Name: angelina iapaolo

Birthplace: scarboro, ontario

Currently residing: moncton, new brunswick

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: i got signed to atlantic records in 2000 after playing guitar and being a musician for 10 months. i was racked with insecurity over what it was that people liked about my music/singing, due to total lack of experience. i made my first record “capable egg” to critical acclaim in 2000 but still wasn’t great at playing live. i had a steep learning curve from then til now. i made a record with strings next “garden cities of to-morrow” 2005 but found it very hard to tour because i required at least a string quartet to pull of the material. presently, because i have learned a lot, we use a real piano (robinson st. george), and snare and brushes that i play. we wanted our songs to sound awesome even played with very little accompaniment. we have accomplished that. now we need a few months to finish the gorgeous material we have been working on to be ready to record it with howard billerman for the final month. we are presently in an indiegogo campaign to fund this endeavor.  

Website 

1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

satie, shirley horn, nancy wilson, ella fitzgerald, billie holiday, hercules, ennio morricone, duke ellington, vladimir horowitz, glenn gould, joni mitchell, nick drake, alison moyet, tracey thorn, annie lennox, aretha franklin, gladys knight,

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

the entirety of shirley horn’s “here’s to life” record. it’s all string arrangements by johnny mendell. it is so airy, sparse, and beautiful while also being lush. she plays all her own piano and has the most minimalist shimmery rhythm section. her experienced voice is at ease yet rich and restrained, all of which move me.

another song that really moves me is “hide and seek” by imogen heap

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

sourdough bread in the oven at 7 am

espresso coffee with foamed milk and email/fb checking time

rehearsal for a few hours and more coffee

cleaning, puttering, setting the house right

hanging out with my son

going for a walk in the woods

taking a nap

shopping for dinner/sharing it with friends

in the summer gardening/beaching also

watching a really good movie some nights

a great bath

helping others

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

sincerity, generosity, lack of fear in being myself, determination, no-nonsense, artistic integrity, i’m a friend for life.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

i don’t have any that i value that much. i give away “nice things” all the time just cause i don’t want the attachment. i just need a real piano when i perform.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

no one.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

where i am is usually my favorite place to be right now. this doesn’t mean i’m not working towards other places that will also become my favorite place. that being said, i am excited to go to caissie cape nb. (the beach/country) this spring. if i blink my eyes i am in my mini home, with my rocket stove, composting toilet, south facing exposure, wood burning oven outside, huge garden, chickens and goats, and my peeps (the peeps that want to be there)

another big dream at the cape is to build a beautiful outdoor stage to accommodate people coming out to see us perform where we are as opposed to us being on the road all the time. yes it will be equipped with a real piano. the back of the stage will be a gigantic scallop half shell.

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

i want to do more not having a job, more performing/practicing, baking, cooking, gardening, art making, music writing, sharing, showing people how to live rent free, bill free, debt free and free of dependence on fossil fuels.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

living off the grid, making music/art, wintering somewhere warm, teaching others to live sustainably and happily,  and with an ever-expanding heart and mind.