Never afraid to wrestle her personal demons into songs, Juliana Hatfield has carved out an impressive musical career with her brand of self analysis. From her work with indie darlings the Blake Babies and her critically acclaimed solo albums (beginning with 1992’s Hey Babe), to the recent Some Girls side project, 2004's critically lauded In Exile Deo, and several releases on her own Ye Olde Records label, Hatfield has won fans with songs that blend bright, infectious melodies with lyrics drawn from life’s chaos and confusion.
Love the song played on WYEP yesterday! Great artist you sampled and your voice sounds as good as ever. Already pre-ordered the CD, demo disk and poster. Can't wait for August.
Hiya Juliana. I feel kind of reassured to read your blog, I have gone through most of my life confused as to why I seem 'incompatable' with other humans. I'm 19 but I don't live life like the average 19 year old. I spend a lot of time with my mum bird-watching and drinking coffee, watching the tide come in and go out. I too am an artist not in the same sence as you but I paint; it's my purpose, my life and my passion. I have never had a job but I don't think I could physically or mentally cope in a job where my heart wasn't where it is suppost to be. Some people were never made for a 9-5 job. I think you're right on when you say creating art it's like waiting for the moment where the creativity starts to flow and things start to happen. I can go for days where I don't paint and I feel really dissapointed by myself and like i should spend the time i get on my art so it doesnt suddenly pass me by. But its really not that simple It's almost like a manic-depressive cycle I think you spend days upset with yourself and frustrated then all of a sudden something inside just kind of 'clicks' and days go into the nights and hours turn into seconds and you just get enwrapped in what you are doing you forget to eat. It's amazing really. I think that I could be autistic, I'm really not sure, I have a really depressing but honest look on life. I don't lie to myself about the world. I went to a concert the other night that a drama group did for charity there were infants and seniors dancing and singing. I enjoyed the concert they were all brilliant but I just thought to myself how weak humans really are and that not everyone in the room will live till they are old and how you see all these people but never chat to them don't know about their lives and so many people just pass you by. When i go in a room a focus on the tiny details i look for signs of past traces people have left by ggraffitiing, how i will never
Juliana, if you tour for the new album (fingers crossed), will you please come to Arizona? I talked to you in Philly a few years ago and you said that you haven't been here since your major label tours. I think you are way overdue for a show in the "Valley of the Sun"!
i have no idea if its really you who checks this, but i just wanted to thank you a lot. my name is becca and i just added you on my new music site. i had to add you because you have been one of my greatest influences and i just wanted to thank you a bundle. i fell i love with your music after hearing "my sister" and now own all of your albums thus far, and will continue to be there at stores on the days that your new ones drop. thanks again, becca
Most of the time, WORK, that is inspired or epiphany "birthed," sounds more evocative.
Cain & Able is a story of jealousy.
I hate every time I hear some idiot professional entertainer procalim he's not working, and you other folk that do construction are really the workers that make up what America "is." -My, dad, drove a bread truck, & unloaded racks.- Actually, people that "make" America are those who love freedom & respect the personal privacy of others, thus rendering this vulgar vice of jealousy, obsolete.
But, when deregulation happened, or what some call relativism, it ENTITLED others, to the emotion of jealousy. "Because what ever is espoused by anyone must be true." So people made up their own truths. And, people that needed material things like: shelter, food, or even, who it is that gets to have a career from having records advertised & sold. Then those, became accused of, laziness.
Dergulated capitalism, is, economic dictatorship; or, "facism." I don't think knee-jerk harsh rules are the answer, either. Grace unto law. Regulation is a synonym for the word, law. If you take away law completly you DYSFUNCTINAL & usually, violent, anarchy. Your'e seeing this kind of anarchy right now with the current housing crisis. The big mouths are finally joining everyone else who didn't have the fortitude of hard work. And who, also though disregarded & reviled inginuity. Bringing us back to yur blog about if you should feel guilty about writing songs.
Do your songs hold the attention of others? Do people think of, or else; either; hum your songs when the CD isn't turned on? Have any ever climbed a mountain & wondered why it was that song that they were humming as they pushed? Then you've done your Ms. Hatfield. It takes a special person to know that everyone is special
Juliana thank you for all your wonderful music through the years. You still have it!! The sweet magic in your voice and your melodies- Love 'Shining On' Keep up the good work,
WYEP is playing some of your new songs in preparation for Friday’s festival. I think “The Fact Remains” is probably your strongest song yet. “I stayed too long…”
I am also prevented from commenting on the Outsider post by the vile MySpace gremlins and will be commenting here.
Life's not all that fantastic in the steady-paycheck realm these days, either. For one thing, the paychecks aren't all that steady. But, I get your point. We all want that feeling of stability, of not feeling like the rug is about to be pulled out from under us at any minute, and that feeling is in short supply no matter what we do for a living. For what it's worth, I think you do an amazing job and I am happy to give you many handfuls of green paper in exchange for sublime auditory experiences.
And thanks for that glimpse into your process. I can understand the need for silence and solitude when you write. I write fiction, and while I know many other writers can listen to music while they write, I can't. Well, I can listen to instrumental music, I guess, but anything with lyrics is way too distracting. I can write reasonably well while other things are going on around me, but my preference is for quiet and solitude. Music will often inspire a story or a scene (your songs have done it more than once), but when it comes time to actually write it all down, I need quiet.
And I'd heard of the whole 13th floor thing, but every time I've stayed in a hotel, I forget to check.
Thanks for the add :) You were the one who inspired me to play guitar, and I seriously wouldn't have made it through my teenage years without your music. I use to have a journal where I chronicled my daily feelings using only lyrics from your songs,lol. Good times. I can't wait to hear the new stuff.
"Struggles & Lulls", the brand new album from Joan Coffey, is available now on ITunes
'a voice that can enchant. Coffey's vocal chords deliver liquid gold with a divine Irish lilt.' FATEA Records 'charming and honest'. Time Out 'Joan's music exudes a warmth, humility and truth that is rare to find in singer-songwriters these days'. Thea Gilmore
The Little Pieces blog won't let me post a comment (error every time so I'll post it here..
We have so much in common in that blog it's eerie, so no wonder I can totally relate to your music. Seriously.. about being alone vs. not, those have been some of my exact thoughts. Looking back, those are and have been my happiest times so far, alone. (I mean alone from a man, not alone from my daughter). And it IS hard to feel 100% in a "couple" type relationship. It feels like some huge piece of yourself is always given up, or lost. I've never felt weird being 'single', but I know exactly what you mean about others trying to make you feel that way. Society. But it's getting better/more acceptable than it used to be.. I also find Buddhism really interesting and no, you're not defective at all. =P Love your blogs!
