Alongside releasing one of the albums of the year, 'Below a Massive Dark Land', Naima has also been studying archaeology and travelling around the US with Bingo Fury in what she modestly considers a "working towards" year.
Photo: El Hardwick | Words: Lloyd Bolton
This year, Naima Bock made a superb return with 'Below a Massive Dark Land', the follow up to her debut album 'Giant Palm'. Collaborating with producer Jack Ogborne (aka Bingo Fury), she has shown a sharpened instinct for ambitious formal ideas, executed by a band who seamlessly compliment each other. Arrangements like 'Feed My Release' and 'My Sweet Body' are rich with intricate, mutating ideas that form tremendous pieces, while 'Kaley' is her biggest 'banger' to date. Modest enough to consider this a "working towards" year, Naima talks us through how her 2024 has unfolded.
Talk us through your 2024 in brief.
I can make it very brief; a lot of essay writing, writing songs, touring, being with my friends and family.It's been a good year, it's been a 'working towards' year I think. Also, I've finally landed somewhere that feels like home, I get to live with my best friend Youness, this is a great thing to have happened to me.
What is your Album of the Year?
Mount Eerie, 'Night Palace'. I can't say completely why other than I was just so happy he released some more music, glad to jump back into that world again.
How about Song of the Year?
'Green Car' by Mildred, because they're the best band.
What's your favourite live show you've seen in 2024?
Mildred! I got to play with them in the US. I knew Will the drummer from London and used to make music with him and now him and his friends have started this amazing band; definitely my favourite shows. I would say the two Joanna Sternberg gigs (one at Kings Place and the other at Union Chapel), Gentle Stranger (at the George) and a Junior Brother gig (also at the George) are also up there but otherwise I haven't really seen much that has blown me away. To be honest most gigs are really boring, I don't know how A&R people do it.
What was your highlight of the year?
Me and Jack (Bingo Fury) travelled around the states for a month, that was a big highlight. Also meeting my sister's baby boy.
What's your favourite thing someone's said about your music?
I don't really know what people say about my music unless they tell me to my face, but my friend Dave gave me his in-detail story of tripping whilst listening to the record, I enjoyed that the most. Generally, it means a lot when people say its gotten them through a difficult time, many people have said it has helped them through loss.
How about the strangest thing someone's said about your music?
There's always a few strange things, maybe what Dave said can also go in this category. Someone said they gave birth to my first album, that was more lovely than strange. Also, someone asked me at a solo show why I didn't have the full horn and string section and seemed really pissed off about it, that wasn't strange as much as it was unnecessary and rude.
And what are you most looking forward to in 2025?
Graduating! I'll finally get a degree at the grand age of 28 and I can become an archaeologist. I am looking forward to recording all my new tunes, loads of them have piled up and it would be nice to record them simply and without faff and release them, simply and without faff.
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