Jeanette Hubert - On The Run (2012) [Hi-Res]

Singer/songwriter Jeanette Hubert's debut album On the Run stands out for its undiluted immediacy. Enriched by a discrete jazz-flair, these twelve airy and playful pop songs are testimony to the Berlin-based artist's musical chops and vocal prowess. Supported by a promising backing band, her songs take the listener through the ups and downs of life and love – a constitute a remarkable start to her recording career.

'How funny the dream that I had yesterday/ I met you / Still always on the run', Berlin- based singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeanette Hubert recounts in the title track of her debut album On the Run. The song deals with the challenge of building a relationship on absolute honesty – and makes for a perfect example of Hubert's authentic, no-frills style. Jeanette Hubert was born in Karlsruhe in 1979 and raised in Berlin. Her musical career gets off to an early start at the tender age of eleven. Without even knowing how to play an instrument, she begins writing her first songs and performing them in public whenever the opportunity presents itself. At fifteen, she founds the duo Ginger Nuts, taking on the twin duties of singer and guitarist. The move turns into a formidable business card: In 1998, former Timbuk3-frontman Pat Macdonald ask her to contribute backing vocals to his third album and to accompany him on some of his German gigs.

In 2002, Ginger Nuts disband. For Hubert, however, the end of the band marks a new beginning, as she delves into production-technology, allowing her to record her songs by herself. Two years later, she's back on stage again, performing, among others, as the opening act to David Poe and setting up a duo with drummer Catrien Stremme. Together with Stremme, she secures first prize at a talent award organised by the city of Berlin, which allows them to record some of their songs. Unfortunately, the duo breaks up shortly afterwards and before having released the material. And yet, Hubert more than compensates for the disappointment by finishing second at the European finale of the 'Emergenza Acoustic Showcase 2006“.

After a plethora of solo- and group-gigs, Jeanette Hubert now finally releases her debut album On the Run. Comprising twelve original songs, it sees Hubert manifesting her passion for life, singing and performing. Topics range from finding love and keeping it alive through times of conflict and pain to the sheer joy of simply lying in the grass and waiting for happiness to arrive ('Waiting For The Rest'). Playing the guitar, for Hubert, is a way of looking inside and attuning herself to the world around her. Influences range from rock to jazz, while melodies are marked by a poignant pop appeal – always backed by a band composed of Malte Weberruss (guitar, electric bass, keyboards), Simone Bauer (double bass) Nicolai Ziel (drums) and her former duo partner Catrien Stremme, who also contributed the lyrics to three songs.

Opener 'Always Perfect' and pieces like 'Honeypie Baby' and 'Letters To The Moon' display Hubert's determination to remain optimistic in good times and bad. Hubert's interest in many decades of pop- and jazz- culture are showing through on “Bullet” or “See Me” as well as guitar ballads “True” and “Waiting for the Rest”, while pieces like Hammond-driven “Freddy Song” or “Mind My Garden” act as impressive testimonies to her timeless songwriting chops.

On the Run is an album which never reverts to cliché and kitsch for their own sake – but which isn't afraid of beauty, either.

Jeanette Hubert, vocals, acoustic guitar
Malte Weberruß, guitars, keys, bass, percussion, backing vocals
Simon Bauer, double bass
Catrien Stremme, drums on 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11
Nicolai Ziel, drums on 1, 2, 3, 6, 9

01 - Always Perfect
02 - On The Run
03 - Honeypie Baby
04 - Letters To The Moon
05 - Mind My Garden
06 - Freddy Song
07 - My Favourite Story
08 - Bullet
09 - See Me
10 - Rusty Hug
11 - True
12 - Waiting For The Rest