You can call the music she makes folk if you want, but there’s jazz in it, too, and blues, and a soulful something or other that you can’t quite put into words. Whether onstage or on record, she presents herself just as she is—no gimmicks, no flashy pyrotechnics, only the solid musicianship of someone who knows and loves her craft.
Natalia's bio from her website (July 2010):
Natalia Zukerman’s Weasel Records debut Brand New Frame introduces listeners to her rich layers of top notch guitar playing, contemporary beats and dark, sweet, provocative vocals. Musically sophisticated, intimate and irreverent all at once, this record highlights what’s best about Americana music and offers it a Brand New Frame.
It is an album about change. In Brand New Frame, Zukerman challenges listeners to break out of patterns and rhythms that hold them back from reaching the truth. The title track, “Brand New Frame” is a wake up call to those who tell the same stories over and over again to anyone who will listen. “Better Me” presents the idea that the people we are striving to be are there all along, waiting for us to catch up to what we already know we are capable of. “Only Trees” is a metaphor for what Zukerman’s album is all about – that things change: landscapes, ideas, music. In the song she recognizes the way we live our modern lives at breakneck speed, and invites us to slow down.
Produced by Willy Porter (www.willyporter.com), Brand New Frame features Zukerman on vocals and guitars, with Dave Schoepke on drums, Dave Adler on keys, Leroy Deuster on Pedal Steel, Bryan Mir on electric bass, Todd Sickafoose (Ani Difranco) and Marty Ballou (John Hammond) on upright bass. The album is also sprinkled with notable guest appearances by fellow songwriters Willy Porter, Melissa Ferrick and Edie Carey.
Warning: You may not be able to get over the mesmerizing guitar chops of the talented Natalia Zukerman, but if you can, you will discover layers. Country roads that lead to red barns, antique shops, glass bottles, resonators, lap steels, finger-picking and trembling slides. And alongside these winding roads are back alleys, flagging cabs, and the buzz of a streetlight clicking with kick drums, pleading organs, and speeding electric guitars behind lyrics that delve boldly into work, love, temptation and the journey to personal reinvention. Brand New Frame tells the story of valuing the past while growing new skin; the unraveling of a relationship with realism, humor and tenderness.
Zukerman didn’t have to look far as a child to find musical influence. She attributes her rigorous work ethic, discipline and instrumental predisposition to her parents. The daughter of violinist/conductor Pinchas Zukerman and flutist/writer Eugenia Zukerman, Natalia grew up in Manhattan immersed in classical music.
Her ears were tuned to perfect pitch, and the guitar dexterity, intricate sense of rhythm and meter evident in her own musicianship came naturally. So did the lifestyle of a traveling performer. Performing live—and experiencing what she calls the life of a “wandering gypsy”—is a family tradition. In addition to her parents, her sister Arianna is an opera singer, and her grandfather played clarinet in Klezmer bands in Poland and later in Israel.
In a sense, Zukerman explores family heritage in “Song For Ramblin’ Jack” one of the 10 original songs on Brand New Frame. She explains it is in part about blood-related family but even more so about the extended family of American troubadours who travel the country sharing both traditional and contemporary genres, songs, skills, instruments, and styles.
“The song ‘Ramblin’ Jack’ came after a Folk Alliance conference in Austin. I realized there that I was a part of this grand tradition of troubadours that was, for me, as much about my own family of traveling musicians as a shared American history. I consider myself a student of traditional music, even though some would say the noise I make is not so traditional.
I did meet Ramblin’ Jack Elliot at a friend’s place in Pt. Reyes, CA a few years ago. I loved him, loved his way of weaving a story and loved that I, in my own little way, try to carry on his legacy as much as the legacy of my own family.”
Since 2004, Zukerman has been touring the country opening shows for roots greats and guitar slingers including Kelly Joe Phelps, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, Garnet Rogers, Melissa Ferrick, Catie Curtis, Susan Werner and many others. It was on the road that Zukerman formed the relationship with Willy Porter that would lead to producing Brand New Frame and releasing the album on his label Weasel Records.
“Brand New Frame is a perfect fit with what I’ve always wanted Weasel to represent. The small but mighty team here is thrilled to share Natalia’s record, and tremendous talent, with the world.” -Willy Porter.
Anyway
Natalia Zukerman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They know something that we don't
They just trust everything will be alright
You know we tend to think it won't
So I think of you in this golden light
As we watch the sun go down
Both wishing it would put up a better fight
A new town
And no matter what we say
It's gonna happen anyway
You grew up in one of those towns
Where everybody gets just one tiny square patch of ground
And you gotta keep it tidy and neat
Your mamma kept the nicest one on Montgomery street
And you know she thinks, you don't care
Since you've let yours go
Flowers have bloomed up everywhere
And no matter what you say
It's gonna happen anyway
I got these two friends, they built there own home
It's not like they knew how
It's not like anybody showed them
They just cut some wood, and started to build
Knowing that there would be valleys, even though there would be hills
And one day by the river side
They made a perfect circle
Around to perfect brides
Cuz no matter what they say
It's gonna happen anyway
Oh yes
Anyway
Oh
Any way you look at it
You always gotta try to fit it
If it's too big
If it's too small
If it's got no name what should we call it?
