INTERVIEW: Gabriella Cilmi

INTERVIEW:

Gabriella Cilmi

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IT has been a pleasure chatting with...

Gabriella Cilmi as she discusses her new single, Ruins. I wanted to understand the story behind the song and how it feels being back after being away from music for a few years. She reveals her favourite albums and some of the artists who have driven her – I ask if she is excited about performing at St Pancras Old Church on 7th November.

Cilmi tells me how she chills away from music and, hailing from Melbourne, what she thinks of some of the other Melbourne artists striking hard right now; when music came into her life and what advice she would give to artists emerging at the moment – she ends the interview by selecting a classic Joni Mitchell track.

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Hi, Gabriella. How has your week been? How are you enjoying the weather at the moment?

Yes! There’s nothing quite like the U.K. in the sun. It reminds me of the Enid Blyton books I used to read when I was a kid. Our flowers have started blooming too, so we are being visited by pretty bumble bees and butterflies. I’m definitely happier in the sun and especially this week because I FINALLY released some new music. Yay!

Ruins is your new single. (It is one I love). Can you tell us how it started life and whether there was an inspiration behind the story?

I’m glad you like it (smiles). It’s always nerve-wracking releasing something new.

By the time Ruins came along I knew that I wanted to take things back to basics. My brother Joseph (my main songwriting partner) and I started revisiting some of our all-time favourite records such as the Janis Joplin’s version of Me and Bobby McGee and diving into Americana’s finest, particularly Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons. We became really inspired and wrote most of the songs stripped back on acoustic guitar.

Ruins was one of those tunes that came about pretty quickly, It was the first time Eliot James and I had been in the studio together since he produced The Sting about five years ago. We basically blasted some Carole King; Eliot sat at the piano and I just started to sing whatever came into my head. It’s a song about how easily relationships can fall apart when we neglect them. Lyrics-wise, I was inspired by someone close to me…

Hope they don’t mind (smiles). 

How does it feel to be back with a new single after a few years? Are you surprised by all the love and positive reaction Ruins has acquired?

I’m really, really grateful that people have stuck around to listen. You never know what the reaction is going to be when you release something new and it can be bloody nerve-wracking, especially since I’ve been away a while. Things are really different now with social media: you can hear straight from the people who listen to your music and it’s been really cool to hear people are liking it (smiles).

Your last album was 2013’s The Sting. To me, it sounds like quite a vulnerable and soul-searching album. The mix of styles and sounds is amazing. Were there particular artists who inspired the songs on The Sting?

I was in a very vulnerable place: I kind of found myself alone for the first time since I was thirteen, without management or a major label backing me...but it turned out to be a really positive, liberating experience in the end. I wrote a lot of the tracks with my live band and even did a writing session with Tricky, whose record, Maxinquaye, was definitely an inspiration. I was listening to a lot of Kate Bush at the time as well (who's an endless source of inspiration!).

It might be premature to ask but might we see an album or E.P. coming along later this year? Are you in a pretty fertile creative state at the moment?

Yes. An E.P. is on its way. All of the tracks have been written; it’s just a case of finishing touches. I’m constantly writing, although I find it much easier to write when the weather’s a bit crappy…I’m a bit of a sun worshiper…

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You were born in Melbourne but are based over in London. What are the main differences regarding the music scenes in Melbourne and London? Do you manage to get home often?

I try to get home once a year. I see a lot of artists from Melbourne in London, now that the world is such a small place (which is great!). Most recently, I saw Tropical F*ck Storm who are a great Aussie Noise-Rock band, although not for the fainthearted - and I’ve seen Courtney Barnett quite a few times too!

Great Melbourne-based artists like Sampa the Great are really striking hard right now. Do you think we need to spend more time looking the way of great Australian artists?

Considering we are such a small country, I think we do produce a hell of a lot of good music. From Sampa the Great to Stella Donnelly, there are so many unique Aussie artists about right now, and the more that we can champion the better.

I first discovered music at the age of two or three and the first song I remember is from Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Do you recall the exact moment music came into your life? Which artists would we have found in a young Gabriella’s collection?

Well. My mum has a picture of me standing in front of the radio as two-year-old, bopping to Shaggy’s Oh Carolina; apparently it was my favourite. She also says I used to attempt to sing I Will Always Love You while in the pram. For me, the first time I really had an emotional connection to music was listening to Cat Steven’s Wild World. My mum played it a lot but I do remember it really hitting me right in the chest. I love Cat.

I am a huge admirer of Kate Bush and her music. I love strong female artists in general; those who innovate and have a rare beauty. I get the sense you share that sort of desire when it comes to music? Are you a fan of innovative artists like Kate Bush and Björk, for instance?

I love them both. I really delved into Kate Bush’s records whilst writing the sting and I think in a sense her strength as an artist helped me to navigate my own career during a time when being independent was new to me. Her melodies are so unique, kind of like string lines…and she uses her voice like no one else I’ve heard. The Kick Inside and Hounds of Love are my favourite albums but This Woman’s Work is an absolute masterpiece of a song.

I love Björk, too. Jóga is my favourite, but Army of Me and Hyperballad are bangers and have some brilliant lyrics!

Given how busy you are, you might not have too much time to check out upcoming artists. Are there any you have come across that you recommend we investigate and get involved with?

Last year, I discovered an artist called Bedouine. I saw her play at The Islington in London and loved it! Her music transports you straight to the Canyon. I would definitely recommend checking her records out. She just released a newbie called Bird Songs of a Killjoy. It’s gorgeous.

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Bedouine/PHOTO CREDIT: Joyce Kim for Monocle Magazine

Although there is imbalance in music regarding gender, 2019 has been a year dominated by women. Does that give you a lot of encouragement or do you feel we still have a long way to go before there is parity?

I think there has always been a lot of women in the spotlight, but a lot of men behind the scenes. Things are definitely changing as us ladies are feeling empowered to take the reins of our own careers. It’s so exciting to see more female producers and engineers and a relief to see women heading labels and publishing companies. We still have some way to go but we are on the right track.

If I had to take three albums to a desert island, I think I would take Kate Bush’s The Kick Inside (my favourite ever), Paul Simon’s Graceland and Jeff Buckley’s Grace (or maybe Joni Mitchell’s Ladies of the Canyon). If I was to ask you for your choices, which records would you select?

I love all of those records, especially Ladies of the Canyon. This is a really hard question, but…

Astral Weeks - Van Morrison

Pearl - Janis Joplin

Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens

And, if I could have one more, Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin (I can’t stick to three. Haha).

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

Playing Later… with Jools Holland was a highlight! Also, I remember playing my first festival (T in the Park) and thinking nobody was going to come and watch me as five minutes before the show the tent was empty, but when I went on stage the tent was full and the crowd were so lovely! It was a moment.

If you could support any artist alive today, who would that be and what would you have on your rider?

It would be Robert Plant…purely for selfish reasons because he’s one of my favourite voices and songwriters of all time! On my rider, I would have a Japanese banquet, watermelons; mangos and coconut ice cream.

St. Pancras Old Church is a gorgeous, intimate venue and you are playing there on 7th November. How excited are you about that and have you ever played the venue before?

It’s such a lovely venue. I played there about five years ago when I released The Sting. There’s something about performing in a church like St. Pancras. Even if you’re not spiritual, the environment is something special. I’m really looking forward to the show in November. It will be the first time playing my new tunes live (smiles).

In terms of the set, will it be mainly acoustic and what might we expect if we come along? Do you think there might be any other gigs before Christmas?

I’m not entirely sure what the set will be like yet. Last time I played, we managed to fit a full band in there so anything is possible! I’m talking to some musicians at the moment but I want to make sure it feels special, as it will be my first time performing in London for a while.

There are no other gigs planned as yet but definitely watch this space; hopefully there will be more to come!

A lot of upcoming female artists look up to you and will want to follow your lead. Is there any advice you would offer them?

I think it’s important to have a clear vision of where you want to take your music creatively before you take it out into the world. You want to make sure, when you start to build a team, you are all on the same page as well.

Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and go easy on yourself!! Trust me, there have been times when I’ve felt like nothing seems to be working or I’m not being productive enough. I’ve found that being patient and kind to myself, especially creatively, is better than putting myself down and thinking I'm not good enough.

It has been over a decade since your breakthrough hit, Sweet About Me, came into the world. Does it seem crazy looking back - and what advice would you give to your younger self?

It feels like a very pretty, colourful and blurry dream now, but I have a lot of great memories! I was always very nervous, especially when it came to doing interviews and live T.V., so I would tell her to relax; everything is going to be fine (smiles).

Do you ever get much chance to chill out away from music? What do you do when you get time to hang and relax?

When I’m in Australia, I go to the beach loads! There’s nothing like swimming in the ocean for me. I’m also into making clay pinch pots at the moment. I’m not sure I’m that great at it, though…I’ve decorated the apartment with them and most people can’t work out what they are (smiles).

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Let’s play Ladies of the Canyon (Joni Mitchell), the title track from one of your faves! Also, one of mine (smiles).

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INTERVIEW: Moodbay

INTERVIEW:

Moodbay

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IN one of my last interviews...

I have been talking with Moodbay about their new single, Listen Up, and how it came together. They tell me how they got together and how songs come together for them; the sort of music they listen to and which approaching artists we need to check out.

I ask if they get time to relax away from music, whether there are tour dates coming up and which albums Anna and Alfie love – they end the interview by selecting a couple of pretty cool and epic tracks.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey. Good, thanks! And, yeah, it was great. We’ve been filming in London for one of our singles which was pretty fun. Hard work, though. Our director was so keen to capture as much as possible that we ended up shooting in her hotel room till 3 a.m. Her partner ended up having to sleep out in the corridor on the hard floor.

Poor guy...

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We’re an Electronic girl/boy duo who met in BIMM Manchester. We both play piano; Anna sings and Alfie produces.

How did Moodbay get together? Was it an instant connection?

No. At first, we thought we were both lame-os and avoided each other. Then, later, we realised that we both had a passion for Electronic music, synths and melody. That’s when we formed Moodbay.

Do you both share similar tastes in music – or is there a sense of difference and individual spirit that makes your own music so strong?

Alfie: We share similar tastes in music t.b.f. Personally, I think that musicians with totally different tastes end up fighting for different vibes - which can lead to actual fighting because there’s nothing more personal and insulting than someone saying your riff is s*it.

You have a new track out. What can you tell me about it and how it came together?

Anna: This is our first single. It was originally called Wrong Wave, which refers to not being on the same wavelength as someone – “You’re riding on the wrong wave” and “Hiding on the wrong page”. I’m saying: ‘Look, I’ve had enough of you; we’re too different to be compatible’.

The melodies came to me in the shower and I ran downstairs, sung them to Alfie and he started making a beat on the spot to match. We were listening to future bass at the time so it has a bit of that vibe going on.

How do songs come together for you? Do you have a set process or does it change between releases?

We don’t have a set process, but this one came about through a common process of Anna writing verses at the piano and then bringing it to Alfie, who then thinks of chorus melodies and riffs and stuff. Sometimes, Alfie will produce the track without melodies and then we both work on the melodies afterwards. Sometimes, Anna has the whole thing and we just add a beat.

In terms of the stuff you listen to away from your own stuff, what sort of thing might we find in your collections?

Everyone from EST (Jazz triplet) to Justin Bieber (say what you want about him but he has an insanely good recording voice!).

