(c) Yoko Ono, 2013
Very few artists are able to remain relevant for nearly 50 years. Then again, Yoko Ono is no ordinary artist. Throughout her career, she has been an advocate for peace, produced thought provoking pieces of art, spoke out for gender equality, and made a lasting impact on the music industry. And she is not finished yet. At age 80, she continues to perform, create, and maintain the attention of the world.
Recently I was able to speak with Ms. Ono, via email, about some of her more recent projects.
PK: You are currently working on a charity project with tUnE-yArDs titled the tUnE-yArDs as YOKO. They cover your song “We’re All Water”; can you tell us how this project came about?
YO: Through tUnE-yArDs.
In 2010, Ono fell in love with indie band tUnE-yArDs, especially their interpretation of her classic 1972 song “We Are Water”. Their rendition became a part of Ono’s 10” record series, which consisted of different artists covering her songs.
Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs described the project, as “Getting familiar with Yoko’s vast body of work has been a true education for me. When it came time to choose one of Yoko’s songs to cover, and then later one to remix, I had the opportunity to delve into the groundbreaking, punk-before-punk, radical, brave and brilliant work she had done, album after album. More musicians should learn Yoko’s history as a songwriter and performer — she’s been light years ahead of us for decades.”
The release of “We’re All Water” is very special though. All proceeds from the sale of this single are being donated to the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance to aid in Hurricane Sandy relief. Rockaway Waterfront Alliance is dedicated to “fostering a deeper understanding, respect and connection between our communities and the Rockaway waterfront.” The organization hopes to “ inspire members of the local community to become active stewards of the waterfront through environmental education.” When asked about the organization Ono responded with: “I think it is nice that they are helping the Hurricane Sandy victims. And I trust them implicitly.”
The tUnE-yArDs project isn’t the only musical project Ono is currently working on. She recently collaborated with famous house producer Dave Aude on the single “Hold Me”. Aude is best known for his work with U2, Korn, and Coldplay.
PK: You’ve also just released a brand new single called “Hold Me”; it actually had to be released early, because of high demand. On this single, you collaborated with Dave Aude, can you tell us little about this song, and what it was like working with Dave on this project?
YO: I was impressed with Dave’s strong sensitivity and how he dealt creatively with this track. I feel very happy that we did this together with him.
Even though it was just released to great fanfare, “Hold Me” is already getting the remix treatment by other house artists.
PK: Now this single, Hold Me, is also being remixed from some very exciting artists such as Ralphi Rosario, R3HAB, and Dirty Loud, what is it like hearing these other artists remixing your music?
YO: Well, I only did it with Dave. I haven’t heard the tracks done by others. Well, I will immediately get them and listen to them. It’s quite exciting that the song is being done by great artists.
Over the past few years, Ono has found other ways to collaborate with musicians other than just remixes. In fact she has recently worked with the who’s who in the music industry on projects. But are these collaborations her preferred way of creating?
PK: Over the past few years, you have collaborated with some great musical artists from Eric Clapton to Lady Gaga to The Flaming Lips. When you are creating music, do you prefer collaborating with others or writing along? Or does it depend on the type of material you are creating?
YO: I always worked by myself. Even with the partnership of John [Lennon] and Yoko, DJ’s who are looking of songs of John and Yoko collaboration tell me that they have a hard time to find too many collaborations. Well, both John and I were very independent artists. And that was how it was. HOLD ME with David is really the first collaboration except the ones with John.
Not only has Ono maintained her active recording career, but also she has continued performing live. On February 17th, 2013 and in honor of her 80th birthday, Ono performed in front of a sold out audience at the legendary Berlin Theater, the Volksbuehne.
PK: You recently celebrated your 80th birthday, Happy Birthday by the way, with a performance at the Volksbuehne in Berlin. Can you share with us what that experience was like?
YO: Was very, very exciting. I loved it!
Rufus Wainwright, Michael Stripe, and her son Sean Lennon joined Ono on stage for this special performance. The setlist included classic Ono songs such as “Between My Head and the Sky”, “Walking on Thin Ice”, and “Give Peace a Chance”.
Along with her birthday performance, Ono’s “Half-A-Wind” art show opened at the Schirn Kuntshalle in Frankfort. This retrospective show will tour museums in Denmark, Austria, and Spain throughout 2013 and 2014. Whenever you have an artist the caliber of Ono, you sometimes need to divert from music and pick their brain about art.
PK: Is there a definition of “good” art? Or more precisely what constitutes art for you?
YO: Good art must be inspired and powerful.
Over her career, Yoko Ono has been an artist that has embraced all forms and variations of communications. Whether it is through the use of billboards advocating “WAR IS OVER, if you want it”, LPs, poetry, exhibits, or Twitter, Ono has embraced them all.
PK: Over the past decade, digital technology has completely changed our society. We can keep up to date with anyone in the world with tablet computers, smart phones, or by using social networking sites, such as Facebook Twitter, etc. In your opinion, how has this new digital technology and social networking sites changed the way art is presented to the public? Do you think it has had a positive or negative effect?
YO: It could be negative or positive depends on the particular work. But I think all things of this nature pass, and we will be dealing with another set of new technology. In the end, the spirit of the work will be what counts. We might just go back to just LPs, and books that are printed on some new material.
One thing that can be said about Ono is throughout her career; she has always stayed true to her principals and beliefs. No matter if they were popular or not. If it was a cause she believes in, then she stood up and spoke out.
This can be an example for college radio. Currently college radio is facing many struggles, from budget cuts, to the closing of stations. College radio is facing uncertain times.
PK: Over the past few years, colleges and universities have been shutting down their student run radio stations. The reasoning many institutes provide for shutting them down is monetary. They claim that they are no longer cost affective for the institutions to continue operation. In your opinion what roles do college radio stations and student created media play in the broadcasting world?
YO: It’s really an important part of communication. So the students will have to be creative in finding the way that will not be a burden to the school. I can easily think of a few methods, and I am sure the students can, too.
If the amount of current projects is any indication, Yoko Ono has no intention of slowing down any time soon. But what does the future hold for her?
PK: What would you like your legacy to be?
YO: It’s too early for that question. I think what I do in the next 10 or 20 years will probably excel the past ones.
It is safe to say that we have not heard the last from Yoko Ono.
–Peter Kreten
*Special thanks goes to Kip Kouri at Tell All Your Friends for helping arrange this interview. For more information on Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, please visit their official website at www.rwalliance.org. Additional information used in this interview comes from Tell All Your Friends and Terrorbird Media LLC.