Even though there is quite some time left before the soaring temperatures starts to cool down again, I feel like I’m transported to the cozy warmth of layers of blankets in sweater weather. There is a kind of satisfaction in my heart – like having a soothing bowl of heartwarming soup on a rainy day, maybe? That is the kind of effect Norah Jones’ music has on me. And, yet again, as I loop her the video of her latest song “Carry On” there is a strange sense of déjà vu that engulfs me, takes me to this familiar place.
I’ve been missing Norah Jones lately. 4 years to be precise. That’s exactly how long back she made her last solo album “Little Broken Hearts” where I remember her exploring a bit of the rebellious territory, though still laced with her endless warmth. And then there was “Foreverly” somewhere in the middle, with her unlikely cohort Billie Joe Armstrong, the frontman of Green Day, pitching out traditional songs and a glorious tribute to the Everly Brothers. But, the longer I sit here listening to “Carry On”, I’m beginning to see how close it is to a vintage Norah – A Norah we knew from the “Come Away With Me” era. With her silken voice and the choicest of words woven in the form of lyrics, in this gorgeous tapestry of her music, it talks about the art of moving on. I cannot think of a more perfect time for this to come my way, just in time for monsoon, with the drizzling rain pelting silently on my window and the music soothes my soul.
The new album shall be out in its own sweet time. On October 7th. That shall leave me enough time to savor the first taste of it to my heart’s content. Before I can move on to the rest of the nine original tracks and a few more covers thrown in.
I’m glad Norah is back. She is an artist who has always been special to me. An inspiration, who has sparked my songwriting fantasies. She has made me believe that music doesn’t need to be loud to make an impact, or exist between earmarked areas. It can make an impression in the subtlest of ways. Just like she lingers in the thin line between pop and jazz. And that is why I decided to celebrate her spirit through a blog post – a blog post that is in fact more of a memoir.