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Yeah. When we played at the O2 Ritz in Manchester, we only had a day to practice for the gig and it was a full room, but it turned out to be our best performance yet.

Which albums from all of music mean the most to you guys (and why)?

Alfie: For me, it’s a toss-up between Abbey Road (The Beatles) and The Bends (Radiohead). There’s nothing Electronic in those albums but they both contain some of the most striking melodies ever made and, for me, that’s what music is all about.

Anne: Gorillaz - Demon Days. Because every song is as good as the next. The album has such a strong identity you can almost taste it.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Alfie: There are so many acts that I would love to support but, again, I’d have to say my childhood heroes Radiohead. I’d ask for watermelons neatly sliced, not too thin. Seedless jam on toast with plenty of margarine; hand warmers and three grams of your strongest beta blockers to calm my nerves.

For Anna, it would be Chvrches (Alfie’s second choice). The best coffee money can buy. Dark chocolate, coconut oil and a super-reliable phone charger.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Quit your job.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

Alfie: Not yet. We will be performing live after the album has been released as we have a lot of writing and producing still to do for various projects. Gone are the days of performing to five people in a pub with s*it acoustics and a clinically depressed mix engineer - I just can’t hack it anymore.

What is a typical gig like for you guys? What might we expect if we come and see you perform?

Alfie: When we perform, you can expect a lot of swapping of instruments DURING songs, a lot of synths; some extended choruses for improv solos and plenty of awkward silences after one of us says something. We were thinking of hiring out tumbleweed.ltd to help us add character to these moments but, after doing extensive data analysis, we arrived at the conclusion that they were not cost-effective enough.

And piano-only versions of songs to show off Anna’s voice.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Litany/PHOTO CREDIT: Marieke Macklon Photography

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Litany, Anelog and Pink Palace.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

We went to France for a week recently. But, other than that, we don’t chill because we have so much we feel we need to do - and we love it so much and we have no money.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Anna: Georgia - Started Out

Alfie: Y Môr - Anelog

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INTERVIEW: Olympia

INTERVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Pierre Toussaint  

Olympia

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I have had fun talking with Olympia...

 PHOTO CREDIT: Cybele Malinowski

who has been telling me about her new single, Hounds, and what we can expect from her upcoming album, Flamingo; what sort of music inspires her and which albums mean the most – she recommends some rising talent to look out.

I ask the Australian artist if there are tour dates coming and how she spends time away from music; whether there is any advice she’d give to artists emerging and who she’d support on the road if she had the choice  - Olympia selects a pretty cool song to end things with.

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Hi, Olympia. How are you? How has your week been?

Hello. Great, thank you!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

I’m an Australian-based artist performing under the moniker ‘Olympia’.

Hounds is your new single. Is there a story behind the song?

The whole album is a bit of a throwback to my love of albums having a narrative arc (or rather just albums in general). The album has high points and more fragile ones – Hounds is one of the Friday nights in the world of the album.

It means something as part of the whole and, on its own, it is about observing someone who is being a bit of a dickhead. Someone who performs tricks for others ‘cut in half’; to appease and someone who could ‘drown in the sun’.

It is from the album, Flamingo. What kind of things can we expect from the album in terms of themes and songs?

I’d set out to make something different to Self Talk with this record. I really wanted to challenge myself as an artist and try to break through to something that surprised me - something new.

When Self Talk came out, I often got labelled as a Synth artist - which was quite funny to me (less so to my friends who actually are Synth artists). But, there is always this tendency to pigeonhole with blanket terms like ‘Pop’, ‘Rock’ or ‘Synth artist’ - it’s limiting (for both the artist and also stymies the curiosity of the audience). I’ve always felt that what we were making was bigger than any one thing and that it would take another record to demonstrate that. And here it is!

Flamingo is an emotional force. It’s different to Self Talk from the get-go; how I wrote the album, instrumentation and production choices. Everything was about creating something urgent, confronting and modern; an atmosphere you step into from start to finish.

It’s a love record. More visceral than Self Talk – lyrically, it is speaking from within an experience, rather than from afar. I’ve heard writers/artists often discuss moving to New York to be close to the place where things happen and, on this record, I’ve tried create an environment so that the whole record is speaking from this emotional place and is informed by this energy. You’ll hear this in the choices of language: to strip out metaphor that you hear on Self Talk to, instead, try and tap into the unfiltered, uncensored self. Sonically, it’s probably more urgent. It is certainly not a passive record. There are no take-backs and no apologies; guitars are up front, vocals are sung hard and we drove the studio gear to distortion.

When growing up, what sort of music were you exposed to?

Everything - it was a very eclectic household. I have really strong memories of listening to artists as diverse as Patsy Cline; The Andrew Sisters; Bob Marley; Nirvana; Chicago; Tower of Power; The Ronettes, etc.

We didn’t grow up in a large city and weren’t necessarily exposed to a culture of icons/stars, so instead my discovery of music was (and still is) very organic. It also meant my approach to music was a little more egalitarian. It just felt like anyone could pick up an instrument and have a go – I didn’t grow up with a sense of ego about music. One of my all-time favourite things was to tape music off the radio. This exposed me to a broader range of music including a lot of world-music artists such as Sheila Chandra.

PHOTO CREDIT: Cybele Malinowski

What plans do you have for the rest of 2019?

We are releasing the record in exactly one month today, which is pretty huge. Following that, we’re lucky enough to be touring this record to the U.K. for Latitude Festival and Europe in September; Australia in October.

How important is music to you, emotionally and psychologically?

Music is how I’ve come to know myself and my place within the world.

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

Probably having Midnight Oil use Smoke Signals as their walk-on song all around the world.

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Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

I will instantly change my mind as soon as this discussion is over. But, first off my head:

Transformer - Lou Reed

There’s everything to love about this record - it’s perfect. Transformer is probably one of the strongest anchor points of the new album. The mix of melancholy and levity, dark humour (and subject matter); B.V. lines.

Pink Flag - Wire

This record has had a massive influence on me as an artist and is my go-to record whenever I’m feeling a bit stuck. It’s endlessly refreshing.

Portishead - Portishead

This is a painfully perfect record. It’s an incredible listening experience.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Alan Vega with a rider of a masseuse.

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

We have some big shows planned that will encompass more of the visual aspects of the album.

If we came to see one of your gigs, what might that involve? Do you love being on the stage?

The live show is high energy. We work hard at making it an immersive experience for the audience.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Remember to have fun.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Jade Imagine

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Jade Imagine, Merpire; Emerson Snowe and Jess Ribeiro.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Merpire

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

I stalk Adam Curtis online.

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Colour Television – Eddy Current Suppression Ring

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INTERVIEW: I SEE RIVERS

INTERVIEW:

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PHOTO CREDIT: Jodie Canwell  

I SEE RIVERS

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THE fantastic I SEE RIVERS...

have been discussing their latest track, Helios, and how it came together; whether there is going to be more material arriving and whether they share musical tastes – they recommend a rising act we need to have a look out for.

I wanted to know if there were any gigs approaching and which artist they would support on the road if they could; how they unwind away from music and how their own sound has evolved through the years – I SEE RIVERS select a few great tracks to end the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

ISR: Hello! We’re good, thank you! Our week has been very exciting, with the release of the first track from our upcoming album (Helios) - and the amount of lovely feedback has been a bit overwhelming…really!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We are Eline (keys, vocals); Gøril (guitar, percussion and vocals) and Lill (percussion, vocals) and, together, we’re I SEE RIVERS. We’ve dubbed our music ‘Float-Pop’, as it floats and meanders between bouncy Pop, jangly Indie and airy Folk.

Helios is your new track. What is the story behind it?

Helios is the Greek god of the sun and, according to the legend, he would appear in the sky each dawn, bringing the day as he rode his golden chariot across the clouds. In the context of this song Helios, or the sun, is meant to represent a person that you think the world of, someone that you see through rose-tinted glasses before coming to terms with the illusion and the cathartic feeling that follows that realisation.

I understand there is an album coming next year. Can you reveal anything regarding the songs and themes that will be addressed?

We are actually still writing for the album as we speak, so it’s a bit difficult to illuminate what the album will be about as a whole right now. What we do know is that, sonically-speaking, it will be a different vibe than our previous E.P.s – we strive to evolve and push ourselves as songwriters and musicians, but we also believe that the purpose of any recording isn’t ‘perfection’ or anything like that, but rather to capture where we are as humans and musicians at that particular moment.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Jodie Canwell

How did I SEE RIVERS get together?

Even though we’re all from Norway (although from opposite sides), we didn’t meet until five years ago, when we all went to Liverpool to study. We quickly became good friends and formed the band halfway through our first year at uni.

It is hard to detect clear influences in your own music. What sort of music do you all like listening to? What music were you raised on?

We come from quite different musical backgrounds and our influences vary between the three of us but, collectively, we have a huge love for Sufjan Stevens, Frank Ocean and Fleet Foxes.

How do you think your sound has changed and evolved since the start?

When we first started out, our songs were very heavily based around an acoustic guitar and our vocal harmonies. But, since our first recording session with Owain Jenkins in StudiOwz back in 2016 - where we started to experiment with different sounds and instrumentation -, it has gradually progressed and evolved. It’s hard to say what exactly it has evolved into, but we’ve moved further away from the acoustic, folky sound as we find it exciting to be more bold and busy.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Sian Adler/Horizons / Gorwelion

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Because we’re very close friends and equally invested in the band, everything we experience together just get more exciting and fun as we get to share it with each other. We’ve been super-lucky as to experience a lot of ridiculously cool things together; but one of the most surreal things that’s stuck with us was when we played Belladrum Festival in Inverness three years ago. We’d hardly played in Scotland before, and didn’t expect many people to show up to see our set, but fifteen minutes before we even went on stage the entire tent was completely packed – by the end of our set thousands of people had showed up and we didn’t really know how that happened.

Absolutely ridiculous.

Which albums from all of music mean the most to the band (and why)?

As I said previously, our taste in music varies a lot between us. However, the album we’ve definitely played the most in our car on our way to gigs is Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ollie Couling

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

SUFJAN STEVENS.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

I think every artist’s story and experience is different; but for us it was crucial to get out and play outside of the city limits. In addition to this, I think collaboration with other people is both SUPER-FUN and key to keeping things exciting and new.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jodie Canwell

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

We have put aside quite a bit of time this summer to write for our upcoming album, but we do have a few lovely gigs this month that we’re looking forward to:

14.06: OSLO, Kulturhuset (Norway)

15.06: BERGEN, Bergenfest (Norway)

21.06: SOLVA, Unearthed in a Field Festival

28.06: CARDIFF, Clwb Ifor Bach

What is a typical gig like for you guys? What might we expect if we come and see you perform?

We love playing live and as our sound is constantly evolving; so is our live set. At the moment, we all wish we had at least one more hand to use live as we’re trying to stay as busy as possible on stage with the new instrumentation. In addition to seeing us trying to imitate octopuses, I think you can expect a high-energy performance with a lot of bouncing and laughter.

