ionie

"ionie — who, like Beyoncé, goes just by her first name — has one of those haunting, Fiona Apple-like voices that you could hear just once and never forget." - Refinery29

"Reminiscent of Adele or Selah Sue...Ionie has a an ability to cut between strong, sultry soul and quiet introspective moments within the same song, lending her music presence and drama. Ionie has that ephemeral 'stuff ', the heart and soul that makes an artist entertaining and relatable." - Examiner.com

"I've told myself for over 20 years that preparation and timing is everything. I can honestly say that if I ever doubted that belief I would only need to listen to Ionie to solidify what I already know. Thank you. My faith in music has been restored." - Pacino Bing, Founder of Factory Floor

New York based Ionie released her self-titled debut album back in April. On initial investigation, it’s a pretty mixed bag. That might be a deliberate ploy to show off her varied talents or it might be that Ionie has yet to absolutely find the style she’s most comfortable with. ‘Give Me Your Eyes’ is undoubtedly a stand-out track.

Modern dating is tough right? It certainly seems to be the case here. You put all of your eggs into one basket-case and then they turn out to be fecklessly unreliable. They sweep you off your feet by whispering sweet nothings into your ear whilst, at the same time, whispering ‘it’s nothing, sweet’ into somebody elses ear.

What better way to convey the highs and lies of that experience than through a dose of jazz-tinged soul? This is a tune calling out for your commitment.

Give it a shot. Give it your eyes. I don’t think it’ll disappoint. - sonicbreakfast.om

* With a combination of jazz, pop, and soul, Ionie makes a heck of a first impression with her debut single, "Give Me Your Eyes."

The song is off of the NYC, by way of San Francisco, singer's self-titled debut album, which was released earlier this year, and the storytelling video for the song was produced by Wild Obscura Films' Erica Rose. Rose says of the clip, and its connection with the song, “It conveys the plight that many young lovers must face, the endlessly complicated, dichotomous relationship between the private, verses the public. In private, a bond with someone can seem indestructible and carry through with careless, ineffable glee. Yet, in public, the same person can suddenly transform into someone impenetrable, reclusive, and distant.”

You should definitely give Ionie your eyes, and ears, for this one. - Adam's World

According to Ionie...

"'Give Me Your Eyes' is about that one look that can say everything--or nothing at all. We all know what that's like, when you say goodbye to someone for the night--or the morning--and all you want is for them to look over their shoulder at you and smile. The song is about that limbo, that place of uncertainty, when you're getting to know someone more intimately but you have no clue where you stand with them. You're caught up in a whirlwind of emotions but you're afraid to expose yourself because you could lose everything. My life is just a constant series of moments like this, but I try to embrace it. Otherwise, it'd drive me crazy. I wrote this song in a basement on an upright piano, in one night. That's a pretty good recipe for a song like this. It's so special when a whole song just pours out of you and you never have to touch it again, and it's a total privilege to write on a piano in New York City. It was definitely emotional to write, but I can make fun of it now. My producer and engineer made up a really funny metal version--it's on the behind the scenes video. Because of the title sometimes people think it's a horror movie about having your eyes cut out and served on a platter, but I laugh it off.
"I think the video for 'Give Me Your Eyes' feels so real because of the way it's filmed. It's only two long shots, so it's not like a regular music video that cuts to a new shot every two seconds. It's meant to feel like you're watching characters in a movie--props to my director Erica Rose for that execution--and I think it feels all the more vulnerable. The making of the video was especially hard because getting those long shots right took a lot of focus and prep. People on the street kept video bombing the outside shot and then we'd have to start all over again--but we got it in the end. The second shot is special because it's choreographed to work in real time. The backdrop swivels around, the camera follows, and the lighting changes from night to day, all without editing. I also really enjoyed making this video because it gave me an opportunity to act a little more than I'd be able to in a typical music video, and to me acting is just an extension of music." - Huffington Post

We were captivated by this jazz-inflected number, from San Francisco-born, New York City-based singer/songwriter Ionie, taken from her self-titled debut, released in April of this year.

Cinematic in just two long shots, the video for “Give Me Your Eyes” tracks the highs and lows of two lovers on a hot evening in NYC’s Lower East Side. The piano-driven ballad exposes that moment when a look can say everything—or nothing at all. The video features screen and stage actor, model, and musician Matt Addison as Ionie’s ambiguous love interest.

Enjoy! - Big Takeover

Hi IONIE, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?

I’m so great, thanks, how are you?

Can you tell us more about the story behind your track ¨Give Me Your Eyes¨?

