and has a soundtrack that is all Spanish language dark wave.
Great Aunt Ida: the album Unsayable
Ida is a friend and a treasure. She hasn’t put out a record in 10 years, and Unsayable is a great relief. Worth the wait.
Sparks: the album Lil’ Beethoven
I went to see the great doc The Sparks Brothers, and it brought me back to their completely overwhelming catalogue. This is an album from 2002 that I had missed. Check out the song My Baby’s Taking Me Home. I love a one line song.
Jonny Muir: the single Your Young Voice
Another one line song! This was the credit song in one of the episodes of Sex Education season 3.