Photos by Ximena Griscti
Jordi Rosen's Marrakech Garden
by Patrick Ogle
Jordi Rosen, a singer, songwriter and accordionist makes captivating, unique music that not many people have heard. The music is alternately haunting and whimsical. You are skating on some dangerous ice when you call music whimsical but here it is both apt and a compliment.
Rosen, from Montreal, produces music that is deceptive; it is simple lyrically and in composition. Yet it has a depth that is almost mystical at the same time. There is a sly sense of humor and spirituality in it as well. Using the word “spirituality” when referring to music conjures some unfortunate comparison but it is unavoidable. Her reason for making music is straight forward.
“I do music because I love it and I feel it is a path I should be taking in my life. One time I didn't sing for a while and I woke myself up singing a note!” she says. “I have been singing since I was very little for fun and then on a more social level when I got older. I was sad when I wasn't playing music for a while. I like to share music with others and for them to feel good with it as well. I love music in general and am amazed with the different sounds people can create.”
Myspace was a major way for her to get in touch with fans and spread her music. Yet, it gets to be difficult to get to know everyone. Beyond this, Rosen goes about increasing her fans the old fashioned way. She plays shows with other folks and meets their fans or has people bring fans to her shows.
One of the attractive things about Rosen’s music is its DIY, whatever is at hand, quality. She talks about playing Casio keyboards she found in the trash. You get the feeling she would, and could, make music with a rock, a garbage can and a broken kazoo. She also makes wonderful use of the accordion.
“I like to play the accordion and Casio and have friends accompany in a way that feels good for them and I am quite delighted with the configurations! Once in a while I will work on an instrumental piece,” she says. “Usually with a song I will work on layering the sounds (i.e. the left hand of the accordion might get a bit more intricate), and often the pieces are works in progress.” When I bring up “simplicity” and how it is actually sometimes quite complicated Rosen responded with emotion.
“I like simplicity so much!!!!! That is one of the major themes in my life. With the work that I do I am constantly clearing on a Spiritual level and I have to practice this in my own life to be grounded. I believe this translates into the music now more than before,” she says. “These days there is a focus on time management, layers, organizing, creating the future, health and ...Love is often a main theme musically and to me Spirituality often involves finding the route to a loving source.”
When I question her on love in her music, wondering if it is romantic love or has some other meaning she talks about working within the “Cosmic Stream.”
“Romantic love is one aspect, but essentially love of oneself and love towards others and creating a circle of love and respect. I see the Cosmic Stream as a Heavenly source. When I visualize it I see it on the left side of the body,” says Rosen. “When I do healing work with people I ask them to put their troubles in the stream. When I feel overwhelmed I will place myself or others into the stream. It is a flow of healing energy. When pouring water from a tap you can visualize it coming from there as well for purification. I noticed that in Hinduism there is a similar way related to Shiva and The Ganges.”
This led to the songs featured above this article, Marrakech Garden, the song seems to be almost a mantra, with its repetition but Rosen has another take.
“It is an instrumental song with a very simple chorus..’I'm your Indian Ocean, You're my Marrakech Garden.’ I am Ojibway, so I relate to The Indian Ocean Part--being emotional perhaps at the time,” says Rosen. “I was named after the Jordan River, so that must tie into it, even though that wasn't the intention. I visualized my love at the time of the song to be like a lush exotic garden.it is about seeing the inner and outer beauty in each other.”
The song is catchy and doubtless will stick in the mind of both the spiritual and the heathen
“I write my songs with the intention of them touching everyone somehow,” she says. ““I know that not every song will appeal to everyone, but to be able to make some people happy feels good."
What does Rosen listen to? A potpourri of rock, pop and world music including the likes of The Velvet Underground, PP Arnold, Preston Park, Pop Levi, PROMWOLF, Kings of Convenience, Dalida, Ghostland Observatory and others.
“I am fond of many types of music...Pop, Bollywood, Ska, Hip- Hop, French Chansons...Folk, Glam...” says Rosen “....I also love bird music! J'aime Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot!”
Right now you can hear her music on her above this article, on her myspace page, order it at CD Baby or hear it at shows.
“I'm excited for you to hear the new album! There are lots of new and exciting aspects of it, and I am doing a couple of other recordings these days too. My new album has songs that have been written over the last four years--mainly pop songs,” she says. “Christian Richer is producing it and I am co- producing it. We have similar musical tastes. He is influenced by late 70's disco and pop and late 60's folk.”
Disco folk is something everyone needs to hear and NOW.
Rosen says there is a great deal of room left for experimentation with vocals, instruments and effects on the record. It will be awhile before the new recording is complete.
In addition to music Rosen practices "intuitive healing." Don't roll your eyes;she is, herself, skeptical. Yet at the same time she goes back to family tradition in this--her father was a physician and she also harkens to Ojibway traditions. As a skeptical heathen myself I still feel that her music has healing power. When I put it on it definitively has the power to heal a crappy day. This hypothesis has been repeatedly tested.. You can contact Rosen at jordilotus (at) yahoo (dot) ca.
