Yoko Ono has been a strong force in the world of music and art and continues with Between My Head and the Sky. The album—produced by her son, Sean Lennon—blends styles with her artistry. This past May she designed a T-shirt for the Fashion Against AIDS campaign and created the John Lennon: The New York Years exhibit for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Windy City Times: This is such an honor for Windy City Times to talk to you.
Yoko Ono: Chicago is beautiful and I love that expression: Windy City! Just those two words are like a poem. Somehow, Chicago did inspire me. I haven't been there too many times, but just the times that I went there I was inspired as an artist by Lake Michigan.
WCT: This is the first album since 1973 with the Yoko Ono/Plastic Band as a title.
YOKO ONO: It has been many years. This has certainly loosened me up a bit in many ways. I became wiser maybe. The Plastic Ono Band—John named it for both of us, we used that name. When John passed away, I felt like a big rock and I didn't want to know about it. Then Sean opened it up and asked for me to please use "Plastic Ono Band."
WCT: What was it like working with your son on this?
YOKO ONO: When he first said "Let's do it," I thought no pressure but I had a little fear there. I said "Yes" and, surprisingly, it went very well. I was amazed.
WCT: You also worked with Yuko Honda from [ the group ] Cibo Matto.
YOKO ONO: Yes, Yuko is like family. Independently she is an incredible musician. She has the whole Cibo Matto thing.
WCT: I love them!
YOKO ONO: Do you know about Cornelius? It is a name for Keigo, Shimmy and Yuko in a group on this album. They happen to be Sean's friends. You should check it out.
WCT: I will have to listen to them. You are a guest on the new Basement Jaxx album, Scars, with the song "Days of the Sunflowers ( We March On ) ."
YOKO ONO: Isn't that great? He's something else, right? It is a tribute to indie musicians. Even my friends who really know music well ask me what indies are. Oh, dear! I think this is now and the future, that we are going that way.
WCT: How do you stay creative after all this time?
YOKO ONO: I don't know. It's like breathing. If you are not creative then you die.
WCT: You had a song called "Everyman…Everywoman…" that you released remixes of to support same-sex marriage.
YOKO ONO: Yes, we changed it to "Every Man Has a Man Who Loves Him" and "Every Woman Has a Woman Who Loves Her." I am very happy that I did. There was also that little dig that maybe a politician didn't get in because of that song. They always blame me for something. They would blame me for Pearl Harbor if they could! I was not in action then. People have to relax a bit, don't you think?
WCT: What future projects do you have coming out?
YOKO ONO: I go one by one. I try to do my best. It was really great being the studio making an album. That's the part that I like. It's a trip to go to places and promote it. It's not my thing, I would much rather go into the studio and make another one. I get scared when I make another one and there is a big promo scene for it.
WCT: You are doing The View on ABC tomorrow.
YOKO ONO: I know! Please don't tell me about it…
WCT: Good luck with them.
YOKO ONO: I will try my best. Keep on marching, Windy City!
