New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Two Georgian-born artists from different musical backgrounds join forces: classical violinist Lisa Batiashvili explores the pop world in a new collaboration with singer Katie Melua. "No Better Magic" is their timeless tribute to the city of London.
Virtuoso violinist Lisa Batiashvili understands how important it is to be open to other musical genres. That's why her new album City Lights - set for release on 12 June 2020 - sees her venture into a range of different musical territories with the aim of celebrating eleven different cities worldwide, each of which has played a special role in her life. Her tribute to London is a new song called "No Better Magic", written and sung by Katie Melua, available to stream or download from today, 03 April.
Batiashvili certainly had no qualms about moving away from classical and towards pop in her collaboration with Melua. The result is a nostalgic-sounding song that could have been written for a Hollywood film of the 1930s or 40s. Directors of the day would happily have added this piece to their soundtracks for Nikoloz Rachveli's stunning arrangement alone, but the song is further enhanced by the beauty of Lisa Batiashvili's playing and by Katie Melua's captivating vocals. Conducted by Rachveli, the Georgia Philharmonic accompanies them in style.
Although both Batiashvili and Melua left their homeland as children - for Germany, in Batiashvili's case, and Belfast in Melua's - they continue to have the utmost respect for their Georgian roots. That shared connection is what made Batiashvili want to work with her compatriot. Serendipitously, when she first got in touch with her, the singer had just finished writing this tribute to her adopted home of London. Batiashvili identified with it instantly, because although she herself has settled in Munich, she has long had close connections with London as well - her management company is based in the city and she's given many concerts there over the years. As she says, "London is a musical mecca, pure and simple."
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