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Nuance
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Bones was recorded in Madison, WI at Blast House Studios, “We booked recording dates here and there, postponing when Covid cases were at their peak,” she explains. She feels this slower pace allowed her to cut songs that weren’t as strong and that the record turned out differently than it would have under other circumstances. In the end, producer and Emmy award winning composer Scott Lamps tracked the instruments that Ida did not, and engineer Landon Arkens recorded everything. “It was a small team and looking back, it was perfect.”
Bones features Ida Jo’s skillful songwriting. The soulful vocals deliver the deeply reflective songs. While the record has a folk sound, it is both approachable and familiar yet musically unexpected at times.
“Over the course of the pandemic I collaborated with friends from India to do online fundraiser concerts.” She explains much of the inspiration came from these events. “2020 was a time when everyone was going to lose someone or something. It became clear to me that everyone losing a little-rather than some losing everything-was the best we could hope for. In Pennies and Songs she writes:
I have a penny, I have a song
They’ve been enough to keep me going, they’ve been enough to keep me strong
I have to see now what they can do for you
Because there’s no use in saving me if you don’t make it through
Another song to come out of 2020 was Songbird. She explains, “I knew this song was bigger than I could fully grasp when I started writing it.” With new events unfolding, the song came to life line by line. “This song is about being told to sing for your life-to make music, make art-but at the same time to know that those activities require reflection in what is a deeply painful time."
Now the bells are too heavy to ring
The winds of change are blowing but not stirring up anything
Now my voice is too heavy to sing
How does a songbird take flight with a clipped wing
In Songbird, there are elements of reckoning with the murder of George Floyd, the political protests in Myanmar, the pandemic: I hear silence in the streets, But empty pots, empty pans, and empty hearts still beat
The title track Bones is inspired by the myth of bone woman. The myth is about an old woman who works to preserve that which is about to be lost. Once she has collected bones she sits and decides what song to sing. Eventually her song sparks life in the bones and they turn into a creature who runs away laughing. Ida Jo writes:
These bones taught me what it means to be free
These bones carried me through the wild country
These bones came from sound
And they'll make their way back to the ground
These bones will again be free
Till then they'll carry me
Even though Bones at times deals with heavy subject matter, the album is hopeful and light. It is a rich, acoustic listening experience. Just like in the myth, music and song can bring a spark of energy to life. Music can help us feel joy and connection deep in our bones, even in dark times.
Bones features Ida Jo’s skillful songwriting. The soulful vocals deliver the deeply reflective songs. While the record has a folk sound, it is both approachable and familiar yet musically unexpected at times.
“Over the course of the pandemic I collaborated with friends from India to do online fundraiser concerts.” She explains much of the inspiration came from these events. “2020 was a time when everyone was going to lose someone or something. It became clear to me that everyone losing a little-rather than some losing everything-was the best we could hope for. In Pennies and Songs she writes:
I have a penny, I have a song
They’ve been enough to keep me going, they’ve been enough to keep me strong
I have to see now what they can do for you
Because there’s no use in saving me if you don’t make it through
Another song to come out of 2020 was Songbird. She explains, “I knew this song was bigger than I could fully grasp when I started writing it.” With new events unfolding, the song came to life line by line. “This song is about being told to sing for your life-to make music, make art-but at the same time to know that those activities require reflection in what is a deeply painful time."
Now the bells are too heavy to ring
The winds of change are blowing but not stirring up anything
Now my voice is too heavy to sing
How does a songbird take flight with a clipped wing
In Songbird, there are elements of reckoning with the murder of George Floyd, the political protests in Myanmar, the pandemic: I hear silence in the streets, But empty pots, empty pans, and empty hearts still beat
The title track Bones is inspired by the myth of bone woman. The myth is about an old woman who works to preserve that which is about to be lost. Once she has collected bones she sits and decides what song to sing. Eventually her song sparks life in the bones and they turn into a creature who runs away laughing. Ida Jo writes:
These bones taught me what it means to be free
These bones carried me through the wild country
These bones came from sound
And they'll make their way back to the ground
These bones will again be free
Till then they'll carry me
Even though Bones at times deals with heavy subject matter, the album is hopeful and light. It is a rich, acoustic listening experience. Just like in the myth, music and song can bring a spark of energy to life. Music can help us feel joy and connection deep in our bones, even in dark times.
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BONES: All songs written by Ida Jo
Ida Jo: vocals, violin, mandolin Scott Lamps: upright bass, acoustic & electric guitar Recorded by: Landon Arkens at Blast House Studios in Madison, WI Mixed & Mastered: Scott Lamps |
Recent Collaborations
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Guest Artist on 100 Gandhi Road Darjeeling by Arko Mukhaerjee (2021) |
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Guest Artist on Mantra: Mind Instrument project with Yotam Agam (2020)
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Collaboration with Arko Mukhaerjee & Sandra Chatterjee (2020)
"Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings influenced Bhakti movement and his verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib. He was a poet of equality, a poet of love, a poet against all divisive forces.
