Lara Jones - Sunday Interview

Photo by Jess Rose

1. What is your greatest joy in improvised music?
   
   The sharing of an unspoken language and the ability to express and communicate with people you might hardly know before playing together. It’s magical and after you know that you have shared a part of yourself with each other. It takes a lot of trust and when it works, it’s beautiful.
   
   
2. What quality do you most admire in the musicians you perform with?
   
   Their boldness
   
   
3. Which historical musician/composer do you admire the most?
   
   Ahhh I find it so hard to pick one musician or composer or a favourite anything. I’ve been inspired by so many incredible composers and performers and I don’t think I can pin it down to one. I suppose I’ll never forget first listening to John Coltrane ‘Love Supreme’ as cliche as it is, that was a pretty pivotal moment for me.
   
   
4. If you could resurrect a musician to perform with, who would it be?
   
   SOPHIE, may she rest in power.
   
   
5. What would you still like to achieve musically in your life?
   
   I’d love to perform in more countries around the world. I’ve always wanted to travel and traveling with my music is definitely a dream of mine.
   
   
6. Are you interested in popular music and - if yes - what music/artist do you particularly like
   
   I like a lot of popular music, i think it serves a purpose that the world needs. I rate Troye Sivan and Kylie and Britney will always be my gals.
   
   
7. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
   
   Lots of things hah! Mostly I have a terrible memory, i’d love to be able withhold information for longer and also I would get rid of my anxiety!
   
   
8. Which of your albums are you most proud of?
   
   Mm probably ‘Enso’ which was my first solo release and the first time I started to prioritse making what I wanted to make.
   
   
9. Once an album of yours is released, do you still listen to it? And how often?
   
   No, never. I spend so much time listening to my music when producing and mixing that once it’s released it’s a marker to me that it’s done and my time with it is complete. It’s no longer mine, it’s everyone else's. You gotta hand it over and let it all go.
   
   
10. Which album (from any musician) have you listened to the most in your life?
    
    I don’ t think I can answer this, there are soooo many albums I’ve listened to on repeat and many albums I’ve transcribed which means i’ve listened over and over intently. It honestly could be anything from Paul Desmond to Eminem…
    
    
11. What are you listening to at the moment?
    
    Recently i haven’t been able to stop listening to ‘Playing Robots into Heaven’ I’ve played it so many times a day since its been released. Also Lowkey.
    
    
12. What artist outside music inspires you?
    
    I’m really inspired by athletes mostly women's football - that’s an art right?

Lara Jones' Saxophone - Ensō was reviewed in the compilation "Solo Sax".