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'''Josephine Foster''' is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer from [[Colorado]]. Her music draws from various sources, and her lyrics and style weaves older styles with the modern.<ref>{{cite web|title=Endearingly Odd Musician Casts a Spell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/29/josephine-foster-review-endearingly-odd-musician-casts-a-spell |accessdate=November 21, 2019 }}</ref>.
'''Josephine Foster''' is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer from [[Colorado]] known for her time-defying voice.<ref>https://drownedinsound.com/releases/4192/reviews/12890-josephine-foster-hazel-eyes-i-will-lead-you</ref> Her music and lyrics weave older styles with the modern.<ref>{{cite web|title=Endearingly Odd Musician Casts a Spell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/29/josephine-foster-review-endearingly-odd-musician-casts-a-spell |accessdate=November 21, 2019 }}</ref>

As an adolescent she worked as a funeral and wedding singer, and aspired to become an opera singer. After her studies she began to record demos of her own songs, resulting in the early recordings ''There Are Eyes Above'' (2000), an album of ukulele accompanied songs strongly influenced by [[Tin Pan Alley]], and an album of children's songs, ''Little Life'' (2001).
As an adolescent she worked as a funeral and wedding singer, and aspired to become an opera singer. After her studies she began to record demos of her own songs, resulting in the early recordings ''There Are Eyes Above'' (2000), an album of ukulele accompanied songs strongly influenced by [[Tin Pan Alley]], and an album of children's songs, ''Little Life'' (2001).


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The songs on her first solo studio album ''[[Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You]]'' (2005, [[Locust Music]]) evoke American folk and blues forms of the early 20th century. ''[[A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Josephine Foster album)|A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing]]'', released in 2006, features unorthodox electrified interpretations<ref>https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3325-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing/</ref> of 19th century German [[Lied]]er. ''[[This Coming Gladness]]'', a rock album of avant-folk arias <ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-coming-gladness-mw0000791521</ref> was released in 2008 and featured Victor Herrero (electric guitar) and Alex Neilson (percussion)<ref>https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/josephine-foster-coming-gladness</ref>. In early 2009 she recorded 27 settings of Emily Dickinson poems entitled ''Graphic as a Star''. These austere miniatures for voice and guitar were released with the British [[independent record label]], [[Fire Records (UK)|Fire Records]]<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/graphic-as-a-star-mw0001937549</ref>. Working with musical partner Victor Herrero in rural Spain at that time, they began collecting and arranging collections of folk songs, resulting in the recordings ''Anda Jaleo'' (a resetting of Garcia Lorca´s piano/voice transcriptions of Spanish songs), and its follow-up ''Perlas''.
The songs on her first solo studio album ''[[Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You]]'' (2005, [[Locust Music]]) evoke American folk and blues forms of the early 20th century. ''[[A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing (Josephine Foster album)|A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing]]'', released in 2006, features unorthodox electrified interpretations<ref>https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3325-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing/</ref> of 19th century German [[Lied]]er. ''[[This Coming Gladness]]'', a rock album of avant-folk arias <ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-coming-gladness-mw0000791521</ref> was released in 2008 and featured Victor Herrero (electric guitar) and Alex Neilson (percussion)<ref>https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/josephine-foster-coming-gladness</ref>. In early 2009 she recorded 27 settings of Emily Dickinson poems entitled ''Graphic as a Star''. These austere miniatures for voice and guitar were released with the British [[independent record label]], [[Fire Records (UK)|Fire Records]]<ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/graphic-as-a-star-mw0001937549</ref>. Working with musical partner Victor Herrero in rural Spain at that time, they began collecting and arranging collections of folk songs, resulting in the recordings ''Anda Jaleo'' (a resetting of Garcia Lorca´s piano/voice transcriptions of Spanish songs), and its follow-up ''Perlas''.


In 2012, she returned to Colorado to record her concept album ''Blood Rushing'', which Foster considers a Pan-American ballet chanté or sung ballet <ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/blood-rushing-mr0003739903</ref> and was built upon the rhythm of a heartbeat. A "mythical western movie imbued landscape"<ref>http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2012/09/20/josephine-foster-blood-rushing-fire-records/</ref> with 'avant-garde soul' <ref>https://thankfolkforthat.com/review-josephine-foster-blood-rushing/</ref> was captured in a Boulder dance and yoga studio by Andrija Tokic and featured Victor Herrero on classical and electric guitars, [[Paz Lenchantin]] on bass, Heather Trost on violin, and Ben Trimble on pueblo skin drums.
In 2012, Foster returned to Colorado ''Blood Rushing'', which she imagined as a ballet chanté or sung ballet <ref>https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/blood-rushing-mr0003739903</ref> built upon the rhythm of a heartbeat. A "mythical western movie imbued landscape"<ref>http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2012/09/20/josephine-foster-blood-rushing-fire-records/</ref> with 'avant-garde soul' <ref>https://thankfolkforthat.com/review-josephine-foster-blood-rushing/</ref> was captured in a Boulder dance and yoga studio by Andrija Tokic and featured Victor Herrero on classical and electric guitars, [[Paz Lenchantin]] on bass, Heather Trost on violin, and Ben Trimble on pueblo skin drums.


