London-based cellist, singer and songwriter midori jaeger has released her new single, Exasperate, from her forthcoming EP, (Un)planted. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
Born in Japan and relocated to the UK at five, she later returned to Tokyo at sixteen before settling in London to study music full-time two years later.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Speaking about Exasperate, she says: "To exasperate somebody is to push them to their limits. This song is about knowing you did that, but also knowing it was true to who you are.
"Exasperated by the overpowering urge to break away from old patterns, to so desperately want the new at any cost, but to feel overwhelming regret for things lost, this song expresses the incessant pull of the unknown against the push of the familiar."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I was born in Japan to a Japanese mum and American dad, I grew up between London and Tokyo, and I have my phone on airplane mode a lot of the time. My mixed cultural identity and the geographical movement have shaped who I am and in turn what I express in this upcoming EP (Un)planted. And the airplane mode thing feels important to share because it demonstrates that I value separation from the digital world and being really present with people!
How would you describe your music?
I'm driven by groove and how it puts us in a meditative state that’s constant and present and soothing but also exciting. I like combining rhythm with lyrics and vocal expression to hopefully result in something you both want to move to and that also makes you think.
Who are your musical inspirations?
J.S. Bach and Mahler. I play Bach on the cello basically every day and I think it shows you’re inspired if you keep going back to something and can always find something new in it. Mahler I don’t listen to that often but I remember having super deep feelings whilst playing Mahler symphonies when I was a kid playing in orchestras!
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I remember being taken to a classical cello concert as a young girl and finding it very boring. I think in general I found live music quite overwhelming as a child! It moved me lots, but I didn’t quite understand or know what to do with those emotions and was also probably filled with a feeling that I wanted to be doing that, but that I was too shy to get on a stage.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think it was Shania Twain’s album The Woman In Me. I used to be obsessed with her as a child. It was something in the songs and I think we had a random VHS of 'behind the scenes’ with Shania Twain that I watched many times!
What’s your favourite song right now?
Memories Are Now by Jesca Hoop. I’ve been enjoying the re-released version with just her voice and simple instrumentation. It lets the songwriting and her natural sense of groove shine through.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Tricky one to answer but I love this line from Adrianne Lenker (which is also the title of the song) – "Not a lot, just forever’. There’s something cute in that, but also profound, I think. This idea that we say ‘forever’ a lot to refer to time as far as we are able to conceive of it, but really nothing is forever and we all have quite a relatively short time.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mexico by James Taylor. In all honesty I’d absolutely hate to listen to only one song for the rest of my life but this song is written interestingly with many turns and is joyful enough that it would maybe work OK! It also reminds me of my childhood as I had a close friend who introduced me to a lot of James Taylor songs and so his songs are comforting for me with that association.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I’m on Instagram @midorijaeger and all my music is out on streaming platforms under my name.
Alan Corr
