The Wake

What constitutes beauty in music varies in form and style from person to person. Inara George, an independent artist, says music can be like an, “amoeba.” She described her process as pulled through the motion of writing music, as she explained, “Whatever comes … latch on and go with it.”

With this concept of music, she exhibits an openness that appeals to a creative atmosphere. When opening for Idlewild at First Avenue, she expressed many such feelings about her music, while promoting her latest album, All Rise. When I met her, there was an unquantifiable aspect of her mild manor, one that disguised the overwhelming voice she can produce. By her own definition, her music is inde folk pop, but it is actually more mixed in its nature than the genre suggests. She varied from a baroque love song to songs requiring various head shakes and a whimsical style of dancing. To note, with the exception of a few co-written songs and one borrowed piece, the album represents her own composition and creativity. She views this as, “making your own way,” implying that to copy someone else would lack the originality that she finds vitally important to music creation.

All Rise was created after a year of rehearsing with the album’s musicians, George pointed out. All members involved have their own separate projects, but as is stated on the official website, it was due to the fact that they played so well together that the album came to be.

In listening to George, the most dimensional aspect of the sound is that her voice floods the room. Her control of her voice is admirable, as she grabs the microphone just in time to pull it back as her voice peaks. Seconds later, she is within a centimeter of the microphone, using a voice soft enough to be a whisper. This creates a pleasure to listen to that is as creamy and rich as a caramel.

A most enjoyable aspect of her performance at First Avenue on September 23 was that it met the aim she sought. It succeeded in being “multi-dimensional.” Bear in mind, if you are one who enjoys a good thrashing piece or someone that hates females singing, this is likely not the music you should entertain. Barring that, there are dimensions in her music that everyone can find something to appreciate and relate to.

The show was not without a small downside. In all fairness, the opening slot did not give the band a chance to provide enough witty commentary and antics on stage. There were glimmers of a good stage show, but was never allowed to blossom as it would have if the band had more stage time. Inara stays completely true to her music and capitalizes on playing live with a few variances from the recording and a small moment of improvisation.

Her 30 minute opener, which was enough to supply my palette with a taste of her music, was almost entirely made up of songs from the album All Rise. While this certainly was not a disappointment, it did create a definite desire to hear something new. This is not all together fair, her performance can testify to her musicality and the level to which she is not just a studio-mastered voice. She is the genuine article. Hearing her live and having heard her album, I long to know how far she will stretch herself. There is clearly the potential for all forms of music and the next album will hopefully provide a completely different side and compilation.

In demeanor, George is a reflection of songs at several points. As an inde artist, there is always the long road, and many venues you use to produce music, but she simply views that as an aspect of the beauty that is music. In this way her view of openness is apparent not only in the music itself, but in her attitude and creation thereof. The perfect notation of such a life was described in concert, “Life can be hard, but life can be good to you,” just pack an open attitude and mind and live more like an amoeba.