''I'm A Dreamer'' (2013), given five stars by TimeOut Magazine and acclaimed as 'a quiet masterclass in songwriting' <ref>https://www.timeout.com/london/music/josephine-foster-im-a-dreamer-album-review</ref> was recorded in Nashville and co-produced by Andrija Tokic. On this album of saloon and salon songs she 'returned to the early 20th century Americana of her 2005 debut ‘Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You’, in the excellent company of a nine-piece band'<ref>https://www.timeout.com/london/music/josephine-foster-im-a-dreamer-album-review</ref>.
''I'm A Dreamer'' (2013), given five stars by TimeOut Magazine and acclaimed as 'a quiet masterclass in songwriting' <ref>https://www.timeout.com/london/music/josephine-foster-im-a-dreamer-album-review</ref> was recorded in Nashville and co-produced by Andrija Tokic. On this album she 'returned to the early 20th century Americana of her 2005 debut ‘Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You’, in the excellent company of a nine-piece band'<ref>https://www.timeout.com/london/music/josephine-foster-im-a-dreamer-album-review</ref>.


Her 'gothic' <ref>https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2016/02/josephine-foster-no-more-lamps-in-the-morning-album-review/
The chamber album ''No More Lamps in the Morning'' came out in 2016 <ref>https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2016/02/josephine-foster-no-more-lamps-in-the-morning-album-review/
</ref> chamber album ''No More Lamps in the Morning'' came out in 2016. Recorded in a Hudson NY church <ref>https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/josephine-foster-no-more-lamps-morning</ref> it features reworkings in expanded form songs primarily drawn from her 2008 album ''[[This Coming Gladness]]''. Victor Herrero accompanies throughout on the Portuguese guitar, with Gyða Valtýsdóttir on cello. Along with a new interpretation of her setting of Kiplings 'Blue Roses' is the first appearance of Foster's setting of 'My Dove, My Beautiful One' by [[James Joyce]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No More Lamps in the Morning|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Lamps-Morning-Josephine-Foster/dp/B019E1JRKO/ref=sr_1_67?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1454841947&sr=1-67|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=February 7, 2016}}</ref>
</ref> . Recorded in a church <ref>https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/josephine-foster-no-more-lamps-morning</ref> it features reworkings in expanded form songs primarily drawn from her 2008 album ''[[This Coming Gladness]]'' along with a new interpretation of her setting of Kiplings 'Blue Roses' and a setting of 'My Dove, My Beautiful One' by [[James Joyce]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No More Lamps in the Morning|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/More-Lamps-Morning-Josephine-Foster/dp/B019E1JRKO/ref=sr_1_67?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1454841947&sr=1-67|publisher=Amazon.com|accessdate=February 7, 2016}}</ref>


Bathed in 'bucolic primitivism' <ref>https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/12/181212-atkinson-2018-albums</ref> ''Faithful Fairy Harmony'', a double album of eighteen original spirituals and country blues ballads, was listed as one of Wire Magazine's top albums of 2018 <ref>https://www.yearendlists.com/2018/12/wire-top-50-releases-of-2018</ref>. Recorded in Nashville once more by Andrija Tokic, and with many of the same players from her 2013 album ''I'm A Dreamer'', including Victor Herrero (guitars), Gyða Valtýsdóttir (cello), Chris Scruggs (pedal steel guitar), and Jon Estes (bass).
Bathed in 'bucolic primitivism' <ref>https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/12/181212-atkinson-2018-albums</ref> ''Faithful Fairy Harmony'', a double album of eighteen original spirituals and country blues ballads, was listed as one of Wire Magazine's top albums of 2018 <ref>https://www.yearendlists.com/2018/12/wire-top-50-releases-of-2018</ref>. Recorded in Nashville once more by Andrija Tokic, and with many of the same players from her 2013 album ''I'm A Dreamer'', including Victor Herrero (guitars), Gyða Valtýsdóttir (cello), Chris Scruggs (pedal steel guitar), and Jon Estes (bass).

Revision as of 18:00, 22 August 2020

Josephine Foster
Background information
BornColorado, United States
GenresFolk, art song, psychedelic rock, experimental, New Weird America[1]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician, music producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano, harp, organ
Years active2000–present
LabelsFire Records, Windbell, Bo' Weavil Recordings, Locust Music,
Websitewww.josephinefoster.info

Josephine Foster is an American singer, songwriter, composer, and record producer from Colorado known for her time-defying voice.[2] Her music and lyrics weave older styles with the modern.[3]

As an adolescent she worked as a funeral and wedding singer, and aspired to become an opera singer. After her studies she began to record demos of her own songs, resulting in the early recordings There Are Eyes Above (2000), an album of ukulele accompanied songs strongly influenced by Tin Pan Alley, and an album of children's songs, Little Life (2001).

