Diandra Interviews Joni: Make Yourself An Orchid Room

Out February 26, Joni’s Orchid Room is a splendid display of sensitivity. It lives up to its title because it is sonically confined color, empathy, and nature. If there is one recurring theme within Joni’s guitar-laden lyrics, it is that you have to grow. You have to let yourself grow up, fail, and grow more. It is beautiful advice that her voice warms and paints like a rustic, nostalgic home. In our interview, we discuss what inspires her musically: from her childhood travels to a run in with Bill Murray.

Diandra: If you were Lost In Space, what would you hope to find and why?

Joni: Grimes. I feel like she’d know what to do.

Diandra: If you could divide your formative years according to Italy, Japan, and Connecticut, how did one or all of them as inspire your music journey?

Joni: Connecticut is where I learned how to play instruments. I started on piano very young and then moved onto saxophone, flute and eventually guitar. I moved to Naples, Italy in middle school and it completely opened my eyes to the world. Up until that point my whole universe was small town New England, so it was all very Plato’s Cave. I moved to Japan, at the end of high school, and that’s when I really started writing songs. I spent a lot of time on my own there, which gave me the space to observe and see things from the outside looking in. I feel like that’s always been my approach to writing… to try to understand the people and places around me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bO5-HZkiIQ

Diandra: What about you will people find in the Orchid Room?

Joni: I wrote the EP at my house in Laurel Canyon, surrounded by eucalyptus and hot pink bougainvillea. Orchid Room sort of represents that place where these songs blossomed from. I was thinking of it almost as a greenhouse for songs, which is funny because the house was actually green…

Diandra: What about an Orchid do you feel reflects your personality? Specific qualities?

Joni:They’re sensitive to their surroundings.

Diandra: What Sophia Coppola film do you feel would be a perfect concept album? Why and from what angle?

Joni: I don’t think I’d ever write a concept album, but I did one time run into Bill Murray at an

airport when my flight got delayed… which kinda feels like the beginning of a Sophia Coppola movie. I’d write about that.

Diandra: If you could turn your favorite album into a movie, which would you choose, what would be the premise, and who would you cast?

Joni: I’d put 80’s John Cusack in the movie version of Abbey Road.

Diandra: You have said your dreams inspire your songs. What is the most vivid dream you transferred into song?

Joni: It’s never been specific lyrics within a dream… It’s more about a moods or feelings that inspires a songs. I have written melodies in my sleep, but nothing that’s ever been released.

Diandra: What fictional heroines most inspired Orchid Room?

Joni: Jo March from Little Women and the girl from Spirited Away. Also the female characters in Heartbreaker by Claudia Day and My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh.

Diandra: You dropped out of music school to head to NY and form a band. What is your fondest memory of that time and what would be a relieving or best advice you would send back to yourself?

Joni: Best memories- going to friend’s shows, karaoke in the East Village, Hasaki It’s good to make mistakes so I don’t think I’d send back any advice.

Diandra: The 2000s indie rock scene inspired your sound, as well. What are your favorite things from that era: from sound to style or knick-knacks, toys, and pop culture?

Joni: The Shins, Limewire, and Harry Potter about sums it up.

Diandra: If you could hang out with Elvis. What would you want to talk to him about?

Joni: I’d love to know what kind of current music Elvis is into…

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