Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja has said that Girl In The Year Above‘s cover of ‘Teardrop’ is the “most sublime, beautiful interpretation of that song that anyone has ever done”.
The rising singer-songwriter covered the Massive Attack track for the soundtrack to the new Peaky Blinders film, The Immortal Man – joining huge names like Fontaines D.C.‘s Grian Chatten, Amyl & The Sniffers‘ Amy Taylor and Lankum on the album.
For the rising singer, she features on the soundtrack thanks to her stirring cover of the Massive Attack song ‘Teardrop’, and score composers Martin Slattery and Antony Genn recently spoke to NME about how they reached out to her when coming up with the soundtrack to the new film.
Speaking of the Sheffield singer, named Jennifer Ball, Genn recalled meeting her during a night out and following her on Instagram, where he later saw videos of her singing and playing guitar.
“Her voice was unbelievable so we sent her a message. She was in a band but they’d never been in the studio so we invited her in,” he recalled. “She didn’t remember meeting me at first and said she hoped she’d never see me again because she was out of her mind.”
After sharing that he was eager to “roll the dice” by having them perform the Massive Attack song after seeing the “level of talent” involved, Genn added that he shared the cover with leading man Cillian Murphy the next day, and it immediately got his seal of approval.
“He said he was almost moved to tears listening to it. She’s got the greatest voice I’ve ever worked with. You realise this as her and her band come out into the world, but she’s an incredible storyteller and lyricist, but some people just have that gravitas to take someone else’s song and turn it into something new,” the composer said.
“This version of ‘Teardrop is absolutely beautiful. She’s destined for very big things. She’s an edgy motherfucker as well. Everyone on this is a real force of nature.”
In the interview, Genn also added that he shared both Massive Attack songs covered in the soundtrack – ‘Teardrop’ by Girl In The Year Above, and ‘Angel’ by Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten – with the band’s own Robert Del Naja.
“Both original versions are actual fucking masterpieces and I’m a huge Massive Attack fan. Robert [Del Naja] is a very old friend of mine and I was shitting myself to send it to him,” Genn said.
“He just said the nicest things. He said that ‘Teardrop’ was the most sublime, beautiful interpretation of that song that anyone has ever done.”
As well as Girl In The Year Above, other artists on the Peaky Blinders film soundtrack include Nick Cave – who recorded a new version of the show’s theme song ‘Red Right Hand’ – as well as Lankum and Welsh hardcore band Mclusky have recorded ‘People Person’. Check out the full tracklist here.
The new film, written by series creator Steven Knight and directed by Tom Harper (Heart of Stone, Wild Rose), picks up the story of the Birmingham crime family from 1940. As well as Cillian Murphy, it also stars Barry Keoghan (Saltburn, The Banshees of Inisherin), Rebecca Ferguson (Dune, A House of Dynamite), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs, The Hateful Eight), Sophie Rundle (After the Flood, Gentleman Jack) and Stephen Graham (Adolescence, A Thousand Blows).
As for Girl In The Year Above, Jennifer Ball and co. have a UK and Ireland tour coming up in May, which includes a sold-out slot in London, as well as other shows in Glasgow, Birmingham, Sheffield and more.
They recently wrapped up a run of support slots for The Kooks, and will be making appearances at Neighbourhood Festival and The Great Escape later this summer. Visit here for tickets and more information.
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