With a career cut tragically short by his untimely death, Jeff Buckley left a lasting mark on alternative rock, pop, and indie music. Known for his unmistakable voice and an intimate yet rock-oriented sound, he became one of the defining artists of the mid-1990s. Here, we explore the artists and musical traditions that shaped his unique style.
What Were Jeff Buckley’s Musical Influences?
Jeff Buckley’s music draws on a remarkably broad range of influences. His rock inspirations include Led Zeppelin and Jane’s Addiction, while jazz played an equally important role through artists such as John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, and Nina Simone.
Other key influences on Jeff Buckley’s music include Edith Piaf, The Smiths, Leonard Cohen, and Van Morrison.
Here is a look at some of the artists who influenced Jeff Buckley and helped shape his musical style:
Led Zeppelin
In this video interview, Jeff Buckley cited Led Zeppelin as one of his major influences, representing one of the strongest rock elements in his musical background. His repertoire may not sound as heavy as Zeppelin‘s, but he clearly shared some of Robert Plant’s vocal style.
Buckley also regularly performed several of their songs, including Kashmir and Night Flight. This is something we noted on our post about Led Zeppelin music influences.
One curious detail has become part of the mythology surrounding his death: Jeff Buckley drowned in the Mississippi River in 1997. According to the story, shortly before going swimming, he immersed himself in the water while singing Zeppelin’s classic Whole Lotta Love.
Jane’s Addiction
Jane’s Addiction was a major influence on Jeff Buckley, particularly during the early stages of his career. Led by Perry Farrell, the band emerged in the late 1980s with a sound that blended punk and funk with atmospheric and experimental elements.
That combination inspired Buckley in his artistic vision, his use of complex musical arrangements, and his ability to move between quiet, intimate passages and moments of intense emotional release.
Nina Simone
Among Jeff Buckley’s favorite singers was the great Nina Simone. Her influence can be heard particularly in Buckley’s slower, more intimate performances, such as Lover, You Should’ve Come Over and his rendition of the classic of Lilac Wine, originally written by James Shelton but famously recorded by Simone.
A master of jazz, soul, and blues, Nina Simone combined remarkable technical ability with an instinctive approach to improvisation. Buckley also got inspiration from other major figures of the genre, including Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and John Coltrane.
Charles Mingus
Jeff Buckley was a huge fan of Charles Mingus‘ music, the acclaimed jazz bassist and composer. In particular, Buckley was influenced by Mingus‘s 1963 album The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady.
Buckley’s music has often been compared with Mingus’s for its intensity and emotional power, as well as its complex melodic and compositional structures. Both artists were capable of turning musical unpredictability into something deeply expressive.
Edith Piaf
Edith Piaf’s Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin was one of Buckley’s favorite songs. In several interviews, the singer spoke about his admiration for the French artist and her extraordinary ability to convey deep emotion through performance.
Piaf’s delicate yet intensely emotional style was an important inspiration as Buckley developed his own intimate and highly personal approach to singing. You can check out Jeff’s cover of Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin here.
Leonard Cohen
Jeff Buckley’s recording of Leonard Cohen’s classic Hallelujah is widely regarded as one of the song’s most celebrated interpretations. Buckley also cited Cohen as one of his major influences, particularly because of the poetic quality of his lyrics.
Both artists brought a profound sense of emotion to their songwriting, using vivid imagery to explore the complexities of human experience.
Van Morrison
Online mag Consequence Of Sound noted that Jeff Buckley loved performing songs by Van Morrison, including The Way Young Lovers Do and, especially, Sweet Thing. Both tracks come from Morrison’s 1968 album Astral Weeks, and they appear to have had a particularly strong impact on Buckley,not only on his songwriting, but also on his approach to singing.
Van Morrison was one of the foundations of the folk and jazz influences Buckley would draw upon as he developed the extended, highly improvisational performances that became one of his trademarks.
The Smiths
Another one of Jeff Buckley’s favorite bands to cover was The Smiths. He performed at least two songs by the group led by Morrissey: I Know It’s Over and The Boy with the Thorn in His Side.