We three friends from three countries, Sandra Chatterjee from Munich, Germany, Ida Jo from Minnesota, USA and myself Arko Mukhaerjee from Kolkata, India bring to you our humble interpretation of the song. This is a improvised version of this legendary song where we have tried to give our humble best. All three of us, living in these trying times, hope sincerely that human kind finds it's thread of oneness, through love and togetherness. This video is edited and partly shot by our dear brother Amit Biswas, a sincere village boy, who has tirelessly worked during the entire time of countrywide lockdown, to support the poor and underprivileged of his area. We express our gratitude to him and everyone who has helped in the making of this video." |
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Guest Artist on Bonaleyo by Scott Lamps (2019) |
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Safe In Sound The Remixes with DJ Taz Rashid (2018)
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Language of the Light - 2017
"Her music explores the interconnectedness of humanity, and evokes a spiritual energy of both searching and grounding. Her most recent album, Language of Light, is specifically inspired by the yoga practice." - Jillian Billard, Wanderlust |
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HUM - 2017
"Almost gospel in its purity and delivered with Nashville flair, it captures all the ingredients. Ida Jo’s voice is strong but yet breathy, with a somberness and that sense of searching that’s so central to her music."
- Rick Tvedt, Local Sounds Magazine
Guardian of Being - 2015
The Current - 2014
click to purchase on iTunes
Praise for The Current:
"A brilliant conceptualization of discovery."
"An immensely pleasurable listen, soulful and charming."
-Madison Magazine
"Brilliant Violinist..."
-Local Sounds
Hope. Joy. Peace. Surrender.
Ida Jo’s fifth studio album, The Current, cuts to the heart of being human. Where do we find hope when it seems hopeless? How do we bring joy into every day of our lives? How do we find peace within ourselves? How can we surrender a little bit when we feel so compelled towards control?
Ida Jo, named WAMI Female Vocalist of the Year (2013), delivers passionate and honest performances that showcase the purity and power of her message.
The songs of The Current display Ida Jo’s growing maturity and the influence of her yoga practice. “What is real is only in the moment,” she sings in the opening track Passing Through, with more than a bit of equanimity and peace.
In the song Surrender she explores the idea of letting go of the things we hold on to so tightly. This letting go, she suggests, brings a quiet happiness. “I am here in the hollows of stillness. I am here, in peace I lie.”
For Better For Worse - 2013
Click to purchase on iTunes
"It’s likely you’ve never heard of Ida Jo, but she’s been quietly amassing a solid following and resume." Madison Magazine
"She has a way of making you want to hear more by the clear, airy sound that makes her music refreshing yet soulful." Wisconsin Area Music Industry
Vision. Integrity. Passion. Honesty.
Ida Jo continues her prolific output with the intimate new album For Better For Worse. It is her 4th solo release in as many years, following 2012's raw and energetic Uncharted. For Better For Worse is spacious and personal, full of insightful lyrics and groovy, violin-driven textures.
Familiar are Ida Jo's “innovative violin work and her soulful vocals” (AV Club), at turns crooning and belting. “Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history” (Relate Magazine). She uses her violin for everything from rhythm, with her signature "chopping", to melody, ambience and texture. Her playing is "masterful and unexpected" (Emmie Music Magazine).
Lyrically, For Better For Worse continues Ida Jo's search for substance in her life and work. The song Glory is about finding value in one's profession. "I woke up as a painter/Thinking it could be enough for me", she sings, hopeful that a vocation can translate to greater meaning. But as the song continues, she changes careers and explores the value of work like writing and singing. It seems there is no simple answer. "Does it ever play out as expected?" she asks in the title track as she takes a step back to gain some perspective. All signs point to no as she guides us through other songs like Juggling, the unvarnished story of a family who has fallen on hard times. In the angelic finale City That Dreams, Ida Jo allows what may be a brief glimpse inside her head. Patient and airy, the song explores the elusive nature of happiness and art. We are forever flirting with the unexpected, and whether we are happy or heartbroken, we are never more than a moment from a reversal. "It's not what it seems", she sings, "In the city of dreams".
Even as Ida Jo explores the depths of her art and life for meaning and direction, she seems at peace, or at least comfortable with her role as a musician. Sometimes it is glamorous, sometimes hopeless. "All is as it should be," concludes the title track, "for better, for worse."
