Exclusive interview with JARBOE: Taking the listener to another world

American singer-songwriter, keyboardist and experimentalist Jarboe (Jane Jarboe, the Living Jarboe; born Jarboe La Salle Devereaux) was always very special to me. To most of the people she was known as a member of the NYC-based band Swans from 1985 to 1998 (also, she contributed background vocals and voice collage for the band's 2012 album, The Seer.). Jarboe had released numerous albums of charming magic music.

Interview (2016 09 23).

You collaborated with many artists (Swans, Neurosis, Michael Gira, Phil Tan, Bill Laswell, Jim Thirlwell, Lustmord, PanSonic, Cedric Victor, Mark Spybey, Steven Severin, Chris Connelly, Alan Sparhawk,Edward KaSpel, William Faith, David J, David Torn, Bill Rieflin, Iva Davies, Blixa Bargeld, Kris Force, Nic Le Ban, Julia Kent, A Perfect Circle, Brian Castillo, Lary Seven, Colin Marston, Cobalt, Cattle Decapitation, Byla, Justin K. Broadrick, Jesu, Josh Graham, Vinny Signorelli, Philip Anselmo, Attila Csihar, Esoteric, Vampillia, A Storm Of Light, Merzbow... ).

Which collaborations were/are the most interesting and important to you and why?

Every collaboration has been absolutely unique and absolutely interesting to me.

I suppose the most well known include: Swans, Neurosis, Philip Anselmo, Attila Csihar...

What are the main ideas behind your music?  

Taking the listener to another world.

Could you name your favorite compositions / albums / collaborations?

Too many favorites to mention.  I listen to a very wide variety of music.

What about the newest album? What is the concept?

The one I am working on right now is intricate with overlapping time signatures and sounds. One track utilizes a live performance of three drummers and a wall of distorted guitars and church organs.

Another track uses distorted amplified bass and the sounds of wind and voices.

You are correct in that every album I do is "conceptual" in some way.

The sound is magic. You‘ve proved it. But, what ends, when there‘s no sound?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″

John Cage

What is and what is not a sound art to you? Your songs are so strong and sincere.

The purpose of art is to illicit a reaction. That reaction is subjective, of course.

You've been in Lithuanian for several times. What Lithuanian and foreign musicians do you value most?

I know the history and I have been there several times.  

I  gave concerts there in 2004, 2010, 2013, 2015.....

Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis is quite well known as is Rokas Zubovas.  

A favorite of mine is composer Onutė Narbutaitė.

What inspires you most? Religion, philosophy, ...?

To me, awareness is all that is needed.

Thank You!

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jarboe/49094412346
https://www.thelivingjarboe.com
https://www.discogs.com/artist/65694-Jarboe