We set out to make an unconventional music video that mirrored the narrative writing style I tend to use in my songwriting. It’s meant to feel vulnerable the way characters in a movie do (props to my director Erica Rose for that execution). It’s only two long shots, so it’s not like a regular music video that cuts to a new shot every 2 seconds, and you get to watch the characters’ experience in real time because of it.

The song is about that one look that can say everything–or nothing at all. We all know what that’s like, when you say goodbye to someone for the night (or the morning, hehe) and all you want is for them to look over their shoulder at you and smile. The song is about that limbo, that place of uncertainty, when you’re getting to know someone more intimately but you have no clue where you stand with them. You’re caught up in a whirlwind of emotions but you’re afraid to expose yourself because you could lose everything. My life is just a constant series of moments like those, but I try to embrace it. Otherwise, I’d go crazy.

I wrote Give Me Your Eyes in a basement on an upright piano, in one night. That’s a pretty good recipe for a song like this. It’s so special when a whole song just pours out of you and you never have to touch it again, and it’s a total privilege to write on a piano (in nyc).

Did any event in particular inspire the song?

I was seeing this red-headed guy, and I really liked him. It was a casual thing but I was at a time in my life when I wanted something more serious. I also didn’t understand that when someone doesn’t want to be with you, you have to let them go– I mean, why would you want to be with someone who doesn’t want you? That’s madness. Anyway, the song is about wanting that person to look over their shoulder and let you know they care for you, that they want you. I remember when I wrote the line, “Here is your coat, and here is your hat, and on your way out give my dignity back…” It was a brown leather coat and one of those paper boy hats jazz musicians wear– he took them and left.

What was it like to work with Matt Addison and how did he come on board?

Matt takes his craft really seriously and working with him was awesome. I think he’s the most committed actor I know. We have a ton of mutual respect, and that goes a long way on set. I first met him at his work, and then I went back to try to find him when I was casting for my first video, ‘Hot October’. Somehow there was a missed connection, but then I saw him later at an audition. The director asked me to sing while the other actors read lines—it was for a play based on Bob Dylan’s novel Tarantula, really experimental. We chatted after, and he dug my voice. Then we figured out how we knew each other and got falafel.

How was the film experience?

The making of the video was especially hard because getting those long shots right took a lot of focus and prep. People on the street kept video bombing the outside shot and then we’d have to start all over again– but we got what we needed. The second shot is special because it’s choreographed to work in real time. The backdrop swivels around, the camera follows, and the lighting changes from night to day, all without editing. I also really enjoyed making this video because it gave me an opportunity to act a little more than I’d be able to in a typical music video, and to me acting is just an extension of music.

How was the recording and writing process?

Um, messy? Recording is a crazy thing where there are SO many options you can lose your mind trying to make decisions about anything. It’s nice to have people on your team that you really trust. I love the isolation of recording, and the feeling that you’re really making something. It’s totally different than being on stage- you’re locking it down, making the music into something tangible. It’s really special.

I did a lot of co-writing with my producer Tom Stroll, and that was definitely an intricate process. We each brought some songs to the table and then worked on them together, and we have very different approaches to songwriting. I learned a ton and am a better songwriter for it, but there were definitely some sibling-like moments.

Known for blending different genres together – do you tend to blend few genres together, say, Jazz and Rock, depending on the song´s theme and lyrics or how do you work that out?

I totally blend all the time—but it’s way less intentional than you might think. I think my influences lay somewhere beneath the surface and probably bubble up unexpectedly when I’m writing. Sometimes I try to write more in a particular style, so I’ll listen to a certain genre or artist a LOT. Other times I just go with the flow and exert less control over what’s coming out. Usually there’s a feeling that comes when you write a song that leads you in the right direction: how it’s going to sound musically, with a full band, etc. It’s like instinct. You just have to listen.

Does the single mean we can expect a new album – how´s that coming along?

The single is off my debut album, which was released in April of this year. When you’re doing the indie thing, sometimes things don’t always stay on schedule, so we released this vid after the album came out. I AM working on new music though, and I’m going to be working on making some tracks this winter.

Any tentative release date or title in mind?

Hopefully I’ll be releasing a single, if not more, in the spring. Song #1 is called ‘Heavyweight.’

Any plans to hit the road?

I’m playing on the West Coast in November and planning to hit Europe next summer.

What else is happening next in IONIE´s world?

Right now I’m in pre-production for the video for my single ‘One Half Man’, also off my debut album. The song is about my dad, who was an addict and actually passed away a little over a year ago. The video is kind of like my homage to him, and it explores the theme and aesthetics of grief. It’ll also have a good amount of home video footage in it too, which has been fun to go through. Writing and designing the video has been a really wonderful process—if I can create something beautiful out of suffering, I’m doing my job right. - Vents Magazine