 PHOTO CREDIT: Konradsen

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

At the moment, we’re all obsessing over Norwegian duo, Konradsen.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

We knit! We mostly knit hats to sell as merch after our live shows, but it still definitely counts as relaxing.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Lill: Running - Helado Negro

Gøril: Hundre runda rundt sola samles i ett sekund – Kråkesølv

Eline: Habit - Still Woozy

Thank you! – Eline, Gøril and Lill, I SEE RIVERS

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INTERVIEW: Diving Station

INTERVIEW:

Diving Station

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A big thanks to Anna and Sean of Diving Station...

for telling me about the new single, Film, and its story. I ask how the Manchester-formed band got together and what sort of music inspire them; Anna and Sean pick their favourite albums and recommend some rising artists to look out for.

I ask how it feels having their music backed by some big names in radio and whether there are gigs coming up; who they’d support on the road given the choice and what comes next for them – the guys each select a song to end the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Sean: Hey! Not bad thanks. This week has been spent prepping for the single release and trying to get our head around summer festival/gig dates, which is super-exciting but a little head-achey.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

Anna: We are Diving Station. We make ‘Harp-Driven-Dream-Pop’. We write story songs, Shoegaze chants and what I like to sometimes describe as ‘bath music’.

How did Diving Station get together? Did you all know each other from way back?

Sean: We all met at university in Manchester, studying music at the RNCM. It started with our drummer Barny asking around for people with a similar music taste. We made friends over our love of Bombay Bicycle Club, CHVRCHES and Foals. From then, we had a few rehearsals, the first of which resulted in a ten-minute jam of what became our first ever song, Turn Off. Four years later and here we are!

Film is your new single. What is the story behind it?

Anna: Film was born out of a poem I wrote about feeling lost within yourself and the importance of acknowledging that. Writing has always been a catharsis to me, and here I used it to extradite the stuff I was bored of carrying around. Lines such as “Throw me a bone; I’ll chase it” - and the repeated tagline of this song: “It’s fine, I’m told” - are a comical comment on societies’ blatant and relentless urge to turn a blind eye when things get even slightly difficult. However, I want it to mean whatever people want it to mean for them: don’t let me and my crap sway you!

Your E.P., Feather Mouth, has gathered huge acclaim. What does it feel like getting support from big names in radio, for example?

Sean: Getting support from the likes of Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson from BBC Radio 6 Music was huge for us. I still feel excited when I think about it now, though equally exciting is just knowing people have heard and enjoyed the songs we wrote as friends at uni. We owe a lot to the hero that is Ryan Paul from BBC Introducing Manchester who has sent our music around the BBC relentlessly since its release.

The band is based in Manchester. How inspiring is the city and its people to you?

Anna: As a band, we come from all corners of the United Kingdom: Edinburgh, the Isle of Man; Reading and Stockport. Manchester is where we met and I think for all of us it feels like the first place we all chose to adopt as our own. To me, Manchester is an honest, humane and also quite a hard place to live. I am very inspired by the people of this city and how down to earth they are. We explored this in our song, When I Arrived It Was Raining, off of our last E.P.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Sean: Playing at Bluedot Festival a couple years ago was a stand-out for me. It was the first ‘proper’ festival we’d played and the little things, like getting AAA stage passes, proper toilets and a buggy to get our gear to the stage, was such a novelty for us!

Which albums from all of music mean the most to the band (and why)?

Anna: As a Desert Island Discs collector, I have been working on this for a while. I will give you my top-three:

Karine Polwart – Faultlines

She taught me the importance of writing through observation and her music reminds of home and growing up on the Scottish music scene.

Nina Simone - The Very Best of Nina Simone

A compilation seems like cheating, but I learnt to sing by listening to these Jazz standards and copying them; Nina herself is truly the very best.

Corinne Bailey Rae – Corinne Bailey Rae

This was the first album/C.D. I ever bought; I must have been about nine or ten. They’re just bloody great songs.

Sean: My favourite albums change all the time, but there’s a few that have stuck since I first heard them. Phoebe Bridgers’ Stranger in the Alps must be one my most-played albums in full since I’ve been alive - and it’s not even been out two years! From my teenage years, Death Cab For Cutie’s Plans was definitely one of the first that made appreciate the album format and the beauty of listening to it from start to finish. Every song on there is great, but they also have their place in creating a perfectly-paced and hard-hitting piece of work.

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If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Anna: Hmmm. Well, I guess our collective favourite band would be Dirty Projectors and that would be a pretty ridiculous experience for us. In terms of a rider, it would probably be something like:  all the necessary ingredients for a hot toddy; three fish suppers and one halloumi supper from Manchester’s Leo’s Fish Bar;  ten packs of sweets (for Barny, our sweet-toothed drummer); one big, fat hypoallergenic cat.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Anna: Never ever compare yourself to other artists and, for God sake, don’t Google how old they are. It takes time and everyone is different. The best advice I have gotten this year was to make goals based solely on the progression of the music and not on the progression of the project…and that has really helped.

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Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

Sean: We’re playing a fair bit over summer. You could catch us at the Toad Hall Stage at Glastonbury; The Tramlines Fringe and the BBC Intro Stage at Bluedot. After that, our next headline gig is at YES, Manchester on 3rd October. There’s also talk of a Leeds headline show and some tour dates around that…

What is a typical gig like for you guys? What might we expect if we come and see you perform?

Anna: That’s a funny one because a typical gig for us might be very different to a typical gig for the crowd. I’d hope you would find in it something fun, intimate and relaxing. But, come along, decide for yourself and let me know afterwards!

What plans does Diving Station have for the rest of the year?

Sean: Outside of the gigs, following our latest single, Film, we’ll be releasing a second single, Honeybees, with the headline gig in October. Apart from that, we’ll be writing away and prepping for more releases in the New Year. We’ve also been talking about having a writing retreat in the countryside sometime; to get some focused time away from the busyness for a weekend or so...

 IN THIS PHOTO: Rozi Plain

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Sean: We went to see Rozi Plain on her tour for the release of her latest album, What a Boost, which was absolutely magical. Another recent discovery has been ALASKALASKA, who Anna went to watch at YES a few weeks back. They’ve just released an album and it’s been on-repeat on our band Spotify playlist since.

 IN THIS IMAGE: ALASKALASKA/IMAGE CREDIT: Elliott Arndt

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Anna: Music takes up a lot of our lives and that sometimes does become a bit of a chore no matter how grateful we are for it. I love hopping on my bike and going for a wee cycle through town. This always sorts me out. Other than that, I have recently gotten into pottery and find that to be a nice way to be creative away from music!

Sean: At the moment, it’s pretty much full-pelt music all the time. It seems to be the only way we can sustain it at this stage. For me, anywhere outside and more natural feeling than the city centre makes me feel best. A trip to the Peak District is a dream day off!

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Anna: To Be Remembered - ESKA

Sean: From - Big Thief

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INTERVIEW: Dead Slow Hoot

INTERVIEW:

Dead Slow Hoot

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THANKS to the guys of Dead Slow Hoot...

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for talking with me about their latest single, An Island Keen to Float (its video arrives next week), and what inspired it; what comes next for them and how the band found one another – they reveal some albums and rising artists important to them.

I ask whether there is more material coming down the track and, as the band are from Sheffield, whether they think Yorkshire gets overlooked in terms of musical quality and promise – the guys each select a song to end the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Hugo: Good, thanks! The week’s been hectic but productive; so I guess it’s been good? Basically, I’m very tired.

Luke: Me too…

Sam: Ditto

Dominic: Just been to my brother’s stag so, yeah, I’m knackered.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

H: Hey. We’re Dead Slow Hoot: purveyors of sad jams and sticky hooks. I’m Hugo and I do the vocals and half of the guitars.

L: I'm Luke. I do 100% of the bass guitar.

S: I’m Sam. I hit the drums and cymbals. Or ‘the boomers and tingers’, as Luke likes to call them. 

D: I’m Dom and I play guitar and synth…but, like, a funny way of saying that.

An Island Keen to Float is your latest single. Is there a story behind it?

H: Like a lot of our songs, it’s kind of an amalgamation of a lot of different ideas. We try to be socially conscious and, with this song, I really wanted to capture something about the mentality behind the Brexit vote; but to do that I felt like I needed to describe it from a more personal perspective, and so every line has a double meaning where the broad idea can be reflected on an individual level. For example, the line “Blame some foreign force instead’ can be understood as blaming immigrants, but when I perform that song, it has more to do with a tendency to externalise my own frustrations and shy away from responsibility.

It’s weird dissecting it because it sounds like the whole thing was very deliberate, which it wasn’t really, but I personally feel very proud of it specifically because of this duality and I hope that, in listening to it, people can relate to those emotions from an internal and external perspective.

What was it like filming the video for the song?

H: Honestly, it was probably one of the most surreal days of my life! I went down to Lewes with our friend, Sam Nicoresti, who directed this video and had a lovely day wandering around small independent shops and cafes. But, by the evening, every window was boarded up and people were walking around with flaming torches. Basically, it was the purge and I’m thankful that we got out of there alive...10/10 would recommend to a friend.

L: Sam directed our first-ever music video for a track from our last E.P. called I Hope You Never Say a Word, so it was a total joy to work with him again. Sam's very good at making movies of weird and strange events, so it was very natural to shoot a video down in Lewes where the weirdness just presents itself to you.

Is there going to be more material coming from you down the line?

H: We are writing new material at the moment and we’re hoping to get some of it released in the New Year. Watch this space!  

How did Dead Slow Hoot all get together? Did a shared love of music gel you?

Hugo: I was playing in a gospel choir band with Luke and Sam, our drummer, and playing my own songs as a solo artist - which is a grandiose way to say I was playing the same open mic week after week. I asked Luke and Sam if they wanted to try out some original music and it just worked really well. Dom joined after we recorded our first E.P. and got carried away with the arrangements. He’s the only musical polymath we knew and he was a band member from the first rehearsal we did together. Musically, we’re all steeped in the classic noughties Indie music but we all diverge in slightly different ways, which makes for a good group dynamic as we all bring distinct ideas to the table.

L: The first time I met Hugo he was singing Sweet Caroline at a karaoke and stage-dived out of the venue. The first time I met Sam he was talking about pop-up polytunnels and the first time I met Dom he was living with my ex. This doesn’t have that much to do with how we formed the band but anecdotes are fun…

You hail from Sheffield. How important is the city’s history and present to your own sound and work ethos?

H: Sheffield is the best city that no-one’s heard of! We’re all dyed in the ethos of Sheffield; it’s full of independent people who plug away at their work without feeling self-conscious of how it looks to the outside, which makes for something that everyone’s proud of and feels unique.

S: Also….it’s highly affordable. In fact, the most affordable city in the U.K. according to recent statistics. So, we get a lot of quality rehearsal space for a very reasonable amount. D.M. us for details (winks).

Do you think areas like Yorkshire get overlooked when it comes to great artists?

 H: Absolutely!

S: Definitely. I think, if BBC Radio 6 Music could move their studios to Sheffield that would help redress the balance… 

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

H: Our album launch this year felt really special. We’ve been on the scene a long time but we haven’t always been the most present band in town. We weren’t expecting so many people to show up, but there was so much love in the room and it was probably our best gig ever!

L: I totally agree. It was very hot and sweaty in that room and we were overwhelmed by the audience. Our friend, Charles, even fainted during the final chorus of the final song - he's fine now but at the time it felt pretty Rock and Roll.

S: Luckily, all of us are first aid-trained in case of such an emergency.

D: We’re fortunate that we have a very chantable name. Any gig when people are going “Dead Slow Hoot! Dead Slow Hoot!” is a great one. I feel like (the band) …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of the Dead really missed a trick.

