ANA POPOVIC "UNCONDITIONAL" Source: Fender Date: 08/2011 Writer: n/a

Ana Popovic to Release Unconditional

Serbian sensation blues guitarist Ana Popovic will drop new album Unconditional on August 16. Her latest studio release is a fluent collection of contemporary and classic blues cuts that epitomize Popovic's grace, talent, beauty and devotion to her instrument and the blues tradition.

"The title Unconditional describes what I feel on stage," explained Popovic. "That place is simply unconditional. It is magical. It's just me and my guitar, notes, sounds and drum grooves. I let the band lift me up, and I feed off of their energy. I hate to think when playing. I only feel. Unconditional is how I stand towards my music — it's mine, it's sacred, and it's with no boundaries. Absolute, definite. I tend to put everything I have into it and don't let anything or anyone get in between, except the people that truly inspire me." 

Born in Belgrade, Popovic was exposed to blues music at a young age through a tight knit group of musicians and fans that bartered records by Howlin' Wolf, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy and the Delta Blues masters. Popovic was strongly inspired by the sultry and powerful voices of Nina Simone and Koko Taylor and influenced by the striking stage presence of style icon Tina Turner.

"I always loved her ease, relaxed image and confidence," said Popovic of Turner. "I remember seeing her live when I was 13 - she was well in her 40s - and thinking, 'Wow, don't we all want to be Tina?'"
Many people now say the same thing about Popovic, who is widely regarded as one of the world's very best female guitar players. Her bond with the instrument is on display on the new album's cover where Popopvic appears wearing nothing but a Fender Stratocaster.

"What the photo represents is how I see blues," Popovic explained in an interview with Pollstar. "A lot of people tend to represent blues as an old man playing a guitar. That's not exactly how I see it. It's an old genre but every now and then it comes back to the mainstream. It's a bold genre. It's beauty of the basics. I thought the photo represented exactly that. It's somebody who's experienced enough to know that less is more and doesn't let anything come between herself and her instrument. That's exactly how I feel onstage – the enjoyment of playing an instrument.

Unconditional was recorded over a three-month period at the legendary Piety Street Studios in New Orleans with Grammy Award-winning producer John Porter, who previously worked with Popovic on her smashing U. S. label debut Still Making History.

"I've recorded in eclectic cities like Memphis and Los Angeles but always wanted to go to New Orleans to capture the city's rich musical history," she said. "I love everything about the city, its vibe, spirit and optimism and the hospitality and kindness of the people. I think it influenced the album in more ways than just musically."

Album guests include Louisiana guitarist Sonny Landreth and harpist Jason Ricci, as well as some of New Orleans' finest local musicians in Jon Cleary and David Torkanowski on Hammond B3 and piano, Calvin Turner on bass and Doug Belote on drums.

"I was fortunate to have the fabulous Sonny Landreth — my slide idol since my Belgrade years — to play on the album, a dream come true,'' Popovic said. 

Of the album's twelve songs, eight are originals by Popovic including two that she co-wrote with Mark van Meurs.

During her interview with Pollstar, Popovic explained that she typically begins her songwriting process with lyrics.

"If the lyrics are good enough and reach the point where it's almost done, then they have some sort of phrasing, timing and rhythm in them, and that's how I make the song," she said.

"Count Me In" for instance inspired her to experiment on guitar. 

"I'm getting into somebody else's crib in New Orleans," she said of the song. "We're putting on this party and we're smoking and drinking and doing everything that's not allowed – that I'm not doing in my everyday life. But I can do it in my head and in my song. The way that song felt for me, even my guitar was sounding completely different. Not the usual thing I play. The lyrics inspired me to do different stuff."

The album also features covers of some of Popovic's favorite blues songs by Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, Otis Span, Nina Simone and Sugar Pie DeSanto.

Popovic and her four-piece band are touring extensively in the United States and Europe in support of the new album, which can be ordered here.Tour dates available here.