I was looking for new headphones, when I got this as a tip for testing them. I have the privilege of living close to a specialty shop for headphones, and they have most brands on stock and available for testing. I was blown away by Melody Gardot, and kept on listening to her, also without headphones. I missed her concert, but I hope that will be remedied in the future. She’s top on my list.
When you look up her name on wikipedia, the first thing that is written about her is the accident that changed her life. This feels a bit out of place, but as you read on, you understand why. She got into an accident while riding a bike, with an SUV (I certainly have an opinion about those monstrosities). In more ways than one, during the long sickbed that followed, she was saved by music.
The accident left her oversensitive to light and sound, and with a short-term memory loss that affected her sense of time. As a remedy, her physician told her to hum, sing and eventually write songs to regain her abilities. It worked, and nowadays she’s advocating the power of music all over the world.
This experience has also shaped her music. Her songs are personal and vulnerable. This is also shown on the cover. She said about the picture: For me an album cover is like a movie poster. I wanted an image that was pure femininity, which could please a sculptor. I went through a lot of suffering. But managing to stand up nude on stage carrying a guitar is a victory.