Click to purchase on iTunes
"It’s likely you’ve never heard of Ida Jo, but she’s been quietly amassing a solid following and resume." Madison Magazine
"She has a way of making you want to hear more by the clear, airy sound that makes her music refreshing yet soulful." Wisconsin Area Music Industry
Vision. Integrity. Passion. Honesty.
Ida Jo continues her prolific output with the intimate new album For Better For Worse. It is her 4th solo release in as many years, following 2012's raw and energetic Uncharted. For Better For Worse is spacious and personal, full of insightful lyrics and groovy, violin-driven textures.
Familiar are Ida Jo's “innovative violin work and her soulful vocals” (AV Club), at turns crooning and belting. “Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history” (Relate Magazine). She uses her violin for everything from rhythm, with her signature "chopping", to melody, ambience and texture. Her playing is "masterful and unexpected" (Emmie Music Magazine).
Lyrically, For Better For Worse continues Ida Jo's search for substance in her life and work. The song Glory is about finding value in one's profession. "I woke up as a painter/Thinking it could be enough for me", she sings, hopeful that a vocation can translate to greater meaning. But as the song continues, she changes careers and explores the value of work like writing and singing. It seems there is no simple answer. "Does it ever play out as expected?" she asks in the title track as she takes a step back to gain some perspective. All signs point to no as she guides us through other songs like Juggling, the unvarnished story of a family who has fallen on hard times. In the angelic finale City That Dreams, Ida Jo allows what may be a brief glimpse inside her head. Patient and airy, the song explores the elusive nature of happiness and art. We are forever flirting with the unexpected, and whether we are happy or heartbroken, we are never more than a moment from a reversal. "It's not what it seems", she sings, "In the city of dreams".
Even as Ida Jo explores the depths of her art and life for meaning and direction, she seems at peace, or at least comfortable with her role as a musician. Sometimes it is glamorous, sometimes hopeless. "All is as it should be," concludes the title track, "for better, for worse."
Uncharted - 2012
Click to purchase on iTunes
"There's something refreshing about the record..." Isthmus Daily Page 3/12
"With a voice as gripping as Grace Slick’s of Jefferson Airplane and lyrics that are both hopeful and revealing, Ida Jo’s album has plenty of tracks that will resonate with the Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch fans among us." Badger Herald 10/12
"The singer’s third album, “Uncharted,” is her most effortless to date..." 77 Square 11/12
"Another spoken bit, “Loan” opens the record impressively, leading into “Who You Are,” the album’s standout track that demonstrates Ida Jo’s pop sensibilities and uniquely personal delivery." Local Sounds Magazine 11/12
Discovery. Bravery. Self.
Uncharted, Ida Jo's 3rd album in as many years finds her in pursuit of all these things.
Led as always by Ida Jo's “innovative violin work and her soulful vocals” (AV Club), Uncharted is expressive and groove-oriented, bearing the marks of the southern rock and folk that influenced her. (Think of artists like Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and The Band.) “Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history.” (Relate Magazine) Also present are the subtlety and grace of her background in classical violin. Add to that a healthy amount of individuality and stubborn indie spirit and you begin to get an idea of her sound. “Ida Jo's voice is refined enough to conjour reflection and edgy enough to stir agitation...” (Isthmus Daily Page)
Thematically, Uncharted is focused on the pursuit of self, no matter how difficult the road may be. “The uncharted takes fortitude and bravery” she sings in the title track. We have to sacrifice and struggle if we want to blaze a new trail and be who we are meant to be.
On violin, Ida Jo employs a seldom heard technique that is the combination of a folk fiddle style called "chopping" and her extensive classical training. She plays the rhythm, the harmony and sometimes even the melody at the same time. What it ends up sounding like is beyond explanation and without comparison, somewhere between an acoustic guitar and an orchestra. She is one of only a handful of violinists in the world to play in the style. It has been praised as "masterful and unexpected" (Emmie Music Magazine), "inventive yet accessible," (AV Club - Madison) and "avoiding rootsy fiddle or orchestral indie clichés" (The Isthmus).
Just as on her previous releases, Ida Jo continues to push the musical and lyrical boundaries of pop music. In a world where most pop music marries predictable chord structures to even time signatures (4/4), Ida Jo embraces quite the opposite. Many songs are in 5/4, an odd time signature usually reserved for contemporary jazz or electronic music. Ida Jo uses the rarity to her advantage, creating a groove and flow you never hear in pop music.
