27 February 2018updated 09 Jun 2021 9:20am

Joan Baez Q&A: “My earliest memory? In utero, swirling around in this wet goo“

Joan Baez was born in Staten Island, New York, in 1941. One of the great US folk artists, she has released more than 30 albums over her 60-year career. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

By New Statesman

(Photo By Ryan McAmis for New Statesman)

What’s your earliest memory?

In utero. I found myself swirling around in this wet goo, and outside my parents were having an argument. I was under hypnosis, trying to find other stuff, and this came up. I remember feeling disgruntled.

Who are your heroes?

Aged ten, it was Michelangelo. When I grew up, it was Martin Luther King Jr. I got to see his fun side which he couldn’t really show in public. I was stunned and smitten.

What was the last book that changed your thinking?

Don’t Think of an Elephant by George Lakoff. It was about how the Republicans have learned to speak and the Democrats have not.

Which political figure, past or present, do you look up to?

Mandela. It was through his commitment and his humour, and his love and concern, that he made his revolution. He had a bravery reserved for not many people.

In which time and place, other than your own, would you like to live?

I have this wonderful castle I go to visit in northern France. To me it’s a fairyland. But back then, it must have been difficult. No heat and no running water.

What TV show could you not live without?

I can live without any TV show. I watch Netflix a lot. The best is by far The Crown. The acting in that! I watched it all, twice.

Who would paint your portrait?

Me. I tried a couple of times. One of them is good. I’m a good painter.

What’s your theme tune?

“How Can I Miss You When You Won’t Go Away?” It’s pretty profound. I used to sing that with my sister. It’s silly, but it’s clever.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

I was splitting up with my first boyfriend, when I was about 21. I was in a perfect state. Should I do this or should I do that? “Don’t sweat the small shit.” I try to adhere to it.

What’s currently bugging you?

People who are not supposed to be ignorant being ignorant. Empathy is vanishing. And that’s making lives hell for people with no power. My whole structure is around empathy. Non-violence is about empathy.

What single thing would make your life better?

Well, I think if there is a possibility of reversing global warming, that would put my heart at ease right away.

When were you happiest?

I think now. I did a lot of therapy in my life. I tackled some of the big monsters halfway through my life. I have more of an ability to experience joy. I’m happy with the decisions I’m making. I can’t grumble.

In another life, what job might you have chosen?

I once had an astrologer. I thought it was nonsense, until he did my charts. He said: “You’re here to do music, to improve social conscience – but you’re really here to dance.”

Are we all doomed?

Depends on how you look at it. We’re all going to die. I don’t think the future is very bright. What do we do with our lives in the meantime? How do we keep what’s beautiful and what’s true at the forefront?

“Whistle Down the Wind”, Joan Baez’s first studio album in ten years, is released in March on Proper Records.