In a world where everyone shouts and attempts to dominate through law and violence, Marina Florance gets her point across calmly. There’s tremendous purpose behind that style. Whether it’s a spoken word piece that sounds like it’s delivered by a gentle English granny – an accurate assessment – or a quiet folk song, Florance’s music lets her lyrics do the speaking loudly. Speaking up, or even more literally speaking, become repeated topics on the album. Florance sympathizes with the voicesless, whether they’re emotionally unable to express themselves or simply swallowed up by the harsh realities of our political culture.
On “A Few Days In May,” Florance tells the story of a woman in the hospital pointing to a “nil by mouth” sign to justify not speaking. Anyone who goes through such a serious illness certainly has a right to feel overwhelmed.
“The withdrawal of their voice is still power,” Florance said. “It still gives them something they’ve got control over.”
Florance finds a lot wrong with communication these days. On the one hand, everyone has the power to post on social media or, say, to a folk music blog. On the other, it seems like those in power are only interested in hearing the most extreme voices. She views conflicts as situations that can be improved in a way that preserves the dignity of all weather than pick a side. There’s nuance in issues like that, but absolute conviction in how human beings should be valued. The climate as it currently exists is not great for voices like hers.
“It doesn’t matter how hard you shout or what the reasoning is, it makes no difference,” said Florance. “I think a lot of us shut down to the extent where we say nothing.”
She’s worried that people are actively rejecting the notions of compromise and democracy.
“I’m always trying to placate, but no one wants it anymore; they just want conflict,” said Florance. “And I’m not sure that talking in a world that just wants conflict really helps. So I write stuff down. I’m quite old. We’ve seen this thing so many times. And to be coming around this block again, it’s exasperating, it really is.”
The best sung track on the album, “Shadows,” is an intimate description of mental illness that could truly only be authored by someone with a good understanding of it.
“You just wake up one morning and there it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s sunny outside. This shadow comes over you and you have to find your way through it. It could last a day. For some people it lasts forever,” explained Florance. “It feels like you’re never going to see the light again. You can come out again at the other end of it, but you don’t always come out completely.”
The song explores the fact that while in the throws of depression, people may not want to have a talk about it at all times. “I don’t answer/No I don’t say a word/I turn/I look away,” Florance sings, describing a scene in which a loved one tries talking to her about her situation. She’s simply not able to discuss it at the time.
“Mental health issues are so complex. You need support. You need good people around you,” said Florance. “To have 24/7 news showing the struggles of other people can really impact how you feel as well. I can feel it inside. It’s hard because we don’t really have any control. We only have our voices, if we choose to use them.”
In order to improve her mental condition, Florance said she wished she could adjust a knob of some sort to turn her empathy down a little. Because she can’t, she lets it out in searing tracks like “Blue Skies.” “Birds fly across their blue skies/missiles fly across yours,” Florance sings about what could be several sets of leaders of countries, though she remains ambiguous purposely.
“As soon as you place your stake in the ground, people will not listen to it the same way,” Florance explained of her decision. “The message is the same for any conflict. It has to be across the board. I’ve never lived in a time where it’s as bad as it is now.”
Florance has certainly not lost her hope in humanity; when it comes to the average person, the opposite is true.
“I think the human race is successful because the majority of people are helpful,” said Florance, “The worst of human behavior is what you see on TV. “I’m on the side of an ordinary person to just enjoy their life. They’re not very long, really. I don’t think it’s too much to ask, is it?”
Florance has only recently added her soul-penetrating spoken word songs to her repertoire. She explained that songs can switch from simple poetry to a full musical arrangement during their development. Sometimes she finds room to do both: she’s written children’s books and recorded herself singing them. She decided to go with spoken word and eerie music on “Blue Skies” for the sake of making the blunt track’s powerful statement seem measured, a powerful contrast to how most other folks are handling modern life.
The album does end on a hopeful but realistic note. “Every Color of Your Rainbow” implores the listener to feel joy, get things done, and express themselves in the good times, recognizing that the opposite could be around the corner. On most albums, this would be a light and insignificant song. On an album full of depression and a terrifying picture of our world leaders, it’s a guide to finding time and space for happiness. Times may be bad, but they don’t have to be devoid of any positive feeling.
Above is the full episode as aired on WUSB’s Country Pocket, including both my interview with Marina Florance and the songs we discussed, starting with A Few Days In May, which is both whimsical and profound. The interview begins with the second video in the playlist. You can hear the show live every Monday at 4pm on WUSB 90.1 FM or check the blog to watch it as a YouTube playlist. Visit http://www.WUSB.fm and https://www.marinaflorance.com for more.
Country Pocket 