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Which albums from all of music mean the most to the band (and why)?

H: I keep coming back to The End of History by Fionn Regan. The songcraft is just perfect and it’s got beautiful lyrics. It makes me cry whenever I listen to it, which is pretty much at least once every week.

L: I've been a big fan of Car Seat Headrest for a while now, but their reworking of Twin Fantasy that was released last year is a real magnus opus for the band. Will Toledo is such a creative songwriter and his lyrics really raise the bar for sad indie bands.

S: I have no idea who Hugo or Luke are talking about. I’ll go much more mainstream with AM by Arctic Monkeys. There was a lot more groove on their songs in this album which I loved. The opening bass and drums for tracks like Arabella are just magic. In my opinion.

D: I’m gonna cheat and say Radiohead’s OK Computer and Kid A. They’re the perfect combination of emotional songwriting and sonic experimentation that we’ve tried to emulate. The National Anthem, in particular, was a big influence on our album.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

H: We played with Big Thief on their first U.K. tour and it was such an amazing night. They were so genuinely friendly and the music is just so good; so I’d probably say them (again). For the rider, I’d like to have a pint of your local bitter with a second pint of tap water, please.

L: Yeah. I remember hearing that British Sea Power would ask for local beer and postcards of the local scenery on their rider along with lots of foliage. I also thought that must be a nice way to tour the country and really get to know the places you're visiting. Saying that, I would love to support British Sea Power…call us.

D: Before I joined Dead Slow Hoot, they actually supported my old band on our E.P. launch. Luke asked for a porcelain owl or something weird like that. As for supporting, I dunno; maybe Portishead? I feel like they’d have a very polite audience. I don’t just listen to bands with ‘head’ in the name, by the way.

S: U2. Then I could make great jokes all day about being too close to The Edge etc...

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Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

H: We’re playing a small tour this June in Leeds (12th June); Sheffield (14th June); London (15th June) and Manchester (19th June).

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

H: Stay together and don’t worry about getting quick success. We have the best time together when we’re creating something new and that’s what keeps us coming back. All the rest is nice but it needs to be secondary to making good music.

S: Make sure you all get on well - rehearsing, gigging and recording involve large amounts of time spent together. And establish a favourite pre-gig food outlet early on - we’ve always stuck with Streetfood Chef in Sheffield. They do probably the best burritos in South Yorkshire.

D: Turn up to the venue on time

PHOTO CREDIT: Campbell Sibthorpe 

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

H: Lou Terry is a super-talented songwriter based in Sheffield who’s playing a few shows with us in this tour. Campbell Sibthorpe is another singer songwriter who we played with in London this year whose songs I love.

L: Both great recommendations. I'd add Before Breakfast. They're from where we're from and have recently been making big strides in the national music scene. Their new E.P. is really worth checking out.

D: We played with a band from Leeds called Van Houten. They’re worth checking out for their snare drum sound alone. Also, inFictions. They don’t play live but they’ve made two immaculate Post-Rock albums that’ll give you goosebumps.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Before Breakfast/PHOTO CREDIT: Ellie Grace Photography

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

H: Lately, I’ve become a big fan of gardening, so I spend a lot of time watching my crops…

L: I take a walk around the block to say ‘hello’ to all the local cats.

S: Also a gardening fan. This year, I’m growing courgettes, potatoes and runner beans.

D: I’m watching the tenth series of Doctor Who on Netflix. It’s a bit disappointing.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

H: Campbell Sibthorpe - Father Carpenter

L: Body - Before Breakfast

S: At the River - Groove Armada

D: Oo, nice choice, Sam. I’ll go for Red Wine by Common

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INTERVIEW: Liam Phelan

INTERVIEW:

Liam Phelan

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I have been spending time with Liam Phelan...

who has been telling me about his new single, Khao San Road, and whether there was a story behind it. I wanted to find out what his next moves are and which artists/albums inspire him - he suggests a few rising acts worth getting behind.

Phelan talks about his musical tastes and whether there will be more material approaching; how he spends his time away from music and whether he is inspired by what is happening in the modern scene – Phelan selects a great track to end the interview with.

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Hi, Liam. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey. I’m good. I’ve been making music all week so I’m tired but I’m making it work.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

Sure! I’m an artist and producer from London. I started out making lo-fi beats but have progressively incorporated vocals and live instruments like guitar into my music.

What can you reveal about your new single, Khao San Road? Is there a personal tale behind it?

Khao San Road is dedicated to my travels around Thailand last summer. The whole trip was an amazing experience but this one road caught my interest as it was so lively. People were out partying until 4 a.m. and, by 10 a.m., the street was filled with markets. I’d never seen anything like it. It was crazy.

Looking ahead, might an album or E.P. be arriving do you think?

I do have an E.P. in the works. By the end of this year it will be dropping but, before that, I have a couple of other projects I’m working on that I want to release this summer.

Music came into your life early. Which artists inspired you when you were a child?

From a young age, I had a varied mix of music around the house. I was listening to a lot of Green Day, Gorillaz and Eminem. The one that really inspired me though was Kanye. My mum had his early albums on C.D., so you would usually find me listening to The College Dropout and Late Registration on-repeat.

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Are there any modern artists that are turning your head in terms of what they are doing?

Since discovering him, Childish Gambino has been my favourite artist. I haven’t seen any other artist progressively get greater over a ten-year period than him. He’s been killing the Rap game; he’s a fantastic singer and even better performer. I don’t even have to go into his career as an actor! You never know what he’ll bring next.

What plans do you have for the rest of 2019?

Other than the E.P., I’m working on a few collabs with upcoming artists. There are a lot of scenes popping in London right now, so I don’t want to be confined to doing one thing. I love all genres, so you might see me popping up on some Hip-Hop, R&B and even Grime projects.

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

Recently I was out and somebody approached me saying they knew me from my music. They even started singing one of my songs. It was the first time that had ever happened so for me it was a crazy experience.

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Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Kanye West - Late Registration

Like I said, this album was a massive part of my childhood. I had it on-repeat. It had deep emotional songs like Roses and Hey Mama then triumphant bangers like We Major. Whenever I bump that track I feel invincible.

Childish Gambino - Because the Internet

 This album is a masterpiece from start to finish. There are insane guitar solos, jazzy chords; mad 808s. Everything. I love the range of emotion and honesty in Gambino’s deliveries. It’s something I always strive to do in my music.

Stan Getz, João Gilberto - Getz/Gilberto

This one might be surprising, but I love Bossa Nova music. Living in London can be super-stressful so, to have an album that can mentally transport me to a beach in Brazil and make me forget about my worries is nice. I also play guitar on my songs, so sometimes using the finger-picking and chord progressions heard in Bossa Nova records for my tracks can be refreshing.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

It would have to be Childish Gambino - for the reasons I already stated. As for the rider, something that all my friends and fans know about me is that I have a chocolate addiction. Just having chocolate on the rider would be enough for me. I even have a song called I Only Love and Chocolate!

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

I’m looking at doing a couple of shows for the summer. Probably around London. Some of the music I’m working on to be released soon is really vibey and I would love to perform them live.

If we came to see one of your gigs, what might that involve? Do you love being on the stage?

Versatility. I have songs where I’m playing guitar, some where I’m singing deep lyrics; even somewhere I’m more energetic and rapping. I want to put the crowd through a range of emotions.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Keep creating and network. You never know what you will make and who you will meet.

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Ka-Li

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Kdvsgoliath, Ka-Li; GR3YWXLF, IsaacB and Digitz. These are a few artists who I have had the pleasure of meeting and they are all doing big things. I’m sure, in five years, they will all be talked about highly.

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Digitz

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

I have just finished university and have been working weekends, so it’s been a bit of a stressful year - but music is funnily enough my time to chill. I’m at my most comfortable state when I’m making music.

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

It has to be my anthem, Kanye West – We Major. Thank you!

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Follow Liam Phelan

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INTERVIEW: The Urban Renewal Project

INTERVIEW:

The Urban Renewal Project

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KICKING us through the week...

is The Urban Renewal Project. With the track, Shake Those Hips, out into the world, I was eager to learn how the song started life and what comes next; how they found one another and what sort of sounds inspire them – they highlight a couple of artists worth looking out for.

I wanted to know whether there are gigs coming up and whether the U.S. band will head to the U.K. at some point; how important Los Angeles is to the guys and if they get time to relax away from music – they end the interview by choosing a pretty cool track.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Really good, thanks. We're shooting a music video this week. It's been hectic, but fun.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

The Urban Renewal Project is a sixteen-piece band that plays an original blend of Hip-Hop, Soul and Jazz music; featuring a singer (Alex Nester), two rappers (Elmer Demond and Slim da Reazon) and a Big-Band horn section.

Shake Those Hips is your new track. Can you explain its origins and story?

After our previous release (21st Century Ghost, 2017), we were talking about the fact that all of the music we listen to, recreationally, has huge bass and drum sounds that really slap on a proper stereo system…and decided we wanted to make some music like that, which is a bit of a departure from the more Indie-Jazz production style of our previous recordings. Our band leader (R.W. Enoch) came up with this instrumental and we all agreed it sounded like a party track. We wrote some lyrics to match and the rest you can see for yourself in the music video.

How did The Urban Renewal Project get together? Was it a gradual formation?

It definitely took some time. The seed for the idea came from a genre-busting Jazz/Big-Band that R.W. had put together for his high-school talent show. Then R.W. met Elmer about ten years ago and they started working on songs together and putting Rap lyrics over this monster band. Since then, it's been a steady upward climb; slowly bringing in new people that fell in love with the idea.

How would you describe your sound? Which artists are influential to all of you?

Brass, bars and beats. The list of artists that could be considered influential to all sixteen of us is pretty small, but we've spoken a lot about the sound that A Tribe Called Quest achieved in sampling Jazz records for their Hip-Hop tracks and how Gorillaz has had a stream of number-one albums without having a clearly defined genre or personnel line-up.

You are based out of Los Angeles. How important is the city and its varied sounds regarding your music and creativity?

The effects of living in L.A. can't be overstated. It's even reflected in our name: The Urban Renewal Project. The idea being that we are taking these people and elements and combine them into something fun and unique. I think both L.A. and the band are greater than the sum of their parts.

Is there going to be more material coming from you down the line?

Definitely. We just dropped another single, Red Eye, inspired by the international tour life that we've experienced over the last year (available on all platforms) and we have quite a few more tracks that we're working on for later this year. We're working towards releasing an E.P. called Love. Glory. Duty. Death.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Our trip to Jakarta to perform at the Java Jazz Festival was definitely a highlight. We've also had some really good times at SXSW in Austin, Texas the past two years.

Which albums from all of music mean the most to the band (and why)?

Man, now we're narrowing it down from artists to individual albums!? Probably the only thing we could all agree on is Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

We should tour with Wu-Tang and roll in about a dozen luxury coach buses just to accommodate all the people. 

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Keep your axe to the grind and never give up. A game-changer could be right around the corner.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

We have a bunch of dates on the West Coast of the U.S. this summer. 

