Brought up by parents of Kenyan and Jamaica ancestry, this globetrotting indie artist cites Cambodia as the main inspiration for her debut album of dreamy folk tunes, Gown. Chin Hui Wen chats with Jo Hamilton about her diverse influences and that weird-looking instrument known as the AirPiano.

Your 2009 album Gown began as a series of field recordings conducted in Cambodia. Do you expect Singapore to inspire you as well?
Cambodia is a stunning country with a fascinating and tragic history. I have yet to discover Singapore but I am intrigued.

How did you start creating music with the AirPiano?
I came across Omer Yosha, the inventor of the AirPiano, playing an early prototype on YouTube in 2009. I was attracted to its simplicity and the fact that it looks like you’re magically plucking sounds out of the air. I made contact with him and ended up traveling to Berlin where he made a custom prototype for me to work with. I gave feedback how it worked in the real world. It’s a partnership of sorts.

Did you grow up in a musical family?
Yes, my siblings are all very musical. We grew up singing traditional songs of the highlands and islands of Scotland in a one-room primary school with our teacher from the Isle of Skye.

Having traveled all over the world, do you have a favorite country?
I feel an affinity to Scotland. Having been brought up there, my early memories are very strongly Scottish. But the world is such a rich and fantastic place, I can’t have a favorite.

Who inspires you?
I usually draw my inspiration from things outside of music, but I do appreciate Bjork’s and My Brightest Diamond’s work. I also really enjoy watching Imogen Heap’s creative process.

Jo Hamilton performs on August 8 at the Esplanade Recital Studio

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