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We met Regina Spektor and fan-girled hard

Bit awks.

I got a little giddy when I heard Regina Spektor was releasing her first album in four years.

Even more so when I found out I’d get to chat to her (it’s not every day you talk to your musical idol).

Despite a decade and a half-long career, Regina Spektor is as humble as ever. Chatting about her work on the phone, she exudes an infectious, childlike excitement, one that only makes me like her more. 

As fans, we come to know an artist for a sound or body of work. Do you feel pressured to stick to what people know or follow on from your existing records?

I mean, I really don’t. I have my own pursuits, obviously. I have my own ideas about what I want 
to explore sonically or maybe I’ll do things I haven’t tried before. I’m really lucky. I have been spoilt because I’m made to feel very safe and welcome [by my fans], like I can just concentrate on making art and expressing myself. I think it’s very natural that some things are for some people and other things are not, but I think that’s cool. I don’t think I would want to live in a world where everything was for everybody.

At your last show in Melbourne, a young boy (no older than seven) and his grandparents were sitting next to me. All three spent the concert singing every lyric to your songs. It’s something that really struck me about your music, that it can appeal to such a broad range of people. What makes your sound so timeless?

Oh my god! First of all, that’s so beautiful. That makes me so happy. I wish I could have seen his little face, that’s just so cool. It’s just… that’s very special and I feel very glad about that. But I have no idea (laughs). What year was that?


It was in 2012.


Wow, so now he must be a little 11-year-old. I wonder what he’s into now?

You’ve had a long career in the music industry. What do you hope the future holds for your music?


First of all, I feel very lucky to have had that kind of career and still be making music. [Making music] It’s just a real gift. I mean fuck, I only have people
 to thank for it. Most of the time when I think about it, I sort of just get awestruck and very emotional. I think it’s a beautiful way to spend your time, and I hope I just get to keep making music and travelling and connecting with people – what a cool experience to get to have.

Remember Us to Life is out September 30.

reginaspektor.com 

This interview was originally published in Fashion Journal 161. You can read it here.

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