Saturday, June 8 – Pasadena Block Party (Pasadena, CA)

Friday, June 21 – Tooth & Nail Winery (Paso Robles, CA)

Friday, July 19 – TGIF Concerts in the Park (Carlsbad, CA)

Friday, August 9 – San Jose Jazz Summer Fest - Main Stage (San Jose, CA)

Saturday, August 10 – Neck of the Woods (San Francisco, CA)

Sunday, August 11 – Carson City Jazz & Beyond Festival (Carson City, NV)

What is life like on the road for a sixteen-piece band?! Does it bring you all closer together?

Total chaos but, yeah, we have some great times on the bus and hanging out in the places we get to visit. 

Might you come to the U.K. and play some time?

It's high on the wishlist! 

 IN THIS PHOTO: The Magnettes

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Two bands we've met on the road that we really liked are Hyberbella and The Magnettes.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Unfortunately, not really! We all have incredibly busy freelance or solo careers outside the band that we barely have time to sleep. But we're all really into cinema.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

King Geedorah – Take Me to Your Leader

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INTERVIEW: TRACE

INTERVIEW:

TRACE

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BEFORE heading on to a new feature...

I have been speaking with TRACE about her new song, All My Friends, and the story behind it. She reveals the music that matters most and how her own work has evolved since the start – TRACE recommends some rising artists to keep an eye out for.

I wanted to know if there are gigs coming up and whether there is more material afoot; what it is like to be revealing and open in songwriting and how she spends her time away from music – TRACE selected a great song (or two) to end the interview with.

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Hi, TRACE. How are you? How has your week been?

Howdy. I’m actually pretty exhausted but very well. The week has been crawling but I think it’s only because I’m releasing my new single on Friday and the butterflies are flowing right now.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

Hi, everyone, I’m TRACE. I live in Los Angeles and the current weather is super-grey which makes me super-happy. My music is consistently centered around my emotions and my hope is that it makes you feel a little less alone when you hear it.

What can you reveal about your new single, All My Friends, and its story?

I wrote All My Friends from a place of contemplation. Initially, it was about my move to Los Angeles a handful of years ago and feeling like I chose a path to follow that was different than most of the people around me. I had to accept that friendships and relationships change and that’s ok. All My Friends is also a commentary on what true friendship means and a questioning of intimacy and connection: how we are to foster these things in our lives.

In a world of social media and easy access to people, it’s almost ironic that we are a ‘lonelier than ever’ generation. So, with this song, I want to ask the listener ‘Who are your friends?’.

Is there going to be more material coming later in the year?

Absolutely. Hopefully, very soon and I cannot wait to share what I’ve been working on for the past year and a half.

How important is it to write songs and ‘put yourself on the page’, as it were?

It’s pretty crucial for me to not overthink when I write: meaning, I’ve learned the more I TRY to be ‘real’ or honest, the more obvious it is that I was trying - and it doesn’t  actually feel real or honest. ‘Putting myself on the page’ happens the most naturally when I take the pressure off and just am. It’s easier said than done, but it’s important because I know writing music is an opportunity to share something about myself…and I want to grow deeper relationships with my listeners as I continue to write music.

 Looking back, how do you think your music has developed and changed?

I think the biggest thing is that I’m writing more candidly with more of an understanding that people will hear what I’m going to write and sing about. In the beginning, I wouldn’t say I was careless but I didn’t really think anyone would be listening to what I had to say.  Now, there’s a weight that I feel honored to hold, so I’m finding my music more intentional and purposeful.

Being based in L.A., how important are the people and the general vibe regarding your music and creativity?

This city has a distinct air that is definitely dreamy and that has definitely benefited me and inspired my music. People, in general, inspire me but Angelenos are a specific kind of people and, at the very least, are so interesting. I love being surrounded by what this city has to offer.

What plans do you have for the rest of 2019?

I plan to release more music for sure and hopefully more live performances!  

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

My first headline show at the Echoplex was SO fun. Also, meeting a fan and her whole family who she brought out for her birthday was a really special moment that I will never forget!

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Gosh, there are a lot of bodies of work that have changed my life. But, three I could share off the top of my head are:

The Reminder by Feist

As one of my favorite artists, her raw and distinct vocals and the way it was engineered was so distinct and felt so special (similar to how Dylan recorded vox), paired with her writing, really made me feel a deeper love for music than ever.

Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso

The production of that album was the main reference point for my first E.P. in 2016. They perfected what feels like combining an Indie-Folk-type of writing with an electronic sound and vibe, which I find so impressive.

Pure Heroine - Lorde

This changed Pop music for me. And inspired me with my own writing.

Shoot, bonus? For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver was the soundtrack of my life for a few years.

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If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

I love these questions. First, it’s a toss-up. I’d say Frank Ocean or Feist.

Secondly, my dream rider would for sure include palo santo and a lighter; wet wipes, spearmint gum; San Pellegrino, Yola Mezcal; dried mangos, fresh fruit; jalapeno potato chips, beef jerky; RX bars, pistachios and peanut butter cups. I LOVE snacks.

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

There’s still some mystery around it; but I do hope to be able to hop on the road in the near-future.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Surround yourself with good people you respect and know that no one will or should work harder for your music dreams than you.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Arlo Parks

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

I’m really loving DRAMA, Arlo Parks; Men I Trust and Barrie right now.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Emma (Men I Trust)

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

It depends on the season of my career I’m in but I definitely make time for myself outside of work to maintain a balance. I really enjoy traveling, visiting art museums and galleries; exploring nature in L.A., watching films; writing (outside of songs) and cooking.

These things definitely help me to unwind.

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Fade Into You by Mazzy Star or You’re Not Good Enough by Blood Orange (sorry, I cheated)

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INTERVIEW: Annie Drury

INTERVIEW:

Annie Drury

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MY first interview of the weekend...

concerns the wonderful Annie Drury. I have been following her music for years so it was great to catch up with her and talk about the new single, You Took Me Dancing, and the upcoming album, Luna; which albums are important to her and what else she has coming up.

Drury talks about the artists who got her into music and why she took some time out to pursue floristy; how her music has changed since the start of her career and whether there is a memory that stands above the rest – she ends the interview by selecting a classic slice of Al Green.

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Hi, Annie. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey, I'm good, thank you; hope you are too?!  It’s been a nice start to week. I'm very excited (and rather nervous) for the single to be released this Friday. 

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

I'm a singer-songwriter based in a small village on the outskirts of Leeds/Bradford, West Yorkshire. I have been writing and performing since the age of eleven and the music I write is piano-based Pop/soulful melodies. 

 

You Took Me Dancing is your new single. Is there a story behind it?

You Took Me Dancing is a love song - and I hope the audience listening can interpret the song in whichever way they feel. I love people to create their own images when listening to music as I find it fascinating how different minds work. When I was writing the song, my imagery was an old couple dancing and swaying together in their kitchen; the same way as they did when they were young. I wanted to create a romantic timeless kind of feel. 

It is from your upcoming album, Luna. What sort of themes inspired the album?

Yes. It is a track on the album, Luna. I have been writing and working on this album for some time. Luna is filled with songs that are personal to me (and have been throughout these last few years). It holds tales of the highs and lows of the music industry, love; heartbreak, loss; grief and personal growth. It will actually be a strange feeling to have it open for anyone to listen to as I've had it to myself for such a long time. I've over-thought it for so long but I think it's the right time for others to listen and hopefully enjoy. 

I have been following your music for years. How do you think you have progressed and changed since the earliest days?

I think the answer to that would be time. Time changes everything. The people you meet, the experiences you have; the music you listen too. With time, we grow and with growth we progress. My music-writing style over the years has changed. The way I think, write; play and perform has also changed. I'm changing every day and I hope that shows in the new album. 

Is it true that you took some time out of music and worked as a florist? What was the reason behind that?

I’ve always adored flowers and nature ever since I was a child. I felt I needed something else that was separate to being a musician. I felt the need to learn about something totally different, so I went back to college to study Floristry. I now run a small business from home. I still have a lot to learn but that's part of the beauty of floristry: you never stop learning. 

Were there particular artists and albums that got you into music and lit that fuse?

Growing up our home was always filled with music. That could be live or on radio/tape/C.D. I remember listening to Joni Mitchell's stuff from a young age her lyrics have such strong imagery…and I remember thinking she was on another level. In my teens, I was a big Amy Winehouse fan. I loved her soul and the depth in her lyrics and voice. I had, and still have, a wide mix of music I like, from Soul, Motown to Pop, Indie; Electronic to Folk. I think there's an amazing variety of artists out there that always have and always will light my fuse. 

What plans do you have for the rest of 2019?

Plans will be releasing and promoting the album and live sessions. Hopefully, getting some live dates in too! I am also writing new material for a second album. 

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far? 

One of the standout memories I have from my time in music was probably last year when recording the album. I went to Abbey Road to hear the strings being recorded by the wonderful English Session Orchestra; it was on my twenty-sixth birthday and  that was a pretty special birthday. 

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Joni Mitchel – Blue

It holds so many significant memories and some of my favourite tracks of hers are on that album. 

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

It just always makes me happy and I'm a big Stevie Nicks fan. 

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Whenever I listen to this album it brings me back to my teenage years. I remember listening to Bon Iver's songs on-repeat when I was around sixteen. It always took me to another place and I find it captivating when music has the power to do that. 

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Joni (Mitchell)? A girl can dream! 

My own rider would have to include: good food (I'm a huge foodie; I literally dream about food); Yorkshire blue cheese, chocolate eclairs (the ones with cream); lots of cups of tea and a few nice beers (I do have a normal diet, I promise). 

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring? 

Once the album is out, I will be looking at booking some shows and live performances. I love to play live and that's something to look forward to. 

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Never give up and try not to lose faith. I have had many battles in terms of not believing in myself as I think so many of us do. If you feel you are losing faith, take some time out to realise why you started music (or anything for that matter) in the first place. If it's part of you; it will never leave. 

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Unfortunately, I'm not great on the new artist front: I'm still listening to the same old albums from years ago. I need to get with the times! 

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

My way of unwinding is spending time with my loved ones. I wouldn't be where I am today without the support of my family and friends. Nature and being outdoors is another way I unwind; taking my dog for long walks and switching my phone off for a while. 

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Al Green - Let's Stay Together 

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INTERVIEW: Exiled

INTERVIEW:

Exiled

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IN my first interview of this week...

I have been speaking with Exiled about their new song, Lita’s Place, and what it is all about. I wanted to find out how they found one another and which artists they count as influences – they select some albums that mean a lot to them.

I ask whether there are tour dates booked; which rising artists we need to look out for and who they’d support on the road if they could; how they spend their time away from music – the chaps each pick a pretty good song to end the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Hiya! It’s been really exciting. Cheers for asking!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

Hey, guys. We’re Exiled and we’re a four-piece Indie-Rock band based in Sheffield.

Lita’s Place is your new single. What is the inspiration behind it?

Lita’s Place pays homage to our local pub in which we spend far too much time in our younger years. Our generation spends a lot of time worrying about the future, listening to drab news headlines and doom-and-gloom news reports. Being up the pub is a time when we forget all that stuff and just enjoy being together.

Guess it’s also about girls too, though.

Can you recall when Exiled found one another and how life started for you guys?

Me (Max), Henry and Ethan met at secondary-school. The band was formed during an R.E. lesson via paper aeroplanes - we never enjoyed R.E. much. Six years later, we met Jack during freshers’ week. He joined up after sessioning for us on tour last summer to make us who we are today.

Which artists do you count as influences? 

