Though hailing from the sun-kissed Sacramento in California, Julie Ann Baenziger‘s music is, while sprightly in sound, mysterious and shady in content. Her project Sea Of Bees sees the 26 year-old channelling her deepest, darkest thoughts and projecting them through her vibrantly sweet voice, looming pads and clicky drums, as demonstrated on her recent free download EP. However with an album, Orangefarben, due out on 9 April, the creative process is can occasionally be a little taxing, hence Baenziger has compiled us a selection of songs that will help “recharge your emotional batteries”.
The Antlers – I Don’t Want Love
“This song makes me feel clean and powerful, like standing on a mountain declaring loudly that you don’t want the emptiness even though you feel the emptiness. Such a contradiction. It’s like biting your lip walking down the street with your head up. It’s one of those strong/power songs with a hint of soft sparkle to it, like confetti falling from the sky as you’re walking through it. Pretty awesome.”
FUN – We Are Young
“I truly feel the smiles and confidence in this song. The rejection, throwing it all out of the window and just throwing your hands up and loving the moment. This is my let go song – or the feeling of being a bad ass! – and life is moving around as you are just being still.”
Bon Iver – Holocene
“This is hope. It reminds me of winter and being hidden with someone. The great hide away, soul searching. The words and sounds are just so fulfilling and relatable.
I feel like I am there.”
Bright Eyes – Gold Mine Gutted
“I did my best to keep my head, and from the side lines you see me run ’til I am out of breath, living the good life. God, this song makes me shake my head and close my eyes, thinking of times and experiences. The past comes alive when you listen to it. You’ve been there, done that, that’s what I think when I listen to this song, it takes you back.”
Cat Power – The Greatest
“Always brings me to my own thoughts. The moments where you want something so bad and you don’t even realize why sometimes. If you’re down it brings you up off the ground.”
Modest Mouse – The World At Large
“This song makes me feel small but in the sweetest way. Like a child dreaming of being an astronaut.”
Sam Amidon – Saro
“Reminds me of New York, being in bed with someone special and seeing brick walls and white linen and jars and old trinkets and those sorts of things surrounding me. Pretty special, like being by the ocean and sending sweet letters to someone.”
Devotchka – The Winner Is
“This is my song to conquer to. It’s like riding my bike, it makes me want to cry and smile. Or do something with all my might, like an encouragement.”
Sigur Rós – Starálfur
“Equal love. I think of being young, falling for my first love and growing old with that person.”
Sufjan Stevens – Futile Devices
“Noticing the definitions of someone, how they touch something or speak. I love Sufjan‘s sweet talking and sincerity. It makes me want to express myself more honestly than I already do. He is so careful with his words.”
And here’s what it was all in aid of, Broke from Sea Of Bees forthcoming album…
For more head to Seaofbees.com.
