13. Nina SimoneLittle Girl Blue

Little Girl Blue was a constant presence in my house growing up. My parents had it on vinyl, and my mum in particular loved the unisono, so I was always listening to it. I grew up absorbing Nina Simone’s voice and piano, gradually learning to understand the complexity of her character and artistry. What I love most about this album is how you can really hear her classical training coming through, more so than on many of her later works. Tracks like ‘Love Me Or Leave Me’ feature these wild, fugue-like counterpoint solos on piano that feel almost otherworldly, especially given the context of the song. Other tracks that stand out for me are ‘Mood Indigo’ and ‘He Needs Me’. These aren’t just songs, they’re miniature universes, blending technical mastery with emotional depth. Listening to this album now still takes me back home, back to simpler times, and reminds me of the music that shaped me from the very beginning. There’s something timeless about it, a sense of grace and intensity that continues to inspire the way I think about melody, space, and expression in my own music.