Joanna Newsom

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Nevada City CA, United States (2002 – present)

Joanna Newsom (born January 18, 1982) started taking piano lessons at a very early age and played for a couple of years, but switched to the harp at seven. Her approach to the harp, from the percussive aspects of her playing to her chord changes, was also influenced by West African and Venezuelan harp music, which she began studying at a folk music camp she attended in her early teens. At the same time, she also listened to more vocal-based , , and like Karen Dalton, Texas Gladden, Patti Smith, and Billie Holiday. By the time she reached high-school age, Newsom decided she wanted to become a composer, and while that became the focus of her studies, in her free time she began writing and recording instrumental songs. Eventually, Newsom’s passion for songwriting won out, and she began studying creative writing to work with words in the same way she was accustomed to working with music.

Although Joanna Newsom’s Appalachian-meets- take on music is her most celebrated work, her range is even more inclusive than her solo career suggests: the classically trained harpist adds a decidedly different, textural sound to Nervous Cop, the noise rock trio that also features Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier and Hella’s Zach Hill, and she also plays keyboards for The Pleased, another San Francisco-area band more akin to Blondie or Television than her other projects.
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Top Albums

  • The Milk-Eyed Mender
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  • Ys
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  • Walnut Whales
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  • Yarn and Glue
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Top Tracks

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  • TonupTiger

    time for a new record Jo

    9 days ago

  • lewiskendell

    Just hit 1000 plays, still can't decide what's more beautiful: Joanna's music or Joanna.

    9 days ago

  • mattmacneil

    “Like somebody turned a hose on a mule and rubbed it with Vicks. And then snubbed a cigarette out in a nylon rug.” -Steve Albini on the way Joanna Newsom smells

    11 days ago

  • fraturas

    http://pitchfork.com/news/46508-joanna-newsom-and-philip-glass-to-collaborate/

    12 days ago

  • LiteraryBum

    i frequently miss work/class/socializing due to my inability to stop rolling fatties & listening to Joanna. though the former is more of a hindrance than the latter.

    13 days ago

  • JaneDibble

    YOU NEED TO TOUR THE UK. SERIOUSLY

    13 days ago

  • swarmsea

    Yes, there's a three song EP: Joanna Newsom & The Ys Street Band. Tracklisting - 01 Colleen, 02 Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie (which is done in a new arrangement) and 03 Cosmia (new arrangement as well) :)

    14 days ago

  • jandelightmyway

    did she release anything other than the Milk-Eyed Mender, Y's and Have One on Me?

    15 days ago
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