UK Jazz News

Eleonora Claps – new album ‘10pm’

Launch at Cafe POSK, 22 March

Eleonora Claps. Photo credit: Alex Griffiths.

Milan-born singer-songwriter and drummer Eleonora Claps has been based in London since 2007. Her second album, 10pm, to be launched on 22 March, consists of ten original songs, and is a “reflection on the speed and challenges of modern life, infused with nostalgia and memories of the past.” Eleonora is featured as lead singer, multiple backing vocalists and drummer, with John Crawford on piano and Wurlitzer, and Andy Hamill on bass.

UKJazz News: You’ve given the album the title 10pm. Why?

Eleonora Claps: 10pm is when my two daughters – who are still small at 7 and 5 – finally give up and go to sleep (they are very reluctant to rest, and seem to prefer a ‘Mediterranean’ approach to bedtime). So 10pm is when I can start thinking about music: I put my headphones on and write. All the songs on this new album were written around or after 10pm.

UKJN: You were a drummer before you were a singer, and in an electro-pop band, is that right?

EC: I will always be a drummer at heart. I started drumming in my teens and never really stopped. My first serious drumming gig was with an all-girls pop rock band in Milano – Vertigini. We did an album, toured Italy, and also had a few concerts in the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. I was living the dream!

Here in London, amongst other experiences, I had a great time drumming with this wonderful 60s garage trio called The Lysergics. We recorded an album in 2014 and I still love those songs – very powerful stuff.

The electro-pop band was actually my first foray into lead singing, but I was already in the UK then. That is the time when I started to let go a bit and found the confidence to write melodies and lyrics for the first time. The project was short-lived, but I learned a lot.

UKJN: In your first album of songs from 2015 you recorded mostly covers, and now you’ve written all the songs. What led you to this change?

LJN: In my first album, I did include a couple of originals. One was the title track “Stars, Life and Nini” (with a melody based on Dvořák’s Slavonic Dance No.2). I had written other songs at the time, but didn’t feel confident enough to share them all.

Then I became a mother, and that changed everything. I now have very little time to worry; I let things flow out and go back to them later, with much less judgment on the moment. I feel much more free for some reason. I am no longer scared to just share my own songs, share my thoughts in music.

Eleonora (L) with Sarah Gonputh and Fabio Mongelli of the Lysergics. Photo supplied by the artist.

UKJN: From what I hear, you have listened to and absorbed a lot of rock and pop. What was the main influence?

EC: I am more of an (ageing) rock chick than a pop type of person. There are so many rock singers I love for their attitude. As a teenager, Courtney Love was my idol, and I had all of PJ Harvey’s first few albums. But as a little girl I was also always listening to the radio in Milano and that meant a lot of pop music. Janet Jackson was a particular favourite, with all the beautiful layered backing vocals in albums such as Control or Rhythm Nation – I still love those songs!

In the last few years I have enjoyed listening to a lot of different singers: Beyoncé, Hayley Williams, Georgia Mancio, Charli XCX, Emma Smith, Samara Joy,  Esther Bennett, Polly Gibbons… I could go on.

UKJN: In a song like “Working” there’s a completely endearing honesty and directness, but also lightness and fun. You must be pleased with the way that one’s worked.

EC: That is my song for exhausted working mums – watch this space for a video illustration of it at some point. It really is a treadmill juggling it all, and I am aware it’s the same whether you have kids or not, but for me this particular phase of having young children with a full time job is really quite something – especially if you have other aspirations as well. I end up taking it all on because I want to be the best I can, provide, and not completely betray my pre-kids self. But it can be quite challenging, so sometimes I have to just give myself a break. So the song is a bit like two scenarios: me cleaning the kitchen and then me going out to party.

UKJN: And “Contemplation” – as your unrealisable aim when you have so much to do – is such a catchy hooky song.

EC: I am glad you find it catchy! In this modern life it is very rare to have moments of peace and calm. Then again, you only live once, time is ticking, so I feel the need to add as much to my plate as possible, while being aware at the same time that I can’t have it all. So the song offers a few peaceful images of water just flowing and light just shining, in contrast to this constant moving, constant planning, constant sorting out of things.

10pm album cover.

UKJN: The two songs in Italian are very different, much more like natural expressions of calm and beauty. For us non Italian speakers, what are these songs about?

EC: “Il tempo che passa” (time that passes) is a song about my mother, in particular about the way our relationship has changed now I am a mother too. I used to be very angry at her as a teenager (and beyond!) for not totally understanding or supporting my choices in life. Now I realise she just has her own views, and the bond we share is stronger than our disagreements. So the song paints some pictures of moments in our relationship, and tells of how things have changed.

“E’ sera” is a sort of lullaby for my daughters – some kind of painful realisation of the power of social media and the impact it might have on their lives as young women…and a wish for my mothering skills to pass on the tools they need to rise above comments on how they look or what they do. It seems to me that younger people nowadays need to adhere to some kind of stereotype. Often social media is the culprit for giving these guidelines on what life should look like. But there is no stereotype to adhere to, and the confidence to realise this is something precious. I hope my girls have it when they grow up.

UKJN: Tell us about the other musicians on the album?

Wonderful John Crawford is on piano and Wurlitzer. What can I say: he is an inspiration and a creative powerhouse – he is never too far from a musical instrument! Just like in my first album, John’s advice was key when in the recording studio. He has that special musical sensitivity that can shape a song into an emotional journey, and I love the way he can adapt to any genre. He brings so much passion to the keyboard – everything lights up when he plays a song. Look out for his new album Room for Dancing with his quintet: it will be released in April on Elsden Records, with beautiful original music and lovely arrangements of tunes from around the world.

Fantastic Andy Hamill is on double bass and electric bass. He is another musician who plays with his heart: he feels the songs and then turns that feeling into beautiful sounds. It was great to witness his dedication in the studio – the way he looked at matching the words with the basslines – it was just inspiring. I am so grateful he agreed to be part of this.

Some of these songs sound so special because of the chemistry between John and Andy. The stuff that was captured in the studio is just magic.

UKJN: Where and when will the launch be?

EC: The launch will be at Jazz Cafe POSK on Friday 22 March, with John on piano, Andy on bass, and Andres Ticino on percussion – and I might venture behind the drum kit for a couple of numbers if I manage to get the vocals/drum independence thing going! Wish me luck!

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2 responses

  1. Terrific interview that makes me want to buy the album. There’s real love of music in there, the questions and answers. Great title too.

  2. I am lucky enough to have heard the album already and must say it’s absolutely wonderful. Looking forward to the launch party and getting my hands on a CD copy.

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