Behind the scenes, I've been chatting to Jolanda Moletta for months now organising her new album Night Caves. I'm pretty used to working with ingenious, creative artists but I have been particularly fascinated by Jolanda's approach to her work. And by her work, I don't just mean her music. My love for concept-driven music is no secret and I have been amazed by Jolanda's whole approach to Night Caves; she's literally immersed herself in the concept, in which she visited caves across Liguria and Piedmont. When I raised the topic of putting together a blog post suggesting that perhaps Jolanda could share some insight into the caves she visited, she quickly responded that she was already on it and had plenty to share with us!

So Jolanda has selected some photos from her visits from some 600 shots! From her own eye-witness accounts, she will take you on an incredible journey into the depths of mountain and sea caves, where time stands still. In this deeply personal exploration, she captures the echoes of these ancient spaces through sound, photography, and film, using them as a reflection of her own inner world. In this blog post, Jolanda shares her experiences, thoughts, and artistic vision, inviting us to step into the mysterious beauty of the underground.

It's quite something to contemplate that the entirety of Night Caves was created from vocals alone; the bass, the pad-like choral textures, the rhythm and textures. You can take a listen to the album at the end...

I was driving with my partner through the Italian Alps. I stared at the road in a state of trance, surrounded by autumnal trees and a deep blue sky. I suddenly imagined myself singing inside a cave. I knew right away what I wanted to do: make an album about caves, as symbols of my inner world. I would create a series of artworks, photos and a short film. It was November 2022.

For the following eight months, I visited mountains and sea caves in Piedmont (my home region) and Liguria. It was a landscape unlike anything I'd ever seen on our planet's surface. It actually felt like being on another planet. It was as though I had entered a sacred and secret space, far from the anxieties and worries of our modern world. It took thousands of years for some of these caves’s formations to develop. There hasn't been much change in these spaces since our ancestors explored them thousands of years ago.

During my explorations, I captured field recordings, took photos, drew, and filmed. Inspired by each location, I recorded myself singing original melodies. During one of my visits, I asked the guide if it was possible to switch off all the lights. For a few minutes we experienced complete darkness. I had never experienced such darkness before. It felt so thick that I could almost touch it. It didn't matter whether I closed or opened my eyes. There was nothing but deep, thick darkness in front of me. I stayed in a meditative state for what felt like a very long time. It was a transformative experience, a sort of initiation into the depths of my inner world.

After a few visits, I learned how most of these caves were below sea level in the past. As I explored the deepest rooms, I imagined ancient sea creatures lurking in the dark. A world slowly carved by water over thousands of years. Probably one of nature's most beautiful works of art.

Caves often symbolize the inner world, our emotions, feelings and dreams, the subconscious mind, and themes like rebirth and renewal. Water is often associated with all of these things. Since caves are symbols of the unconscious, they can sometime inspire a sense of fear. We never know what memories we will encounter there.

Many cultures view caves as symbols of creation, rebirth, and initiation. They are humanity's oldest sanctuaries, sacred spaces and artistic canvases. They provided spiritual insight and were gateways to other dimensions. Caves are windows into our ancestors' beliefs and practices.

As we journey into the underground, we discover what lies hidden in the darkness: fear, shadows, parts of ourselves we dislike, our inner critics, as well as our roots, our crystallized memories, our inner child, hidden or forgotten treasures. Experiencing sea and mountain caves that date back thousands of years allowed me to connect deeply with the place where I was born. I found a primordial connection to the land beyond culture, borders, and narratives. As I descended into this primordial mother's belly, my relationship with her and myself healed. Through this experience, I found a sense of belonging to a place I thought I had lost. Finally, I felt I had found a place where our creative roots as humanity still converge.

Photos by J. Moletta and P. Bessé

'Night Caves' is available in a limited edition run of gatefold vinyl-effect CDrs as well as a digital option in a range of high quality format options. You can take a listen to the album in full or buy a copy HERE!