U.K. singer-songwriter Flo Morrissey uploaded her delicate song “If You Can’t Love, This All Goes Away” at the ripe old age of 18. The Internet fell in love with it and now, two years later, she’s releasing her debut album of evocative folk-pop called “Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful.” She’ll also be performing at the 2015 Glastonbury Festival. Here she is to DJ her first, hypothetical dinner party.
Flo Morrissey: Hi, I’m Flo Morrissey, and I’ve been asked to make a dinner party soundtrack… but, funnily enough, I have never thrown a dinner party. I actually still live at home with my family, and I can’t cook, so… the food might not be good, but at least the soundtrack will be good.
Ibeyi – “Mama Says”
For my first song, I would choose “Mama Says” by Ibeyi.
I saw them first on Jools Holland, which is like our Conan, or Jimmy Fallon, or something like that.
They’re French twin sisters of Yoruban descent, and their dad was from the Buena Vista Social Club. He was one of the drummers in it. This song is more stripped back, and it’s Lisa playing on piano — she’s got kind of a Nina Simone vibe to her — and then Naomi plays this wooden box as kind of like beats and drums.
They also sing Yoruban chants and incorporate that in some of their music. It’s of this time, but not. Which I think is really special and unique.
Marvin Gaye – “Let’s Get It On”
For my next song, I’m going to pick Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On.”
It’s in one of my favorite films, “Austin Powers.” Dr. Evil and Frau start to get it on, and I actually remember being kind of embarrassed watching it when I was like 15. I feel the song itself is quite sensuous, but also, it has that feeling of vulnerability to it too, which I like.
At this point, maybe two of my friends who had never met before are kind of like hitting it off. But that’s why I would put it on a dinner party list, because everybody knows it and it’s a feel-good song.
John Lennon – “Jealous Guy”
[The] next song I’m going to pick for the dinner party would be “Jealous Guy” by John Lennon.
He is another timeless songwriter, and this song… it just brings up a nice, familiar feeling to people too. I don’t know, I’m worried it’s slightly somber for a dinner party, but I love the simplicity of the song, and that gives space for many things to arise in the party, I think.
The song could also be a quite funny, ironic little link from “Let’s Get It On” — my two friends getting it on, and then there’s the “Jealous Guy” in the corner. So it’s… you know, everybody’s feeling involved!
Flo Morrissey – “Sleeplessly Dreaming”
If I was asked to play one of my songs, it would be “Sleeplessly Dreaming.”
That would be a good one to end on, because it’s maybe quite late and we’re all going to be slightly sleeplessly dreaming tonight — whether that be from the food, or if someone’s had too much to drink.
So, I guess now that I have the soundtrack sorted, I need to go home and figure out how to cook a bit.
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