Rosen, from Montreal, produces music that is deceptive; it is simple lyrically and in composition. Yet it has a depth that is almost mystical at the same time. There is a sly sense of humor and spirituality in it as well. Using the word “spirituality” when referring to music conjures some unfortunate comparison but it is unavoidable. Her reason for making music is straight forward.
“I do music because I love it and I feel it is a path I should be taking in my life. One time I didn't sing for a while and I woke myself up singing a note!” she says. “I have been singing since I was very little for fun and then on a more social level when I got older. I was sad when I wasn't playing music for a while. I like to share music with others and for them to feel good with it as well. I love music in general and am amazed with the different sounds people can create.”
Myspace was a major way for her to get in touch with fans and spread her music. Yet, it gets to be difficult to get to know everyone. Beyond this, Rosen goes about increasing her fans the old fashioned way. She plays shows with other folks and meets their fans or has people bring fans to her shows.
One of the attractive things about Rosen’s music is its DIY, whatever is at hand, quality. She talks about playing Casio keyboards she found in the trash. You get the feeling she would, and could, make music with a rock, a garbage can and a broken kazoo. She also makes wonderful use of the accordion.
“I like to play the accordion and Casio and have friends accompany in a way that feels good for them and I am quite delighted with the configurations! Once in a while I will work on an instrumental piece,” she says. “Usually with a song I will work on layering the sounds (i.e. the left hand of the accordion might get a bit more intricate), and often the pieces are works in progress.” When I bring up “simplicity” and how it is actually sometimes quite complicated Rosen responded with emotion.
“I like simplicity so much!!!!! That is one of the major themes in my life. With the work that I do I am constantly clearing on a Spiritual level and I have to practice this in my own life to be grounded. I believe this translates into the music now more than before,” she says. “These days there is a focus on time management, layers, organizing, creating the future, health and ...Love is often a main theme musically and to me Spirituality often involves finding the route to a loving source.”
When I question her on love in her music, wondering if it is romantic love or has some other meaning she talks about working within the “Cosmic Stream.”
“Romantic love is one aspect, but essentially love of oneself and love towards others and creating a circle of love and respect. I see the Cosmic Stream as a Heavenly source. When I visualize it I see it on the left side of the body,” says Rosen. “When I do healing work with people I ask them to put their troubles in the stream. When I feel overwhelmed I will place myself or others into the stream. It is a flow of healing energy. When pouring water from a tap you can visualize it coming from there as well for purification. I noticed that in Hinduism there is a similar way related to Shiva and The Ganges.”
This led to the songs featured above this article, Marrakech Garden, the song seems to be almost a mantra, with its repetition but Rosen has another take.
“It is an instrumental song with a very simple chorus..’I'm your Indian Ocean, You're my Marrakech Garden.’ I am Ojibway, so I relate to The Indian Ocean Part--being emotional perhaps at the time,” says Rosen. “I was named after the Jordan River, so that must tie into it, even though that wasn't the intention. I visualized my love at the time of the song to be like a lush exotic garden.it is about seeing the inner and outer beauty in each other.”
The song is catchy and doubtless will stick in the mind of both the spiritual and the heathen
“I write my songs with the intention of them touching everyone somehow,” she says. ““I know that not every song will appeal to everyone, but to be able to make some people happy feels good."
What does Rosen listen to? A potpourri of rock, pop and world music including the likes of The Velvet Underground, PP Arnold, Preston Park, Pop Levi, PROMWOLF, Kings of Convenience, Dalida, Ghostland Observatory and others.
“I am fond of many types of music...Pop, Bollywood, Ska, Hip- Hop, French Chansons...Folk, Glam...” says Rosen “....I also love bird music! J'aime Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot!”
Right now you can hear her music on her above this article, on her myspace page, order it at CD Baby or hear it at shows.
“I'm excited for you to hear the new album! There are lots of new and exciting aspects of it, and I am doing a couple of other recordings these days too. My new album has songs that have been written over the last four years--mainly pop songs,” she says. “Christian Richer is producing it and I am co- producing it. We have similar musical tastes. He is influenced by late 70's disco and pop and late 60's folk.”
Disco folk is something everyone needs to hear and NOW.
Rosen says there is a great deal of room left for experimentation with vocals, instruments and effects on the record. It will be awhile before the new recording is complete.
In addition to music Rosen practices "intuitive healing." Don't roll your eyes;she is, herself, skeptical. Yet at the same time she goes back to family tradition in this--her father was a physician and she also harkens to Ojibway traditions. As a skeptical heathen myself I still feel that her music has healing power. When I put it on it definitively has the power to heal a crappy day. This hypothesis has been repeatedly tested.. You can contact Rosen at jordilotus (at) yahoo (dot) ca.
Jordi Rosen’s New recording features …“Christi an on bass ,some synth stuff and added percussion, Martin Landry and Jackie Gallant on percussion/drums and Jackie on some synth too. Lisa Gamble on banjo and vocals, Annabelle Chvostek on guitar, mandolin and vocals, Carrie Haber on vocals, Joellen Housego on fiddle and vocals too. Lots of variety. There is a cover of a country song on there too. Annabelle and Martin were also on Marrakech Garden, so you will feel a sense of that vibe on some of the songs too.” she says.
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