Catfish and The Bottlemen have a big influence on us. We were all captivated by their sound when they released The Balcony. I (Max) have a love for Surf-Rock and think that comes across in our tunes sometimes. Historically, we’ve enjoyed so many artists from The Smiths to Dire Straits. It’s a mixed bag to be honest. I’m (Max) personally a big fan of The Strokes, Jack loves The Killers. 

Is there going to be more material coming from you down the line?

Yes. 100%. There’s so much of it ready and waiting.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Think it would have to be our first sold out show on a Scruff of the Neck bill. That show was nuts. Either that or playing at this year Great Escape in Brighton; that was really special.

Which one album means the most to each of you would you say (and why)? 

Max: The Strokes – Is This It

That’d be my desert island album. I can burn a day listening to that on-repeat.

Jack: Feeder - The Singles

The first album I ever owned and still one of my all-time favourites.

Henry: Catfish and The Bottlemen - The Balcony

Bangers throughout!

Ethan: Bon Iver - Bon Iver

I love putting that album on and just completely chilling out. Some awesome tracks on there.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Catfish and The Bottlemen, for sure. And it’d have to be Percy Pigs and Long Island ice teas.

As you are called Exiled, if you could exile anyone from Britain/another nation, who would that be?

Oof. Not sure how to deal with that much power! Maybe we'll exile Max to The Bahamas so we have an excuse to visit him.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Keep doing what you’re doing; say ‘yes’ to everything and, if it doesn’t work out, see it as a learning curve. Get your music on Spotify; get into your local BBC Introducing and have fun with it. If it ain’t fun, don’t bother.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

We play at Cafe Totem in Sheffield on 14th June. We open the Main Stage at Nibley Festival on Saturday, 6th July and there will be more exciting announcements down the line.

Is touring something you all love doing?

Love it! So great seeing new places and faces. There’s a real sense of pride in touring and we can’t wait to head out again sometime.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Hockey Dad/PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Wall

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

You should check out Hockey Dad and a band called The Reytons. The First is a sick Australian Surf band and the latter are Indie-Rock; kind of early-Arctics vibe to them, which is really nice to hear.

IN THIS PHOTO: The Reytons

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Oddly, I actually find writing a very relaxing thing to do. Nice getting lost in spacey sounds and coming up with lyrics and licks. We're all big fans of being outdoors; getting the fire pit lit up and draining a few beers. That and food. Food is our passion.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Max: The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness

Jack: The Night Café - Endless Lovers

Henry: Dance a la Plage – 2 2 2

 

Ethan: Cassia - Small Spaces

Thanks for the opportunity!

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INTERVIEW: Psyence

INTERVIEW:

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Psyence

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MY weekend interview...

sees me talking with the chaps of Psyence about their recent single, Cold Blooded Killer, and whether there is a story behind it; what they can tell me about their upcoming album and how the boys found each another – I ask which albums are most important to each of them.

I was keen to know whether there are tour dates coming and what advice they’d give to artists coming through; how they relax away from music and which artists they count as influences – they each pick a great song to end the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Our weeks have been busy. Everybody’s working hard behind-the-scenes constantly, preparing for the album release. Gonzo’s been busy pursuing his side hobby as an adult film star. 

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We are Psyence. Consisting of Wedge, The Colonel; Gonzo, Carty and Piglet. 

How did Psyence form? What is the meaning behind the name?

We formed in a pub over eighty-four pints, a bag of scampi fries and a share-bag of pork scratching.

The single, Cold Blooded Killer, is out at the moment. Is there a story behind it?

The colonel (Jay) is on bail so I can’t comment as it could potentially jeopardise his current case and chance of a Netflix special.

I understand an album is available later in the year. What can you tell me about it?

Yes, finally! We’re really happy with how it turned out. It’s an intense chemical reaction of face-melting riffs and groove-laden tunes. It's been created from us spending many years toiling away in backroom venues and countless hours in vans, working on our songs and our sound. It's a working man’s release.

Which artists do you count as influences?

Led Zeppelin and The Stone Roses.

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What is the best aspect of being in a band? Is there a brotherhood within the ranks?

Yeah. It’s f*cking banging, especially when we have sleepovers and pillow fights.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Played in Paris, dropped some acid - and the rest we can’t discuss.

Which one album means the most to each of you would you say (and why)?

Steve: Lonerism - Tame Impala

It just f*cking blows my mind every time I listen to it.

Jay: Revolver - The Beatles

It’s the best Beatles album I.M.O.

Pig: Plastic Beach – Gorillaz

It’s got a song about jellyfish. HOW AMAZING

Gonzo: Second Coming – The Stone Roses              

Cuz Reni is a don.

Carty: T. Rex - Electric Warrior

Cuz I like dinosaurs.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

The Stone Roses…and a framed picture of Ainsley Harriot from his Ready Steady Cook days wearing the green peppers apron.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Be prepared to let everything else in your life suffer for it. It’s worth it, though.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

Yeah. All major cities across the U.K. Keep yer eyes peeled on our socials.

Is touring something you all love doing?

Yeah. It’s the best part of it. None of us get holidays cuz of the band so Scunthorpe away is a class day out. You get free chili there, too.

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Yeah: PSYENCE.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Olives and a relaxing bowl of crack.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Scenic – Overflow

Viagra Boys – Down in the Basement

The Prodigy – Need Some1

Underworld – Born Slippy

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun

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INTERVIEW: Maya Killtron

INTERVIEW:

Maya Killtron

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AS we move into the new week...

I have been speaking with Maya Killtron about her recent album, Never Dance Alone, and how it began life. I ask whether she has a standout cut from the record and what comes next - she highlights some rising artists we need to get behind.

The songwriter tells me about her favourite memory from her career and which albums she holds dearest; whether there are gigs coming along and what she does when not making music – she selects a classic anthem to end the interview with.

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Hi, Maya. How are you? How has your week been?

Hi, there! It’s been a busy week but good. It’s finally spring in Toronto!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

My name is Maya Killtron. I’m singer, songwriter; violinist and D.J. based out of Toronto, Canada. My music is Funk, Boogie; R&B - but more easily described as fun, dancey music about break-ups.

Never Dance Alone is your new album. What inspired its creation? Was there a particular moment that provided catalyst?

The album started with the title single. The producer and myself were just writing and trying things and that some just happened in a day - and we went with it 100%.

Is there a song from the album you count as a favourite?

I’m not sure if I have a favourite. That’s like asking a mom who here favourite child is. I guess there’s always a favourite though, isn’t there? I’d have to say Red Dress is a favourite to perform live. It always gets people dancing and that is the greatest achievement for a live show in my opinion.

Has music always been a big part of your life? Were you encouraged to take it up as a child?

I’m adopted and my adoptive parents knew my birth-mother was a violinist. They made sure the violin was a part of my education from age five. Even though I’ve never met her, I get to carry that part of her with me forever.

The fact you are a multi-instrumentalist and D.J. gives your music a certain confidence, breadth and conviction. Does this talent give you more variety and choice a songwriter?

It certainly gives me a unique perspective. As a club D.J., your main objective is to keep people dancing and to keep the party going. I took the same approach with this album. I wanted to keep people dancing, feeling good and smiling from end to end. No slow jams.

What plans do you have for the rest of 2019?

More music in the works already and, now that the album is out, I want to tour it as much as possible. It’s great being in the studio, in your little cave; in sweatpants, many snacks; take after take, working out every detail…but I love performing the music to an audience. Seeing their reaction, partying with them out under the lights. That’s where I want to be for the rest of 2019.

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had a great career as a musician from performing my own music to recording, writing and touring with other great artists. I’ve had a lot of great moments just being a back-up singer. If I had to pick one, it was the first time I sang my own music and the audience sang the lyrics back to me. I’ll never forget that. It also happened to be my birthday so you can’t beat that as a birthday present.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Purple Rain – Prince

It’s all the fun, dance, sex and camp you could ever want crammed into one album. And he had strings; bonus. He is perfection.

Voodoo - D’Angelo

A disciple of Prince but entirely unique. D. is a genius and every note of that album is pure effervescence. Nobody sings harmonies like him.

Mariah Carey – Daydream

An unmatched voice of my generation. I wore my cassette out and had to buy it twice.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Chaka Khan or Chromeo. Very different but the same Funk family. Both are currently touring and I love them so much. After taking care of my band and crew with some sweet rider food, drink and accom., my only request would be to share a song on stage together every night. I think, if I actually got to sing a song with Chaka Khan, I might burst into flames.

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

Right now, the plan is to tour close to home. Get back on the road locally and then aim for my first solo push overseas this fall and early-2020.

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Is the stage somewhere you feel at your most alive?

Yes, absolutely. I’m no different than many other performers. I’m mostly an introvert in day to day life but on stage I can do anything and be the dream version of myself. Confident, daring; brave, magnetic. It’s never not fun. Even if a crowd isn’t really engaging at first, I love the challenge of first getting them to smile, then move; then all out dance, eyes closed with hands in the air. There is nothing better than sharing that.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Nothing can ever replace good old-fashioned hard work. Sometimes, there are shortcuts but most of time there aren’t. All of those ‘overnight’ success stories were actually years of hard work, planning; trial and error. Work hard, harder than everyone around you. Nobody can ever take that away from you.

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Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Tanika Charles is about to release an amazing new album. Maylee Todd is not only an innovator; she’s a community leader, educator and has probably the most creative approach to music I’ve ever seen. Aphrose is working on her first album after the successful release of great singles and videos. Bywater Call is an amazing Canadian Blues act set to tour the E.U. in early-2020. And the enigmatic James Baley - voice, vogue and fashion. He will be the next Gaga but better.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Bywater Call

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

I don’t get a lot of time to chill but, right now, I’m on that GoT (Game of Thrones) bandwagon. I got sucked right in and it’s near-obsession. I think with all the Night King scenes…I wouldn’t call it ‘unwinding’ but it’s definitely not working on music.

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

The Best - Tina Turner. No explanation needed…

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INTERVIEW: Juvenal Maze

INTERVIEW:

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Juvenal Maze

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MY last interview until next week...

is with Juvenal Maze, who has been discussing his tracks, In a Place/She Just Wanna, and how they came to mind. I ask what music inspires and whether his Congolese roots have impacted his sounds/music – he reveals some rising artists to watch out for.

I was curious to know if there are gigs coming up and how Juvenal chills away from music; what he has planned for the rest of the year and which albums are most important to him – Juvenal Maze picks a cool song to end things with.  

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Hi, Juvenal. How are you? How has your week been?

My week has been sweet, thank you. Been trying to keep myself productive and inspired. 

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

My name is Juvenal Maze and I'm a singer-songwriter-producer based in Ilford, London. 

 

In a Place/She Just Wanna is your new release. Is there a story behind it all?

Yes, actually, the story behind this involves me and one girl I was cool with at one point in time. The friendship started off well; it was a bit of a weird one but things were cool. I wasn't looking to be exclusive with anyone at the time. We were in contact and that agreement was understood on both sides so it wasn't going anywhere. Well, that was the initial idea until her feelings for me started to grow the more we were in contact. From there, things became complicated but, despite the complications, we were actually still cool.

We didn't mingle from there and things came back to a friendship basis with no intimacy. So, at first, how I wrote She Just Wanna reflected our bond at the time we were cool. Sometime down the line things went left as I guess I felt betrayed (in a way) and some other complications had come up - so with that I rewrote the song from that stance. 