For several years she worked as a singing teacher in Chicago, recording and performing with a variety of musical acts on the side (including Born Heller, a project with free jazz-bassist Jason Ajemian, and The Children's Hour, a pop band formed with songwriter Andrew Bar). In 2004, joined by her occasional backing band The Supposed (Brian Goodman on guitar and Rusty Peterson on drums), she released a psychedelic rock album called All the Leaves Are Gone which has drawn comparison to Patti Smith and Jefferson Airplane.[4]

The songs on her first solo studio album Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You (2005, Locust Music) evoke American folk and blues forms of the early 20th century. A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing, released in 2006, features unorthodox electrified interpretations[5] of 19th century German Lieder. This Coming Gladness, a rock album of avant-folk arias [6] was released in 2008 and featured Victor Herrero (electric guitar) and Alex Neilson (percussion)[7]. In early 2009 she recorded 27 settings of Emily Dickinson poems entitled Graphic as a Star. These austere miniatures for voice and guitar were released with the British independent record label, Fire Records[8]. Working with musical partner Victor Herrero in rural Spain at that time, they began collecting and arranging collections of folk songs, resulting in the recordings Anda Jaleo (a resetting of Garcia Lorca´s piano/voice transcriptions of Spanish songs), and its follow-up Perlas.

In 2012, Foster returned to Colorado Blood Rushing, which she imagined as a ballet chanté or sung ballet [9] built upon the rhythm of a heartbeat. A "mythical western movie imbued landscape"[10] with 'avant-garde soul' [11] was captured in a Boulder dance and yoga studio by Andrija Tokic and featured Victor Herrero on classical and electric guitars, Paz Lenchantin on bass, Heather Trost on violin, and Ben Trimble on pueblo skin drums.

I'm A Dreamer (2013), given five stars by TimeOut Magazine and acclaimed as 'a quiet masterclass in songwriting' [12] was recorded in Nashville and co-produced by Andrija Tokic. On this album she 'returned to the early 20th century Americana of her 2005 debut ‘Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You’, in the excellent company of a nine-piece band'[13].

The chamber album No More Lamps in the Morning came out in 2016 [14] . Recorded in a church [15] it features reworkings in expanded form songs primarily drawn from her 2008 album This Coming Gladness along with a new interpretation of her setting of Kiplings 'Blue Roses' and a setting of 'My Dove, My Beautiful One' by James Joyce.[16]

Bathed in 'bucolic primitivism' [17] Faithful Fairy Harmony, a double album of eighteen original spirituals and country blues ballads, was listed as one of Wire Magazine's top albums of 2018 [18]. Recorded in Nashville once more by Andrija Tokic, and with many of the same players from her 2013 album I'm A Dreamer, including Victor Herrero (guitars), Gyða Valtýsdóttir (cello), Chris Scruggs (pedal steel guitar), and Jon Estes (bass).

Discography

  • 2000: There Are Eyes Above
  • 2001: Little Life
  • 2003: SOS JFK (with The Children's Hour)
  • 2004: All the Leaves Are Gone (Josephine Foster and the Supposed)
  • 2004: Born Heller (with Jason Ajemian)
  • 2005: Hazel Eyes, I Will Lead You
  • 2006: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
  • 2008: This Coming Gladness
  • 2009: Graphic as a Star
  • 2010: Anda Jaleo (with The Victor Herrero Band)
  • 2012: Perlas (with The Victor Herrero Band)
  • 2012: Blood Rushing
  • 2013: I'm A Dreamer[19]
  • 2016 No More Lamps in the Morning[20]
  • 2016: More Amor (with Mendrugo)
  • 2018: Faithful Fairy Harmony

References

  1. ^ Mehr, Bob (November 3, 2005). "Which Way to the New Weird America?; That Mellifluous Mojo". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  2. ^ https://drownedinsound.com/releases/4192/reviews/12890-josephine-foster-hazel-eyes-i-will-lead-you
  3. ^ "Endearingly Odd Musician Casts a Spell". Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  4. ^ "Josephine Foster & the Supposed". Archived from the original on June 5, 2011. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  5. ^ https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/3325-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing/
  6. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-coming-gladness-mw0000791521
  7. ^ https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/josephine-foster-coming-gladness
  8. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/graphic-as-a-star-mw0001937549
  9. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/blood-rushing-mr0003739903
  10. ^ http://www.godisinthetvzine.co.uk/2012/09/20/josephine-foster-blood-rushing-fire-records/
  11. ^ https://thankfolkforthat.com/review-josephine-foster-blood-rushing/
  12. ^ https://www.timeout.com/london/music/josephine-foster-im-a-dreamer-album-review
  13. ^ https://www.timeout.com/london/music/josephine-foster-im-a-dreamer-album-review
  14. ^ https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2016/02/josephine-foster-no-more-lamps-in-the-morning-album-review/
  15. ^ https://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/josephine-foster-no-more-lamps-morning
  16. ^ "No More Lamps in the Morning". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
  17. ^ https://www.dukechronicle.com/article/2018/12/181212-atkinson-2018-albums
  18. ^ https://www.yearendlists.com/2018/12/wire-top-50-releases-of-2018
  19. ^ Josephine Foster. "Josephine Foster | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  20. ^ "No More Lamps in the Morning". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
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