Click to purchase on iTunes
"There's something refreshing about the record..." Isthmus Daily Page 3/12
"With a voice as gripping as Grace Slick’s of Jefferson Airplane and lyrics that are both hopeful and revealing, Ida Jo’s album has plenty of tracks that will resonate with the Vanessa Carlton and Michelle Branch fans among us." Badger Herald 10/12
"The singer’s third album, “Uncharted,” is her most effortless to date..." 77 Square 11/12
"Another spoken bit, “Loan” opens the record impressively, leading into “Who You Are,” the album’s standout track that demonstrates Ida Jo’s pop sensibilities and uniquely personal delivery." Local Sounds Magazine 11/12
Discovery. Bravery. Self.
Uncharted, Ida Jo's 3rd album in as many years finds her in pursuit of all these things.
Led as always by Ida Jo's “innovative violin work and her soulful vocals” (AV Club), Uncharted is expressive and groove-oriented, bearing the marks of the southern rock and folk that influenced her. (Think of artists like Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin and The Band.) “Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history.” (Relate Magazine) Also present are the subtlety and grace of her background in classical violin. Add to that a healthy amount of individuality and stubborn indie spirit and you begin to get an idea of her sound. “Ida Jo's voice is refined enough to conjour reflection and edgy enough to stir agitation...” (Isthmus Daily Page)
Thematically, Uncharted is focused on the pursuit of self, no matter how difficult the road may be. “The uncharted takes fortitude and bravery” she sings in the title track. We have to sacrifice and struggle if we want to blaze a new trail and be who we are meant to be.
On violin, Ida Jo employs a seldom heard technique that is the combination of a folk fiddle style called "chopping" and her extensive classical training. She plays the rhythm, the harmony and sometimes even the melody at the same time. What it ends up sounding like is beyond explanation and without comparison, somewhere between an acoustic guitar and an orchestra. She is one of only a handful of violinists in the world to play in the style. It has been praised as "masterful and unexpected" (Emmie Music Magazine), "inventive yet accessible," (AV Club - Madison) and "avoiding rootsy fiddle or orchestral indie clichés" (The Isthmus).
Just as on her previous releases, Ida Jo continues to push the musical and lyrical boundaries of pop music. In a world where most pop music marries predictable chord structures to even time signatures (4/4), Ida Jo embraces quite the opposite. Many songs are in 5/4, an odd time signature usually reserved for contemporary jazz or electronic music. Ida Jo uses the rarity to her advantage, creating a groove and flow you never hear in pop music.
Singer In the Band - 2011
Click to purchase on iTunes
"Only a year after her 2010 debut, Providence, singer-violinist Ida Jo returned with her newest album, Singer In the Band, which continues to expand on her innovative violin work and her soulful vocals." AV Club
"She's gifted, she's accomplished, and she's still only 24 years old." Duluth News-Tribune 11/11
"Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history. All the emotion of the sixties, the passion of injustice, and the conviction of someone who has the intelligence, talent, and strength to change it all comes from her mouth. I am empowered by the sound of her voice alone; and all that comes from not even considering what she is saying." Relate Magazine 10/11
Click to purchase on iTunes
"Only a year after her 2010 debut, Providence, singer-violinist Ida Jo returned with her newest album, Singer In the Band, which continues to expand on her innovative violin work and her soulful vocals." AV Club
"She's gifted, she's accomplished, and she's still only 24 years old." Duluth News-Tribune 11/11
"Her voice has the vibrancy of Adele with the soul of Joss Stone. It has the color of history. All the emotion of the sixties, the passion of injustice, and the conviction of someone who has the intelligence, talent, and strength to change it all comes from her mouth. I am empowered by the sound of her voice alone; and all that comes from not even considering what she is saying." Relate Magazine 10/11
Providence - 2010
Click to purchase on iTunes
"It is Ida Jo’s personality that shines through on Providence, and that may be its biggest accomplishment." Local Sounds Magazine
"Providence is a reminder that pop instrumentation still has lots of boundaries to be pushed. To that end, Ida Jo's violin is a welcome shove." The Isthmus
"Jo’s voice is powerful and soulful, expertly delivering her lyrics, which focus and the complications of love, family and providence. The most notable aspect of Providence, however, is the violin, which she plays in a masterful and unexpected fashion". Emmie Music Magazine
"Her innovative “choppy” technique of violin playing has the potential to take Ida Jo to great career heights..."Badger Herald
Click to purchase on iTunes
"It is Ida Jo’s personality that shines through on Providence, and that may be its biggest accomplishment." Local Sounds Magazine
"Providence is a reminder that pop instrumentation still has lots of boundaries to be pushed. To that end, Ida Jo's violin is a welcome shove." The Isthmus
"Jo’s voice is powerful and soulful, expertly delivering her lyrics, which focus and the complications of love, family and providence. The most notable aspect of Providence, however, is the violin, which she plays in a masterful and unexpected fashion". Emmie Music Magazine
"Her innovative “choppy” technique of violin playing has the potential to take Ida Jo to great career heights..."Badger Herald