With In a Place, it was more about my feelings and state of mind; looking at myself from a place where I'm now successful (and everything) and question myself about where I came from because, in this industry, a lot of people tend to forget to remind themselves and get lost. It then goes on to touch on when I went through depression at sixteen and my coping mechanism, escaping this reality and entering another one. Playing video games was my vice until one day I woke up and realized - wow, is this life?

It was a moment of clairvoyance for me. Following on is my experience of being afraid to fall in love, being in love and being in denial (of the feeling of love) because it's a new overwhelming feeling that has a hold on me - one that I'm afraid to accept. With these experiences, I find myself struggling to diagnose myself so I just refer to the term ‘in a place’ whenever I'm experiencing something that can't quite be explained or understood. 

I believe there is an E.P. later this year. What can we expect from it?

Yes, there is. Well, it's literally a rollercoaster of thoughts and expressions from experiences I've had or seen and just a leap into different perspectives besides my own. I guess it shows a part of me thus far. 

How did you get into music? When were the seeds sown?

From the age of fourteen.

I was in the playground at school and a group of my classmates were there playing music and just spitting bars…but what intrigued me was how the looney tunes anthem could become a Grime riddim. That pretty much sparked my curiosity and I wanted to figure out how to create my own; from starting out with Grime than experimenting with different sounds. It's become my way of life. 

You have Congolese heritage. How important is that to your music?

I find it pretty important, to be honest. I don't feel as though it's really brought forward like that among our mainstream genres of today like R&B, Hip-Hop and so on. Where I appreciate it, I try to sprinkle it in. That identity and being able to just showcase that - yeah - you can add a lil sauce here and there. That's what I'm here for. Like, don't get me wrong, some people do it a bit but I ain't the type to play it safe. Besides, that's just to show that we are here too and, hopefully, I can inspire other Congolese artists to come out of their shells and show the world what we are about.

I'm just doing it my way. 

Which artists inspired you growing up? Did you have quite eclectic tastes?

There weren't any in particular as I was more focused on actual sounds and instrumentals but I'd say Drake, Kendrick Lamar; J. Cole, Ludacris, Pharrell; T-Pain, Boyz 2 Men; SWV and pretty much every R&B hit under the sun. I listened to a lot of Reggae and Dancehall too so that was thrown into the mix. Linkin Park, Coldplay and, of course, being Congolese: the fro eat was always there. 

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

This whole journey is still a standout memory as it is, but I would say when I first wrote and released my first track, Kitoko. That was the start of a very expressive year and has definitely played a major part and reason as to why I write today. 

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Drake - Take Care; Kendrick Lamar - Section 80 and Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. With Drake, I came across him from that album, where music had already started being the voice of my expression. That album really allowed me to tap into that. With the production, I remember always incorporating pads and strings a lot and I believe it's because of that. I'm more of a vibe guy so different instruments and sounds give of different feels to me and that's what I really pay attention to when producing.

Now, with Kendrick ; I discovered him in my late teens. A lot of what he was talking about in his music and how he was expressing himself really made me pay attention to what he was saying. His music has definitely been a heavy influence in terms of my drive and passion when it comes to my part and my purpose but, yeah, I just really appreciate the honesty in his music and how it provokes introspection. 

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

That's a really difficult one because I'm not the type to really follow artists. I really just chill in my own lane and just enjoy whatever is out there but, if it came to it, I'm ready to support a musician that is honest, passionate and is serving a purpose with their art besides the entertainment. Like, what's your soul saying? What impact are you looking to have on someone or the world as a whole? Someone who is working to make a difference for a better future. That's who I'm down for.

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

Definitely looking to perform a lot more. I got a performance at Splash Festival (Germany's biggest Hip-Hop festival) this year that I'm excited about as well as couple others. Just trying to take it all in and connect with people. 

Is the stage somewhere you feel at your most alive?

The stage, at the moment, is something that really challenges me. I'm not the type to be in the spotlight and express myself. Being vulnerable at the same time. So, yeah, that's with that but where I feel most alive is when I'm just out there creating music. The process of creating music is where I feel alive, hands down. 

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Study inwards as well as out; be real with yourself and stay true to yourself. Understand yourself; always work on bettering yourself as a person; find your peace and keep challenging your comfort zones. Live life and experience things; go for a walk or something and just remind yourself that you are you before your art and you define you. 

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 IN THIS IMAGE: K The Infinite

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

K The Infinite, Jael The Voice; Tazzz P, Okeam Briscoe and Lylo Gold - definitely keep an eye on these guys. 

Also, my SOULUVMUZIQ family: BVRGER, MadD3E and Miko Waye. They've been around for a bit already but they have some sick, sick vibes going on. 

 IN THIS PHOTO: Lylo Gold

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

My unwinding is making music (laughs)! But, I watch anime. I just live life and enjoy each day as it comes, really.  

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Thank you very much for having me. Hmm, if you could play RAYE, Maleek Berry - Confidence (Preditah Remix)

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Follow Juvenal Maze

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INTERVIEW: Finding Kate

INTERVIEW:

Finding Kate

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BRINGING us near the weekend...

is Finding Kate, who has been telling me about her latest single, I Feel Bad. I ask what inspired the song and whether more material is coming; if her Greek and Cypriot roots inspire her music and which albums she counts as favourites.

The songwriter reveals gig plans and whether she has other plans for 2019; if she gets much time to chill away from music and the rising artists we need to be aware of right now – she selects a great track to end the interview with.

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Hi, Kate. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey, Sam. All good, thanks! How about you? This week has been super-hectic. I’ve just released my new single and I feel pretty overwhelmed, stressed; happy and excited at the same time! Haha.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

My name is Finding Kate and I am a singer/songwriter based in London. My music is Alternative/Rock with undertones of Pop. I would describe it as melodic, emotional and dark yet commercial. In 2016, I released my debut album, If I Fall, and have played lots of shows in the U.K. and Cyprus since then.

I have just released my new single, I Feel Bad. Yay.

What can you tell me about the new single, I Feel Bad, regarding its story?

I Feel Bad is one of my newest tracks I had written about a year ago. I sat down on the piano and the chorus just blasted out of me: same exact melody, lyrics and chords as it is now. It’s a song I hope a lot of people can relate to! I mainly wrote it as a ‘f*** you’ to people/relationships that pull me down or hold me back. It’s about feeling that pain after a relationship is over but also feeling a sort of relief. This track has feelings of anger, sorrow; pity and forgiveness all in one.

Is there likely to be more material later in the year?

Yes, definitely. I am currently sorting out all my tracks with my producer. I have a lot of material ready; some are at demo stages and some are at a solid level ready for recording!

Can you remember what pushed you to get into music? Did you always know it is where you wanted to be?

I think the fact that I grew up in a very musical household pushed me to get into music. I know I keep saying it in every interview, but I grew up listening to so much music because of my dad. We mostly listened to Rock, Alternative and Metal and I am so grateful I was brought up with some of the best bands such as Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi; Stone Temple Pilots, Live and newer artists/bands like Avril Lavigne, Evanescence; Linkin Park, P!nk etc. I think I was about ten/eleven years old when my parents discovered a piano tutor’s flyer on the car and we decided I would try out some piano lessons! Then immediately after I also started singing lessons and then, after that, the rest is pretty much history! I knew I wanted to be a singer and that was it for me.

 PHOTO CREDIT: William Pavli Photography

You have Australian and Cypriot roots. Does that play a role regarding your music and sound?

This is a cool question. I think the Cypriot roots definitely bring a different vibe to my songwriting. I didn’t listen to a lot of Greek music growing up but I used to listen to a few artists/songs which definitely influenced me in one way or another. My producer and I actually laugh at some of my vocal melodies/licks that I do as they have some very Greek influences at times! I wouldn’t say either of these countries plays a huge role in my sound but they definitely help shape me into the artist I am today.

What plans do you have for the rest of 2019?

My plans are to promote I Feel Bad as much as I can by playing lots of shows all around the U.K. I have some great shows coming up and looking forward to supporting some bigger names, hopefully, in the near-future. Then, I am aiming to release a few more singles and build momentum!

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

I have a few standout memories, but the one that I cherish the most is probably the Cyprus Has Talent competition in 2012! I won the Junior section and that’s sort of where my ‘career’ started. I was introduced to Chris who I’ve been working with for the last few years and I met some really great people through that competition.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Picking three albums is so difficult! AAAAHHHH.

Let Go - Avril Lavigne

This is one of those albums I will always, always treasure. So many songs speak out to me to this day! It’s crazy how relatable her lyrics were and still are. I love all the songs and I think the production is sick - especially on Losing Grip, Unwanted; Naked and I’m with You. Avril will always be a huge inspiration to me. I remember locking myself up in my room and singing along to every single album of hers. I had a little portable C.D. player and, after buying her first three albums, I used to sit there reading her lyrics and doing sing-alongs to her entire albums! Every single song, over and over again. Haha. Let Go holds a special place in my heart for its simplicity and honesty.

The Open Door – Evanescence

I always loved all of Evanescence’s albums, but this one is probably my favourite. I think it has some of their best work on it and some of my personal favourite tracks. I love the vibe, aesthetic and feeling of this album; it really resonates with me. I also love the album artwork - Amy looks stunning in that dress!

Nothing But Thieves - Nothing But Thieves. Their debut album title speaks for itself. Nothing But Thieves is exactly what Nothing But Thieves are about. It’s alternative, atmospheric; powerful, exciting; sad and beautiful…and Conor’s voice is otherworldly. No, seriously, one of the best male vocalists I have heard. I just really, really love this album.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

I’d love to support Evanescence! I’ve never had the option to choose my own rider: I’m usually lucky to get some free beers at a show. I think some sushi would be good. Haha. To be honest, I have no idea what I’d request; I’ll cross that bridge when it comes (smiles).

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

I have my single release party on 17th May in London at The Monarch which I am super-excited about. My next London show after that is the Amplified Festival live finals on the 28th June. If I get selected on the night, I will get the chance to play at Amplified Festival, so fingers crossed!

I’ve also got two shows with Hands Off Gretel which I’m really looking forward to - one is on 22nd June in Southampton and the other is on 6th July in Brighton. Besides that, I am in the process of contacting venues and hoping that I will get some more support slots coming up soon. Keep your eyes peeled for my updates!

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Is the stage somewhere you feel at your most alive?

Yes, definitely. I love singing and I love looking into a crowd of people who are there to support live music. I can totally be myself on stage without being scared of what people think of me. I love playing with incredibly talented musicians who have an amazing vibe on stage. Every show has its own beauty. Of course, I still get stressed before some shows. They don’t always go smoothly and the sound isn’t always great but I always make the most of it when I am on stage.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Yeah! Just keep going. Don’t stop. You have to work hard to make your dreams come true and, most of the time, you have to be the one to get sh*t done. It sounds a little scary, but if you have a vision and you know what you want, go out there and get it. Believe in yourself and be prepared to have a lot of ups and downs. Build a team around you if you can: producers, musicians; photographers, videographers; designers, managers and have a good relationship with them. We all need a hand sometimes and having people who also believe in you and see your vision will really take some weight off your shoulders. I personally do a lot on my own as I like to have control and know what I want but I still have professionals to help me out. I can’t do everything; I’ll go mad if I try.

