Why the title "The Wheel?"
I found when I was in the whole recording process of this album that everything in my life seemed to be coming full circle. When I was reflecting on the years during which I wrote the songs for the album, to the actual moments of laying down the first tracks, I was seeing one coincidence after another, all symbolizing growth and survival - ultimately leading to transformation. I realized that while I was sinking my teeth into this project, there seemed to be one connecting person after another, and one experience after another, leading me right up to the moments of this recording. I ultimately arrived in a spot where I was looking at a wheel and was on it, and realized the circle had gone all the way around leading me back to the top to begin all over again. Plus there is a tune on the CD called "The Wheel" which I think with the help of the band kicks some serious ass.
You told me you were holed up in an old hotel in New Hampshire for weeks working on this CD. Was this good for the creative juices?
It was actually located in Vermont just over the NH border. It was in the lobby of an old hotel. The place is closed off due to fire but the lobby has a haunting charm to it and that is where the studio is.
It was great for the creative flow because it had a certain personality particularly with the high ceilings and open space. It made for a great live room for the band to connect to in and it inspired energy. It was located in an old town where the freight trains run clear up to Canada. The river runs right through it as well, so there was lots of nostalgia there to feed off of. We recorded it in the middle of January which gave the town a certain hush, and with the snow falling most every day I think we were all transported in some way or another.
You surrounded yourself with a very accomplished group of musicians for this CD. Can you talk about some of the folks. How was the chemistry between all of you?How hard is it to achieve this with a diverse group of people?
The chemistry was great. The drummer (Rohin Khemani) and I have been playing together on and off for four years. We are good friends and always have worked well together. The lead Guitarist (Sal Baglio) and I had a certain fire as soon as we picked up gtrs together and started playing. He definitely fuels me every time we play both on the record and live on stage. He is smoking. Same for the electric mandolinist (Matt Glover) who floors me every time we play and the bassist (Noah Jarrett) was introduced to me by the drummer so they (the ryhtym section) had a great feel together due to their history and connection. Everybody really buckled down and put their all into the takes and I think that is really evident when you listen to it... the moments come through.
Many of the songs in this album seem to be adressing a high power or entity. There is always such a "spiritual" sensibility to your work. I know that you are a practicing Sufi, does this influence your work to a degree?
Good question Doug. I have to say yes, absolutely. For example the tune titled "The Wheel", was written the day after I had returned from a 4 day meditation retreat up in the Bershires. Hence the lyrics...
"..maker of mine, of yours and time, I love you I want to be with you... Enfold me, my beloved I am weak, waking in the dawn of ecstasy, I'm easy like a future ideal, reinventing the wheel to feel..." Practicing any spiritual belief helps put "Life" in perspective and gives me strength... Sufism found me and inspired me to continue on the path of my creative world which is ultimately what sustains me and keeps me moving in a forward motion progressing through my purpose here.
Does this CD herald a new direction with your work, your life?
It does herald a certain completion within myself and a feeling of accomplishment. There were four years leading up to and preparing for the making of this CD. The challenges and hardships I had gone through and had to overcome to get to the point of its completion were many. The beautiful thing is that when I thought I should give up...I endured and when I thought there was no hope...I persevered, and in the end I was rewarded with a great team and record. So it has taught me much and I am excited about the directions it will lead me in, the people it will lead me to and its birth of new ideas. Once again in my mind it leads me to evolution and self- betterment along the cycle or "wheel" of life.
I have heard, that with the help of Rose Gardina, your manager, you started your own label. Why have you decided to go this route?
It is really liberating when you can say f**k it... I'm gonna start my own revolution... and that is the concept behind starting our own label...why wait for this one or that one to come along and get behind the record and often times finding yourself falling prey to empty promises that never see the light of day... I much prefer the concept of paving new roads as somehow that makes the journey appear to be that much more enlightening...
I was told by a writer recently that the the only way to survive as an artist these days is to be "unreasonably committed" to your work. Does this describe you--Jennifer?
It does describe me, unreasonably committed, but then again how can it be unreasonable when most of the time its the only thing that helps me reason or make sense of the chaos... when I sing... it carries me through each cloud and heals me... so, guess you could say I'll probably be reasonably unreasonably committed to it for the rest of my life as it is my sustenance!!
