One of my earliest recollections is a dream from when I was three years old. In the dream, I was standing at the park by my daycare in New York and I bit my lip. To my surprise, it came off smoothly like Play-Doh. Strange, isn’t it?
My mom raised me, she was a determined and resilient woman. Due to her busy schedule, I spent most of my time in various classes such as diving, piano, art, and pottery. My mom often expressed her desire to provide me with the childhood she never had. During my younger years, I only had occasional interactions with my father, the composer Ravi Shankar. However, when I turned 18, we were able to fully connect with each other.
During my teenage years, I was introverted, clumsy, and constantly worried about how I appeared to others. Looking back, it’s embarrassing how little trouble I caused; I was surprisingly well-behaved. If given the chance, I would tell my younger self to just let go and have some fun.
My past experiences with baked goods are complicated. I used to work at a French bakery in Dallas, wearing a stylish chef’s hat. I would bring home excess food every night, and my mom and I would devour it all. Since then, I have had a hard time looking at croissants.
From an early age, it was clear that I was destined to become a musician. I was consistently involved in church choirs and became dedicated to piano during my time at a performing arts high school. As soon as I began to combine my singing and piano skills, others began to recognize my talent.
When I first met Ray Charles, I was overwhelmed with emotion and couldn’t help but cry. It was around twenty years ago and I was still new to the industry, performing in a tribute show for Elton John. We were introduced in the parking lot and I couldn’t hold back my tears. I had grown up listening to his music. A few months later, I had the privilege of singing with him for his final album before his passing. That day in the studio was truly unforgettable.
Finding balance between work and family life is a never-ending task. I’m always going to search for it, but accept I will never quite get there. This job that takes you away from home and my kids so regularly – that’s tough. I try to set boundaries, but there’s no life hack.
I have a passion for excitement and thrill. However, I am no longer capable of going at high speeds as I used to, as it leads to me getting nauseous. I can recall a time when I rode a rollercoaster in Cologne and feared I might suffer a heart attack.
I become emotional every Christmas when I watch the movie Elf. I am unsure why I feel this way, as it is not a sad film. However, the ending scene with the sleigh taking off and the characters singing always brings tears to my eyes.
I have noticed that snacking helps to calm me down. When I was younger, I would often get angry easily. After some reflection, I realized that it was due to being hungry. Now, I make sure to keep my blood sugar from dropping too low and as a result, my temper is better under control.
Creating music isn’t driven by the pursuit of awards, but receiving recognition is obviously satisfying. My debut album was honored with five Grammy awards. The only memory I have from the ceremony is feeling incredibly hungry and being presented with a statue by the legendary Aretha Franklin. The following day, my apartment made the front page of a newspaper and I was unable to return home. Then, my boyfriend experienced a devastating loss in his family. This helped me see things with a new perspective.
I am grateful to have children, a successful career, and a loving family. However, learning how to use a potter’s wheel and successfully creating a mug is, without a doubt, my biggest accomplishment.
Norah Jones’ latest album, Visions, has just been released.
Source: theguardian.com