Any way to have control
As if there were a way to know
The way the wind blows, the way the wind blows
Anyway
Oh
So I think of you in this golden light
As we watch the sun go down
The first verse of Natalia Zukerman's song "Anyway" highlights humans' tendency to overthink and worry about what may happen. It suggests that perhaps we could learn something from sleeping dogs who trust that everything will be alright without worrying about it. The lyrics use the metaphor of watching the sun go down and hoping it will put up a better fight as morning comes around, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the idea that everything will continue to happen regardless of what we do or say. As the chorus repeats, "no matter what we say, it's gonna happen anyway," implying that it is fruitless to worry about things we cannot control.
The second verse tells the story of someone who grew up in a small town where people are expected to keep their gardens tidy and immaculate. The singer's mother has the nicest garden, and she thinks her child doesn't care because their garden is overgrown with wildflowers. But the singer understands that flowers will bloom regardless of how much we try to control and tame nature, which echoes the sentiment of the first verse. The third verse uses another metaphor of building a home to demonstrate how we can achieve great things by simply starting without necessarily knowing how to do it. The emphasis here is on trying, accepting that there will be ups and downs, and ultimately finding beauty and perfection in our imperfections.
Overall, Zukerman's lyrics encourage us to let go of our need for control and perfection, to trust that everything will be alright, and to find joy in the unpredictable and imperfect nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Let sleeping dogs lie
Don't bother with past issues, let them go
They know something that we don't
The past holds several secrets that we are unknown about
They just trust everything will be alright
Dogs forget the past and hope for the good in future
You know we tend to think it won't
Humans can't forget the past and always worry about the future
So I think of you in this golden light
Nostalgic memories cherished in newer times
As we watch the sun go down
Savor peaceful moments shared in each other's company
Both wishing it would put up a better fight
Sad about the inevitable ending of the day
As morning comes around I'm in a new place
The inevitable change and start of new beginnings each day
A new town
Starting over in fresh surroundings
And no matter what we say
Whatever we discuss does not impact the inevitable outcomes
It's gonna happen anyway
The events that will unfold are inevitable, regardless of our feelings or actions
You grew up in one of those towns
The song describes the struggles of being raised in a small town environment
Where everybody gets just one tiny square patch of ground
The small town has limited land, leading to people competing for the same space
And you gotta keep it tidy and neat
In such towns, there is pressure on people to maintain their land to a specific standard
Your mamma kept the nicest one on Montgomery street
The singer had a loving mother who took care of their patch of land well
And you know she thinks, you don't care
Despite this, the artist is not able to care for their own land up to their mother's standards
Since you've let yours go
Due to the pressure of maintaining standards, the artist is losing their land to nature
Flowers have bloomed up everywhere
The singer's neglect is responsible for the flourishing of flowers on their land
I got these two friends, they built their own home
The song narrates the story of a couple who build their own house
It's not like they knew how
They had no experience with construction or building homes
It's not like anybody showed them
They did not learn how to build a house from anyone
They just cut some wood, and started to build
They decided to take a leap of faith and start building it themselves
Knowing that there would be valleys, even though there would be hills
Aware that there would be difficulties and challenges, despite the excitement of the mission
And one day by the river side
One day they built a space that was perfect for them
They made a perfect circle
They had a perfect space that was exactly what they needed
Around to perfect brides
The couple had a perfect space that suited both of their needs and tastes
Anyway
In any case, these stories highlight that we must acknowledge the inevitability of life and the outcomes that will unfold
Any way you look at it
Whichever viewpoint you choose, the outcomes will not change
You always gotta try to fit it
Regardless of the outcomes, one must still try to fit in and adapt
If it's too big
If situations are too challenging
If it's too small
If situations are too limited
If it's got no name what should we call it?
What to do when situations fall outside our understanding and naming conventions
Any way to have control
We try to control how we perceive things despite the inevitability of events
As if there were a way to know
We are still trying to understand how we can know the outcome
The way the wind blows, the way the wind blows
Just like the direction of wind, the outcomes are unpredictable and not completely understandable
Oh yes
Acknowledges the validity of the overall message
Anyway
Despite the uncertainties in life and outcomes, we should continue to adapt and push forward
Oh
Adds emphasis and reflects the overall mood of the song
Contributed by Kaitlyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.