Name: Then I Try Some More
Brand: Joanna Sternberg

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

FP17852

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2021-11-19

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

The Orchard

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

767981178523

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

FP17851

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Black

2021-12-03

767981178516

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1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Joanna Sternberg

Genre GB

Folk

Label GB

Fat Possum

Fat Possum Records is a label that was established in 1991 with the sole purpose of recording R.L. Burnside. Over time, it evolved into a mission to discover and record the last remaining original bluesmen before they passed away. Despite facing various challenges such as difficult personalities, limited songs, and a raw sound that didn't fit the mainstream blues market, these artists possessed immense talent and truly lived the blues.

In recent years, Fat Possum has expanded its catalog to include newer indie blues rock bands alongside their traditional offerings.

Joanna Sternberg is a 28-year-old singer, songwriter, musician and visual artist born and based in New York City. They showed their musical talent at a young age, humming the entire melody to “Oh What A Merry Christmas Day” from Mickey’s Christmas Carol at just 2 years old. Joanna began piano lessons at the age of 5 and self-taught themselves how to play the guitar and electric bass by the time they were 11.
Attending LaGuardia High School of Music and Art, Joanna started studying double bass during their freshman year. They later received a full scholarship to Mannes College of Music where they studied classical double bass for a year and a half before deciding to take a break from school.
At 23 years old, Joanna began writing songs and learning how to sing. By the age of 24, they started performing in public while accompanying themselves on various instruments. Today, Joanna continues to write songs, sing, play instruments, and create visual art. They prefer not to categorize their music or art into specific genres or use traditional labels for them.

Although I wrote each song on this album about specific things/a specific thing, I also feel that songs are not officially "about" anything because it is ultimately up to the listener to decide what the song represents and means to them. Thank You to whoever has given my songs a chance, and whoever continues to listen to them! I will say what I wrote each song about, because I think it is interesting when songwriters explain what inspired them! (but once again, I understand if the song represents something else entirely to you! and either way, thank you so much for listening!) 

Musically speaking, my main influence for this album was the music of Scott Joplin. I wrote a lot of the songs as piano rags, and then I slightly changed some of the melodies and chords, added lyrics and slowed the tempos down so they could be sung as songs. 

1."This Is Not Who I Want To Be" is about my ongoing struggles with addiction and one of the first times I tried to get sober and went through drug and alcohol withdrawal. 

2."Step Away" is about unrequited love for a close friend (or a "best friend" if you believe in that term.) 

3."My Angel" is about the end of a romantic relationship and the death of a loved one. 

4."For You" is about unrequited love and being jealous of the same person that you are in love with. (as experienced through me, when I was in high school!) 

5."Pimba" is about an imaginary baby penguin! I actually wrote this song to annoy my friend, and it worked! (my friend was sitting next to while I was writing it!) It is sort of a joke song, but I know that the emotions I try to convey in the song are real. (experiencing loneliness, feeling invisible, sadness and melancholy all while trying to stay positive!) 

6."Nothing Makes My Heart Sing" is about depression and hitting "rock bottom." It is also about realising that you have given up on all of your dreams. I was trying to write a song about all of this, and then I read the poem "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes. After reading that poem, I was able to write the entire song immediately. That poem became a muse for the song. 

7."Trying To Say No" is about self love deficit disorder and being a people pleaser. It is about caring about other people's needs more than you care for your own. 

8."You Have Something Special" is a song against bullying and in support of the victims of bullying. 

9."Don't You Ever" is about not feeling comfortable in the body you were born with and the gender you were told that you "are." It is about gender identity (or lack thereof!) and me finally accepting that I am gender neutral. It is also about loneliness, depression and social anxiety and how I believe that we all experience the same set of emotions.