A new Nick Drake tribute project is underway, which will feature a documentary film, a book and an album. It’s being made by filmmaker Emmett Malloy, who has received plaudits for his recent documentaries “The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights” and “180° South”. Malloy has targeted “a variety pack of artists,” which so far includes Jack Johnson, Andrew Bird and Matt Costa, with further names to be added. “I know that with that [Drake] name, we’ll get some great ones,” Malloy says. “I’m just fighting my way through to get the artists I feel will do it justice. I’m excited to get going on it [because] there’s so many great songs.”
The doco has been given approval by Drake’s sister, Gabrielle, and Malloy is at pains to point out that this is no quickie cash in job. “Tribute projects, they’re a dime a dozen,” he says. “I’m sure there’s been 50 attempts at this, from every angle. It’s so complicated to get them started and to let people know it’s the real one.” Drake, who died at the age of 26 in 1974, released three albums of haunting folk music and his work is seen as a massive influence for a plethora of artists today.
