INTERVIEW: Jodi Heights releases new music video

Jodi Heights is a Boston-based singer-songwriter known for her unique fusion of classical training and poignant lyricism. With a Master’s in Music from the New England Conservatory, Jodi infuses her compositions with rare sophistication and charm, setting her apart in the crowded landscape of modern singer-songwriters.

Her music, marked by classically-honed technique and insightful lyrics, distils the nuances of everyday life, creating a relatable connection with her growing fanbase. Since the release of her debut EP, One Year Wiser, in 2017, Jodi Heights has consistently impressed audiences with her beautifully crafted sound.

Produced at Plaid Dog Recording with engineer Mike Davidson, the EP marked the beginning of a string of well-received releases that continued throughout 2022. Each subsequent project has showcased her ability to blend classical music elements with contemporary songwriting, resulting in a distinctive and engaging musical style.

Now, Heights returns with her latest single, “Full Moon Rise,” a rhythmic celebration of the night and the latest track from her upcoming album, Nocturne. This single stands out not only for its beautiful composition but also for its innovative use of the harmonium, an instrument from the Indian subcontinent, marking a new chapter in Heights’ artistic journey.

The deep, tom drumming that accompanies the harmonium creates a spellbinding atmosphere, transporting the listener to a bewitching nocturnal realm. Capped by Jodi’s theatrical vocal performance, she presents a dramatic and rhythmic alternative pop extravaganza that perfectly balances her classical roots with with forward-thinking pop-focused sonic vision. Paired with the Nocturne album is a 72 page Nocturnal Journal, that provides listeners the chance to dive deeper into the enveloping world she’s crafting with her new album.

The official music video for “Full Moon Rise” further amplifies the song’s enchanting qualities. Directed and shot by Noah Dickinson, with John Weston serving as recording engineer for the Nocturne album and producer of all Jodi’s livestream concerts on Patreon and YouTube, the video features stunning choreography by Susi Mendler, performed by dancer Elisa Trujillo. The video’s stunning visuals complement the song’s atmospheric sound, creating an immersive experience that draws the viewer into the spellbinding world Jodi Heights has crafted.

We caught up with Jodi Heights to find out more about her upcoming album, her new single “Full Moon Rise” and what she’s got planned for the future. Check out our interview with Jodi Heights below.

Hey Jodi, how’s things?

Good, but I’m also frazzled! Releasing new music and managing upcoming projects is all consuming, but it’s hard to complain when I’m doing what I love.

What’s new since we spoke at the beginning of last year?

I’m in the middle of releasing my night-themed album Nocturne. So far three songs, two lyric videos, and one official music video are out, with two more songs and videos to come. I also created a companion special edition Nocturnal Journal for people to explore their relationship with night and darkness. It features lyric art throughout and is available here: https://www.blurb.com/b/12004856-nocturnal-journal

What’s been your highlight of 2024 so far?

I’m thrilled to be sharing art publicly again. In 2023 I ran into some obstacles, including money being tight, and I had to wait to move forward on a lot of projects until the timing was better. It feels good to be out of stagnation and in motion again.

Which artists have you been listening to recently?

Because of my focus on nighttime for this latest album, I’ve been exploring some of the other songs and projects that have been written on the subject. One of my favourites is the classic song Pink Moon by Nick Drake. On a different note, I’m also listening to Chapelle Roan. I went to college in Springfield, MO, so I was excited to see an artist from that area boldly expressing herself and becoming a rising star in the music world

How did you find making your new single “Full Moon Rise”?

I had never played the song with any other musicians until I recorded it in the studio, so I owe a lot of gratitude to bassist Richard Gates, drummer George Lernis, and engineer John Weston for being willing to experiment until we found the right sound. There was also a very stressful moment when I went to record the harmonium part and it started making a horrible buzzing sound. There was something loose rolling around in the bottom compartment of the instrument, and I had a mini meltdown while I tried to take the bottom off with my tool kit to remove the offending item. No such luck. The bottom was nailed shut. As a last-ditch effort, I just tilted the instrument back and forth hoping to lodge the loose item in a corner so it wouldn’t buzz, and it worked. I actually still need to find someone who can take the harmonium apart and remove whatever is rolling around inside!

What were your inspirations for writing the song and what made you choose harmonium for instrumentation?

I had wanted to write a song on harmonium since I bought mine in 2018. One night I was home alone, and I decided to turn all the lights off and play the instrument in the dark while looking out the window at the moon. The harmonium is such a meditative instrument, probably because of the drone aspect, so I assumed whatever I wrote would be very calming and introspective. Imagine my surprise when my improvising led me to such a rhythmic sound full of uneven time signatures. I had to really practice to coordinate my playing and singing, and I made it even harder on myself by ending on the highest note I’ve ever in one of my original songs. I had to dig deep into my classical opera training for that one. I guess you could say I don’t do anything halfway! When I started working on the lyrics, I realized I wanted to focus on the theme of light pollution and encourage listeners to develop their night vision, so you hear a lot of references to nocturnal creatures throughout.

How was it working with Noah Dickinson and John Weston as directors as well as Susi Mendler and Elisa Trujillo on the choreography and dancing for the music video?

This project was unusual for me because Noah and Susi moved from NYC to Portland, OR since the last time I worked with them, which meant we would be collaborating from a distance. Noah and I talked on the phone about how to visually represent the song’s theme of light pollution. He and Susi found the space to shoot, hired Elisa Trujillo, the dancer, and Alex Geiszler, the lighting designer. Noah filmed all the dance footage in Portland while I filmed all my footage here in Boston with John. Noah’s first edit of the music video was my first time seeing the dance! It took a lot of coordination between all the artists, but the finished product is something I’m deeply proud of. Hopefully one day I’ll get to meet Elisa and Alex in person!

How do you feel the new record showcases your sonic evolution?

Thematically, Nocturne is the most cohesive album I’ve made so far. Even though each song has a unique character and subject, I feel like the whole project works together beautifully. Along with my alt pop style, there are elements of classical and world music, which are nods to my musical training and performance experience. I also like to push myself out of my comfort zone, and Nocturne accomplishes that in several ways. I’m featuring two new instruments on the album: harmonium (Full Moon Rise) and vocal harmoniser (Mother Night, to be released in August). I’m also debuting my first professionally recorded cover song (Blackbird, to be released in July). This album is also the first to be released in Dolby Atmos, which I think puts it on the cutting edge of current recording technology. All of that combined makes this a truly significant project for me as an artist.

Alongside the album, you’ve also written a 72 page “Nocturnal Journal,” how do you feel this material will influence the experience and interpretation of the music for the audience?

I think it gives listeners a chance to dig deeper into the themes of the album and to raise their night consciousness. How much time do most of us spend in the dark with no electric light? How many of us have seen the stars in a truly dark sky? I think night and darkness have so much to teach us, and writing about it with a prompted journal is a great way to learn something new about ourselves and our world. Here’s another shameless plug on where to buy it: https://www.blurb.com/b/12004856-nocturnal-journal

Finally, what’s next for you and your music?

After the Nocturne album is fully released, I have a haunting new single for Celtic harp, voice, and two cellos coming in October with an accompanying music video. I also ran a fundraiser last year to make my first full length album in Nashville, and if all goes according to plan, I’ll record there in the fall.

Watch the music video for Full Moon Rise below