At this agency I work for, we book an artist called Marissa Nadler. I recently saw her play a solo set at our Autumn Falls festival at the Botanique in Brussels and was impressed by her songs, her sound, as well as her amazing voice. My taste in voices usually reflects my personality: kinda chill mostly. But from time to time some of those “other” voices manage to slip through the cracks. I’m thinking Robert Smith, I’m thinking Tanya Donnelly, I’m thinking Marissa Nadler. The eeriness in her music perfectly counterbalances the sunny situation I've currently immersed myself in: early afternoon shower, switching off the spray and hearing that haunting voice resonate through a cool hotel room (I'm currently on holiday if you hadn't figured out). As of now she’s one of those rare artists welcome to shine a light in the darker regions of my soul. A nice anecdote about her is from a friend who went up to her after one of her shows telling her she had been playing her music while giving birth for the first time. Instead of simply thanking her for the compliment Marissa, startled, briefly replied: “Poor child” Not as a joke but honestly expressing compassion. That unambiguous earnestness sorta sums up her music for me.
