Derry should consider itself rather lucky to be the credited home of experimental soul music artist Queen Bonobo, or, as she is more casually known, Maya Goldblum. She is quite the worldwide artist; currently basing herself in Idaho for the winter months, moving back to Europe for spring, like some kind of percussive Persephone.
Derry is warm, Goldblum notes, in all but meteorology, warm and welcoming, exuding art in every direction. It is a perfect test patch for amateur musicians, a place where there is range and diversity and a rich scope for imagination; for both those based there and those from out of town.
Goldblum’s own imagination is shaped constantly by her changing conditions, but have been rooted in a healthy diet of the likes of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell since early childhood with a mesh of the more contemporary Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Andrew Bird and Little Dragon filling her adolescent ipod classic. “I tend towards piercing, soulful voices, unusual and thought provoking lyrics, music that makes me shudder in awe and question my existence” she says as Goldblum; but one could argue that as Queen Bonobo, she fulfills her own desire.
