Ella Ronen’s biography begins by forewarning that it ‘reads like a work of magical realism,’ and as we read of how ‘she reportedly began singing in the womb and penned long, detailed stories before she could write, by dictating them to adults,’ there’s an immediate sense of self-mythologising involved in a remarkable story of challenges and struggles, the life of ‘A silent choir child, turned immigrant, turned activist and poet’ who ‘belongs to a family whose heritage is characterized by resistance and resilience. As Jewish women, both of her grandmothers had to endure violence and oppression. Both survived and fled illegally – one from Europe, the other from Iran – only to continue fighting racism and misogyny in the promised land. Ronen, who grew up very close to her two grandmothers, eventually left as well. Today she is raising her children in Zurich.’
On the one hand, it seems remarkable that she has found time in her life to make music, but on the other, there’s a sense that creating is essential in her life
Her first new material since her album ‘The Girl with No Skin’, ‘All My Friends Have Podcasts Now’ is a gentle and accessible piano-led indie tune. She describes the song as ‘A love letter to my generation, which was given the most and the least at the very same time’, and she articulates this so eloquently, as she sings of temporary employment and therapy are defining features of their lives, and how podcasts – and social media – have become a substitute for community and close friendship circles – ‘we speak our life into the void’, as she puts it.
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It sounds like a breezy slice of social critique – and it is – but it’s also sad to consider the stark realities she presents, The media is bursting with opinions from Boomers and Gen Xers bemoaning how Millennials and Gen Z are workshy because they want to establish some kind of work / life balance, but the fact is that’s pretty much the most many can hope to salvage .
‘The illusion of a future is not a luxury we own,’ she sings – a line which rhymes with ‘working to the bone’. The future is bleak, and potentially short, and Ella has the measure of it – as well as a knack for a deft tune, which is most welcome.
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