With “Woman & I,” Lia Pale is releasing her new album at the end of May—and turning her attention entirely to her own music for the first time. With a fully loaded old Saab and a Wurlitzer in tow, Lia Pale set off for Amsterdam—a journey into the unknown that ultimately gave rise to “Woman & I.” The Wels-born singer is one of the most versatile, genre-spanning voices of our time. In collaboration with the Swiss composer and arranger Mathias Rüegg, she developed her own musical language that bridges the gap between the song tradition and jazz. Her highly acclaimed reinterpretation of Franz Schubert’s Winterreise laid the foundation for this. After many years as a performer—spanning art song, jazz, and her intensive collaboration with Rüegg—a period of transition began. In the emptiness of a new beginning, in the sensation of free fall, the writing began—not as a plan, but as an anchor and a way to reconnect with herself.

Some albums are born from ideas. Others from lived moments. *Woman & I* is one of them. The songs took shape between Wels, Vienna, Amsterdam, and The Hague. Some parts were recorded in The Hague, others on stage at Porgy & Bess together with Hue Blanes, Miloš Čolović, and Ingrid Oberkanins. Additional layers of sound, flute choirs, backing vocals, and solos were added later in the quiet of a private room—layer by layer. Jazz harmonies meet minimalist pop structures. Clear melodic lines, plenty of space, and a voice that speaks directly to the listener define the sound of the tracks. The music moves freely between jazz, pop, and songwriting, unfolding a warm, lively intimacy—from duo moments to collective improvisations.

In the end, one is left with the feeling of not only having heard Lia Pale, but also of having gotten to know her a little better.