Joelle Bensaïd’s Spellbinding Blend of Jazz and Folk in Her Latest Single
By Alec Ilstrup
New York born-and-raised Joelle Bensaïd is a jazz singer/songwriter whose music leaves a lasting impression amongst the saturated NYC scene of today. Bensaïd’s most recent single “Bell, Book, and Candle” is the first release from her upcoming album in 2025. The single is a beautifully composed song that stands out for its thoughtful instrumentation and powerful vocal performance.
We sat down with Bensaïd at Caffe Reggio in The Village. “We do a mixture of folk and jazz music. I'm really inspired by Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Paul Simon. But also great jazz vocalists like Blossom Dearie, Nancy Wilson, all those people,” Bensaïd explained. “And yeah, we play a lot in New York. I've got an album coming out [this year], which I'm really excited about,” Bensaïd’s singing voice is captivating, with a warmth and sincerity that make the lyrics feel personal and relatable. Her tone is smooth and clear, and her delivery is both confident and nuanced. She uses dynamics effectively, allowing her voice to rise and fall in a way that complements the flow of the music.
“I would say this album is kind of a way to reinvent myself because I feel like my first two songs that I put out, I was still figuring it out, like what I wanted. I've really learned over the past year, recording is a different beast.” Bensaïd said. “Like it's different, recording a song versus playing it live is definitely… It's a really different experience. So I've had to really learn what I like in the studio. And I started working with a producer called Lucas Saur, and he's really amazing. He's helped me a lot with kind of figuring out my sound.”
“Bell, Book, and Candle” is a song that feels thoughtfully crafted from start to finish. With its strong arrangement and Bensaïd’s compelling vocal performance, it’s a track that leaves the listener wanting to hear more. David Rossi’s upright bass adds a resonant depth, while Walter Ferguson’s skillful drumming provides a steady yet nuanced rhythm. The interplay between these elements is effortless, offering a sense of balance and clarity that enhances the song’s emotional weight.
The production of “Bell, Book, and Candle” is nothing short of stunning, masterfully blending its jazz and folk influences into a seamless, cohesive soundscape. Producer Lucas Saur’s deft touch shines through in the intricacies. From the delicate piano, played by Henry Plotnick, to the soulful saxophone melodies, by Sammi Katzmann, that weave effortlessly into the arrangement. The careful balance of the mix allows Bensaïd’s voice to remain the focal point, while the lush instrumentation creates a warm atmosphere for her voice to shine.
“I feel like the album, it's very eclectic. [Bell, Book, and Candle] is probably the jazziest song on the album I have coming out. It's got this almost sensual feel about it. And I wrote it like three years ago, during the pandemic. I sort of just started writing and writing like as much as I could because I really wanted to do something productive during the pandemic, you know? But I would say it's kind of hard to remember the mindset and the headspace I was in when I wrote it. I think the song is really about keeping up with appearances and it's sort of about aesthetics and persona and like staying true to that, but also staying true to yourself. Trying to develop relationships that are meaningful and go beneath sort of the surface level stuff.”
When asked where the inspiration for Bell, Book and Candle came from, Bensaid explained: “[Bell, Book, and Candle] actually came from a film. So there's a movie called Bell, Book, and Candle and it's about this witch who casts a spell on a man to make her fall in love with him. And for some reason I’ve always loved words. I love reading and so I started with words when I was younger, and then I kind of moved on to music from there. And something about that title, just watching that movie, I was like, wow. Like, just something about it really ignited something in me and inspired me. Sometimes I can't really locate the origin of a song when I write it, it kind of just happens in a moment. I'll get obsessed with a song and I'll just spend days writing it. And yeah, I just watched that movie and I loved the concept because I grew up around very witchy intuitive women, you know? I grew up hearing a lot of fairy tales.”
Joelle Bensaïd’s “Bell, Book, and Candle” is a testament to her ability to blend the timeless qualities of jazz and folk with her unique modern sensibilities. Her captivating voice, thoughtful songwriting, and the song’s meticulous production set her apart in New York’s bustling music scene. As we await the release of her debut album in 2025, this single offers a compelling glimpse into an artist coming into her own, weaving stories and sounds that resonate deeply. Bensaïd is undoubtedly a rising voice to watch, and “Bell, Book, and Candle” is the perfect spellbinding introduction.
