“I sang before I spoke,” singer-songwriter Jo Beth Young begins. “Anyone in my family will tell you I preferred singing to speaking. It has been a passion for as long as I can remember.”
Young’s love for her craft is one of the main drivers behind her music. For her, creating and performing isn’t simply about becoming a musician, but accepting that intrinsic part of herself.
“I can’t imagine not being a musician,” she muses. “If I didn’t make records, I’d still be a musician, even if I went and sang to the seals!”
Music is a powerful artform that’s been used throughout the centuries for healing purposes.
“It is one of the biggest healing arts in the world,” she says. “It intrinsically makes us who we are, whether we think we are musical or not.”
In her own life, music has been a refuge and a form of release. Recalling her early years at school, Young reflects on how her experience of physical bullying led her to join the church choir.
“It was the one place I was safe,” she states, “where it felt like I had a place in the world.”
Young’s music teacher encouraged her to explore her musical interests. Later, at secondary school, it was her guitar teacher who prompted her to develop her singing talent following a performance.
“I became a backing singer as a joke just to get out of classes at school,” Young laughs, “but when the lead singer fainted with fear, I ended up taking over. My guitar teacher told me I should focus on singing.”
Two decades later, in 2018, her first album, An Abandoned Orchid House, recorded as Talitha Rise, was released to international acclaim.
“I’d been playing my own music live since I was 17 and I was 40 when Abandoned… happened,” says Young. “That’s a lot of years to be wondering if you really are a musician or not. When the vinyl arrived, it was a lifechanging moment.”
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هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 153 من Prog.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
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Dig The New Breed
Supergroup collaborator and solo artist Neal Morse has switched things up for his latest album, No Hill For A Climber, and brought in a new team of young talent, referred to as The Resonance. The artist discusses working in a different way, the challenges of lyric-writing, and whether this spells the end of his songwriting partnership with Mike Portnoy.
Tree, Surgin
Formed in Norway in the early 90s, White Willow were among the retro-sounding bands that were at the forefront of Scandinavia's progressive revival, along with Anekdoten and Änglagård. Although they've been inactive for the last seven or so years, their first six albums are in the process of being reissued via Karisma Records. Bandleader Jacob Holm-Lupo revisits those early releases and reveals that album eight could be on the way soon.
An Accidental Decade
Ten years ago, the whimsical stories on Tiger Moth Tales' debut album, Cocoon, captured the imagination of the prog world. Marking the decade with a 10th anniversary edition of the album, TMT's Peter Jones shares some of his personal highlights with Prog and explains why he's still coming to terms with where it all went right.
Rite Here, Rite Now
After a 17-year break, Swedish four-piece Ritual have made a very welcome return with the first part of The Story Of Mr. Bogd. Guitarist/vocalist Patrik Lundström discusses embracing their inner child, the magic of Moomins and the musical journey that led to the creation of the two-part concept album.
The Hiet Is On
The Finnish musical everyman Marko Hietala has been through it all: mental-health issues, leaving the mighty Nightwish and even a stint on reality TV. Fortunately his new album, Roses From The Deep, reveals that he's still as much of a force as ever. Prog caught up with him to find out more.
LIFTING SHADOWS OFF A Dream
It was the reunion that no one thought would ever happen, but after 15 years of making music without him, Dream Theater have welcomed back co-founder Mike Portnoy on their 16th studio album. The drummer discusses Parasomnia, healing old wounds and touring the classic line-up for the band's 40th anniversary.
Ladies And Gentlemen, We Are Floating In Space
Buckle up and prepare to be taken on the ride of a lifetime. Steven Wilson is back with The Overview, an album that even he admits is prog. Comprising two tracks, the conceptual suite includes lyrics from XTC's Andy Partridge and visuals that are out of this world. Prog visits the musician at home to get the lowdown.
RECURRING DREAMS
On his latest album, Heard Noises, Matt Berry takes a leap of faith musically and brings in a more reflective and, at times, confessional approach to lyric-writing. The actor-musician tells Prog about his mind-shift since entering his fifth decade and the very special gift he received from one of his musical heroes that's also played a role on the album package.
Hell - Ain't A Bad Place To Be
In celebration of three decades together, Mogwai have transformed a difficult period into a blazing post-rock extravaganza. The Bad Fire finds the \"prog curious\" Scots in fine form and taking unexpected inspiration from King Crimson, Jan Hammer and Pink Floyd. Bandleader Stuart Braithwaite admits it's never too late to discover The Dark Side Of The Moon.
DORIE JACKSON
Kaprekar's Constant vocalist on her solo career, her dad's influence and why she's happiest being a team player.