The Smiths’ influence on Jeff Buckley can be heard in both the melancholy and mournful quality of Buckley‘s lyrics and in his guitar playing, which also drew inspiration from guitarist Johnny Marr.
To explore the band in greater depth, check out our diagram of The Smiths’ influences.
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Other artists who influenced Jeff Buckley include Billie Holiday, Patti Smith, MC5, and Robert Johnson.
¿Quiénes fueron influenciados por Jeff Buckley?
During his lifetime and in the years following his death, Jeff Buckley inspired countless artists, including Lana Del Rey, Alanis Morissette, Muse, Chris Cornell, Incubus, Julien Baker, Radiohead, and Coldplay.
Alanis Morissette
When discussing defining artists of 1990s rock, Alanis Morissette deserves a place near the top. Her extraordinary vocal range is part of her signature style, and it is something she has long admired in Jeff Buckley.
There is also a strong connection between the two artists in the way their songs build toward dramatic emotional peaks. Buckley’s influence can be felt particularly in some of the more climactic moments of Morissette’s music.
To explore the subject further, check out our Alanis Morissette influences chart.
Lana del Rey
Lana Del Rey‘s Gods & Monsters is, in part, a direct reference to one of Jeff Buckley’s early bands. More broadly, however, the melancholic atmosphere of Lana Del Rey’s music—including her early Lizzy Grant material—often recalls Buckley’s style.
Del Rey has openly described herself as a fan of Buckley and has acknowledged his influence on several of her songs. If you want to explore more about her music, check out our diagram of Lana Del Rey’s music influences.
Muse
Jeff Buckley’s influence on Matthew Bellamy’s vocal style is particularly noticeable in his use of falsetto to expand his dynamic range. The Muse frontman has discussed the influence of Jeff Buckley on his music on several occasions.
Bellamy was also influenced by Buckley as a guitarist. In fact, he eventually acquired the guitar Buckley used to record his acclaimed 1994 album Grace.
Chris Cornell
Another extraordinary vocalist, Chris Cornell began his career with Soundgarden in the early 1980s. Later, during his solo career, Cornell—who had already come to know Jeff Buckley—was inspired by him to explore the possibilities of his own voice even further.
Cornell spoke on several occasions about how impressed he was by Buckley’s remarkable versatility as a singer. The two musicians eventually met and became friends.
For more on Chris Cornell, check out our Soundgarden influences graphic and our timeline of his career with Soundgarden and Audioslave.
Julien Baker
Julien Baker is a singer and guitarist known for songs that are both intimate and musically intricate. Jeff Buckley influenced the emotional intensity and dynamic range of her music.
As a guitarist, Baker has also developed a sound that owes much to Buckley, particularly in her arrangements and use of reverb and delay effects.
Incubus
In a 2001 interview with Rhapsody, Incubus singer Brandon Boyd named Jeff Buckley as one of the band’s musical influences. He also said that all of the members were “big fans” of Buckley’s music, and the band has performed Lover, You Should’ve Come Over live.
Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger has likewise cited Buckley as one of his major influences, particularly when it comes to creating unique sonic textures with the guitar.
Radiohead
We have already explored Jeff Buckley’s influence on Radiohead in this other articl, so this is nothing new. But let’s refresh:
Beyond Thom Yorke’s inspiration from the Grace singer when recording the vocals for Fake Plastic Trees, Buckley’s influence can be heard elsewhere in the band’s music as well. The use of falsetto alongside deeper vocal registers is one of the characteristics that connects Yorke’s singing with Buckley’s approach.
Coldplay
Coldplay singer Chris Martin admited in an interview with Ultimate Guitar that their song Shiver was an attempt to “steal” from Jeff Buckley. More broadly, the lighter and more delicate side of Buckley’s sound can be heard in Coldplay songs such as The Hardest Part and We Never Change, among others.
It is also difficult to overlook the possibility that guitarist Jonny Buckland drew inspiration from Buckley’s guitar work, particularly during Coldplay‘s early years.
Other artists influenced by Jeff Buckley include Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Arcade Fire, Placebo, Bon Iver, and Sufjan Stevens.