Author: Jernej Vene
Interview date: June 14, 2007
Vene: How does the digital age affect your creative process?
Klein: Sometimes the computer makes the work a lot easier, other times it complicates things again. Back when we were writing songs many years ago, we used a guitar and voice, recorded on a little cassette recorder. Today every band member brings a laptop along, and the work often gets really complicated. There are some very practical things about the computer, though. When we were recording The Promise, I improvised most of the vocal melodies over a backing track the producer played for me for about ten minutes. We cut out the interesting bits from the recording and stitched them together into a song. These days you can experiment with music a lot more than you used to.
Vene: What are your plans for recording new songs after The Promise?
Klein: Right now I’m working with the songwriter and singer Biko Amara from Sierra Leone. He writes really beautiful music, and the two of us will write a few new songs together. In a few weeks I’m heading to my house in Spain. With the quartet we’ll try to come up with some new material. And with the guitarist who helped me on Time flies, I’m recording an album in French.
Vene: The latest greatest-hits collection includes a duet with Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers. How did that collaboration come about?
Klein: When we were putting the collection together, we added a track as a bonus so it would stand out from the previous compilations. The label suggested that this extra track should be a duet. They asked me who I’d like to record it with. Aaron Neville has the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard in my life. I said so, but I had no idea whether they’d be able to make it happen. As it turned out, Neville is on the same label as me, so they were able to pull it off.
Vene: How do you pick musicians for recordings and tours?
Klein: When you work with musicians, they know other musicians. Jazz players especially are always playing in several lineups. I’ve known the bassist Sal La Roca for a long time. He’s really good and I always wanted to perform with him, but I didn’t dare ask because he’s a jazz musician. I don’t consider myself a jazz singer, you see. When I finally asked him, he said he loved the idea. The guitarist has been with me for fifteen years, and Sal brought the drummer and the pianist along with him.
Vene: What are you playing on the current tour?
Klein: Mostly the biggest hits, a few songs from The Promise, and one new song.
Vene: Thanks a lot, and all the best going forward!
Klein: Thanks, and good luck!
