It was difficult to narrow it down to just 12, but here are some songs that were turning points for me as an artist. Songs that made me first realize, and then remember, why I love music. I also hear songs and keys in color. Although it might sound strange all twelve of these songs have aspects that sound purple to me. Enjoy!
Jeff Buckley â âGraceâ
My friend Izzi Ray told me about Jeff Buckley over lunch about four years ago. Being late to the game, as I usually am, I didnât listen to a single song of his until a couple years later. Iâll never forget how astonished I was at his voice. Then come to find out what an innovative guitar player he was. It haunted me for months. Specifically âGrace.â
Radiohead â âParanoid Androidâ
âParanoid Androidâ was one of the first radio songs I listened too. Iâm constantly inspired by how freely Thom Yorke creates and sings his melodies. This is one of those melodies.
Emmylou Harris â âDeeper Wellâ
âWrecking Ballâ was a life-changing record for me and continues to be in my top 10 favorites. The lyrics of âDeeper Wellâ make for a perfect song in my opinion.
Fiona Apple â âFast As You Canâ
Iâve never felt cooler than when I walk down the side streets of Los Angeles listening to this song blaring in my headphones. Itâs also my airplane turbulence song. It shed a completely new light on songwriting, and songwriting tempos for me. Iâve always felt it was hard to say something important in a fast song. Fiona proved me so wrong.
Joni Mitchell â âBoth Sides Nowâ
Joni was the first person who made me really want to be a songwriter. She set the bar so unreachably high that she made so many of us want to do our best even if we came just short of it. This song is one of few that make a timeless statement that could be sung by a 19-year-old and an 80-year-old.
Bob Dylan â âJust Like a Womanâ
Hereâs another example of a song that I think is absolutely perfect. Not a word or note wasted.
Ry Cooder â âTattlerâ
Ry is another one of my guitar heroes. âTattlerâ is my favorite song by him.
Nina Simone â âFeeling Goodâ
Nina Simone canât play or sing a wrong note. All of her mistakes were in key somehow. Any song she plays instantly pulls me in. No other rendition of âFeeling Goodâ matches the sorrow, and power of this one.
Maurice Ravel â âString Quartet in F Majorâ
This is maybe one of my favorite pieces of music. I heard Chris Thile play it on Live From Here for the first time and it lifted me out of my seat.
Brian Wilson â âDonât Talkâ
This one makes me tear up almost every time. The melodies and voicings on this tune are such a beautiful mystery to me. And the lyrics convey the power of not saying anything and resting in the arms of the person you love
Rufus Wainright â âPosesâ
On my way back from the Sundance film festival it started to snow. My friend Mike and I made a wrong turn; as we found our way back he turned this song on. When it was over I asked him if heâd mind if we played it again.
Juana Molina â âLo Decidi Yoâ
Juana is one of my favorite guitar players/writers. Sheâs truly one of a kind. I listened to one song by her called âErasâ on repeat for four years straight until I uncovered the rest of her record. Hereâs one of my belated discoveries.
Photo credit: Paige Wilson