ISSUE #35 MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Jeff Fasano JOAN OSBORNE Boldly exploring the emotional spectrum on her latest release “It’s an INTERESTING TIME TO WRITE who use very simple language but still create about love,” says Joan Osborne. “These these deep worlds.” days, most love songs are either about the Osborne has never shied away from beginning of a romance and how crazy you thought-provoking fare. Nearly 20 years ago, are about somebody, or the end when you’re the singer’s ubiquitous megahit “One of Us” kicking them to the curb. There’s not a lot asked listeners how’d they react if God were about the messier territory in between.” living on Earth. Written by Eric Bazilian of Osborne delves into that gray area the Hooters, it’s a song that “still has legs,” on her latest album, Love and Hate. “A lot says Osborne. “It’s had an impact on people of the songs’ themes came from difficult because it’s unusual for a pop song to ask Issue #35 situations that I found myself in,” she says. what you believe in and what God means M MUSIC & MUSICIANS “The older you get, the more complicated to you.” In turn, the perennial track has your life becomes—you not only have a helped the singer earn “a fresh wave” of MAGAZINE partner, but you own a home together, have younger fans by being performed on such kids together, and your lives are completely contemporary shows as Glee and The Voice. interwoven. It’s different from navigating “I still sing it at nearly every concert, and I a relationship in your 20s, when you can never get tired of it,” she says. “I feel fortunate just walk away without other aspects of that I was the person who recorded it.” your life falling apart.” For her next solo effort, she hopes to Despite the complex theme, Osborne tackle gospel, and work with more women took a simpler approach to songwriting. singers. “I’ve made some great friends— “When I was younger, I tried to draw from Rosanne Cash, Martha Redbone, Tracy things that were cinematic—I went to college Bonham—and I’d love to bring together for film—and wanted to make songs that several female voices in a joyful way by painted pictures,” says Osborne, 51. “But incorporating a gospel flavor,” she says. this album is simpler and more direct. It’s “Love and Hate is a wonderful record, but difficult to write a simple song and have it it goes to a lot of dark places. I want to reach be resonant and meaningful, so I looked for toward the light musically.” inspiration in Hank Williams and Lou Reed, –Katy Kroll 20 M mag 35.indd 20 7/14/14 9:37 AM.