The BEST advice I can give you though is always follow your instinct and believe in yourself. Stay true to your vision and goals. Your team might crumble, your manager might leave; your label might drop you but, if you believe in yourself, that’s all that matters.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Hands Off Gretel

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Yes! My friends in Hands Off Gretel are absolutely amazing. You might have already heard of them. Highly Suspect are already pretty big but I think you would like them a lot. Also check out the amazing Halflives and Izzy Thomas.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Highly Suspect

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

Honestly, I don’t get much time to chill away from music! If I’m not working on new songs, I am usually working on my social media, marketing; designs, website; shows and fifty other things! But, when I do get time to chill, I love watching T.V. series and eating (haha).

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Keep Lying - Donna Missal

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Follow Finding Kate

INTERVIEW: The Seige

INTERVIEW:

The Seige

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IT has been cool speaking with The Seige...

about their latest track, I’m Coming Home, and what its story is. I ask what inspired their album, Duality, and whether there are any tour plans in the works – and whether the L.A.-based duo are coming to the U.K. at any point.

I discover which music memory stands out from the pack and what sort of music the guys are influenced by; whether they get chance to chill away from music and what advice they’d give to artists coming through – they both pick great songs to end the interview with.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Been a good week so far. Can’t complain.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

Taz Conley, the rapper and Riley Taylor, the producer. Just two dudes from two different walks of life who love music and create with one common goal: to push our own limits and inspire others to do the same.

How did The Seige begin life? Do you recall the moment you met?

We would frequently be in the same place at the same time due to us having a lot of mutual friends. We never worked together back then; kind of had our own individual sh*t going on but, one day, I (Taz) needed someone to help me flesh out some of the tracks I had been working on…so I reached out to Riley who did such a good job bringing my ideas to life.

We just decided to make a band out of it.

What is your new single, I’m Coming Home, all about? What inspired it?

I’m Coming Home is a story about what an individual will do once they are counted out. It’s a revenge story of sorts with success being the best revenge of all. We pulled inspiration for the song from our past lives and relationships; old girlfriends who did us dirty or friends who weren’t loyal.

It is from the album, Duality. What themes inspired the songs?

I’m Coming Home is on the second half of the album. When we were working on Duality, we were really inspired by techno-cyberpunk themes, science fiction movies like Bladerunner and The Matrix and the duality between that world and the natural world of nature, animals and biology. The ultimate duality; where we are all headed as a human race and playing around with ideas on how the fast movie tech of today will affect us in the future.

Did you both grow up around different artists or do you share musical tastes?

We both grew up on a bunch of different types of music and have very eclectic tastes. We generally gravitate towards the same kinds of music today; from Rock and Rap to Jazz music. Just don’t give us any Country.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

A lot of the syncs we have been getting are really somewhat of a dream come true for both of us. We both grew up playing video games and watching sports and always dreamed of having our music on T.V. and in some of our favourite games. So, it has been crazy to watch that unfold in our lives.

We’ve gotten syncs with the NFL, the NBA; big movies like Mission Impossible and in T.V. shows like Cloak & Dagger. Massive games have even used our songs: Fortnite, FIFA and Madden. Seeing something happen that you’ve literally dreamt about since you were a kid is something truly special.

Which one album means the most to each of you would you say (and why)?

Our most recent one, Duality, definitely means the most to both of us because it’s really some of the best music that either of us have made…and it’s a culmination of everything we’ve learned and experienced and accomplished in our lives up to this point. Every song we wrote, every sound we created before was just preparation for this project and it means so much to us.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

We would love to jump on the road with J. Cole, Kanye West or A$AP Mob. Definitely would have to have lots of fruit and water on the rider. And jerky. Lots of beef jerky.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Stay independent as long as you can - and spend every dollar you earn on making yourself better as an artist. Always create honest, positive material and, most importantly, trust yourself and your own intuition.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

We’re going quiet for the next couple seasons to push out some new sounds and challenge ourselves creatively.

Might we catch you in the U.K. this year?

Wouldn’t that be lovely, mate?

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Is touring something you both love doing?

We’ve both been playing live shows ever since we were kids, so touring will always hold a nice comfortable place in our hearts. How could you not love it? Nothing beats going to meet real fans of the crazy music you create. That’s exactly us musicians we do what we do.

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

No. Just listen to the The Seige and shut everything else out.

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Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

We usually stay working but, whenever we get a chance to just kick it, we might catch up on a good book we’ve been into or chill with friend, our girlfriends or travel and hang out with family. Since we both live in L.A., we really enjoy catching some live shows around town or seeing one of our artist friend’s shows.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Taz: Wu-Tang Clan – Protect Ya Neck

Riley: Michael Jackson – Workin’ Day and Night

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Follow The Seige

INTERVIEW: Hannah Scott

INTERVIEW:

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Hannah Scott

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I have been speaking with Hannah Scott...

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about her new single, Walk a Wire, and what its story is. She discusses her album, Pieces of the Night (2018), and whether she has a favourite song from the set; the sort of artists/albums that influence her and whether there are plans for gigs this year.

I wanted to know whether the stage is somewhere she loves to be and what advice she’d give to artists coming through; how she spends time away from music and an approaching act to look out for – Scott picks a cool song to end the interview with.

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Hi, Hannah. How are you? How has your week been?

Hi, Sam. I’m good, thanks! Busy week as I’ve just released my new single, Walk a Wire!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

My name’s Hannah Scott. I’m a contemporary Folk artist based in London. I work closely with writer/producer Stefano Della Casa and, together, we write and release music with a story, often about the human condition and human connection.

Walk a Wire is your new single. Is there a story behind the song?

Yes. This is inspired by a friend of mine with a disability who closed herself away for fear of rejection. It invites her to open up and take a risk.

Your album, Pieces of the Night, came out last year. Are there particular themes that united the songs?

As I introduced myself above, I guess.

Lots of its songs tell stories around being human. Is there a track from the album that stands as a personal favourite?

It changes! But I'd probably have to say Boy in the Frame at the moment because it's so personal. We wrote it about my soon to be ninety-eight-year old grandmother losing her seventeen-year-old brother when she was just ten. It's a song which really seems to hit audiences and people often tell me it's made them cry - and they share stories about people they know having lost people lifetimes ago.  

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Do songs come naturally to you or is there a set process? Everyone is different and I am interested knowing how your music forms.

Sometimes they can take months, even years, to complete and others just fall out in the space of a few hours! It really depends! Stefano and I often write the music first and then I take the song away and write the lyrics. Sometimes I already have an idea for a topic or a particular phrase and we begin there, but mostly the music is complete before the lyrics are little more than a phrase or idea.

How important were your early music discoveries regarding your passion for music and how you write now?

So, so important. I started writing in my mid-teens and this was the time I also started exploring new artists and music beyond what I heard on the radio. Some of these I still adore today and their music continues to inspire me; an example of this is Counting Crows.

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

Probably opening for Madeleine Peyroux at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh last November to an audience of two-thousand. It was an incredible experience in an amazing venue and one which I will carry with me forever!

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Counting Crows - This Desert Life

Alanis Morissette – MTV Unplugged

Sara Bareilles - The Blessed Unrest

Counting Crows were the accompaniment to my mid-teens through to my earl-twenties, both my life and my early songwriting. This Desert Life was the first album I bought and features my favourite C.C. song, Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby.

Alanis Morissette is one of my favourite writers and performers. She’s a lyrical genius and I just love the sound and rawness of her Unplugged album.

Sara Bareilles’ album was one I discovered a couple of years ago at a time when my music consumption had changed, probably due to the ‘Spotify effect’. I realised I’d stopped listening to full albums and becoming totally absorbed by them. This album reminded me how wonderful that feeling is and we mustn’t let it go!

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Probably Counting Crows. My rider would have a bottle of champagne and some chocolate on it but, apart from that, it would be healthy with juice and veggie food and fruit. Touring often means you have to eat on the go so it’s often unhealthy and quick. It would be nice to do the opposite!

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

I’ve got lots of festivals and shows coming up over the summer and am constantly booking gigs; even starting booking for 2020!

Is the stage somewhere you feel at your most alive?

Absolutely. And with the audience chatting after a show. The stage is definitely the place I’m most open and most myself!

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Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Play live as much as you can, write as much as you can (my early songs were rubbish - you need to put the time in before you can write good ones!) and don’t expect your next release to be ‘the one’ - it’s a gradual journey and I’m not sure you ever ‘arrive’! 

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

I’ve played a couple of times with Folk-Rock band Merry Hell. They are fantastic and write brilliant, touching songs.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

My partner is a garden designer and we’ve just taken on an allotment - I love spending time there and getting my hands dirty! It’s such a good activity for being in the moment and I’m looking forward to eating fruit and vegetables which we’ve grown!

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

How about Bury Me Naked by Merry Hell? This has become a favourite in my family!

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Follow Hannah Scott

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INTERVIEW: Mark Daly

INTERVIEW:

Mark Daly

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TAKING us into the middle of the week...

 PHOTO CREDIT: Zyanya Lorenzo

is Mark Daly, as he tells me about his new single, Without You, and his 2018 album, When the Stars Align; the records that matter the most to him and when music came into his life – I ask how important and motivational it is knowing his music has connected with so many people.

Daly reveals his plans regarding touring and the future; whether the stage is somewhere he likes to be and which approaching artists we need to keep an eye out for – the songwriter chooses a great track to end the interview with.

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Hi, Mark. How are you? How has your week been?

Hello, how’s it going? My week has been great, thank you. It’s always very hectic and exciting leading up to a release but all positive.

What is the weather like where you are? Do the conditions inspire songwriting at all?

It’s actually been a nice sunny week in Ireland for a change - but we are being punished with a storm tomorrow that is going to make up for it. I definitely think weather has a big effect on my mood and rainy days at home often lead to new music. Most of my deep songs would come from days like that. I lived in Seattle for a couple of years too and they have the same weather so I guess I am used to it and that’s why I can’t write upbeat, summer Pop songs. Haha.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

I am a singer/songwriter from Cork in Ireland. I have been playing music full-time for ten years now and I have been loving every minute of it. In my early days, from about twenty to twenty-six, I was frontman for a rock band called The Voodoos and we were lucky enough to tour all over the world and sell a good few albums along the way. I was also a songwriter for Operation:Mindcrime in Seattle who are a supergroup of musicians created by Geoff Tate (formerly of Queensryche) who asked me to contribute some songs for his trilogy record…and I got to work with world-class musicians like John Moyer (Disturbed), Simon Wright (AC/DC); Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy, Whitesnake) and loads more which was an incredible experience.

After working on that record, I moved back home to Cork to focus on my solo career and I released my first single, The Hearts Reminder, in 2016. I also released a charity single in 2017 called Your World for World Autism Awareness Month with a song I wrote about my son.

In 2018, I released my debut solo album, When the Stars Align.

Without You is your new track. What is the inspiration behind it?

This song is like a dramatic love song; one where you write down all your feelings when everything is raw and the pain is at its worst. Then, later, you think I probably should have let the dust settle before writing these lyrics but because of how raw and real it was I wanted to keep it exactly the way it is now to show those emotions.

It is from the album, When the Stars Align. How personal is the album would you say? Did you take a lot of inspiration from your own life?

The whole album is very personal. Most tracks are about my life and personal experiences of dealing with hurt, pain; rejection and loss but also positivity, love; family and looking ahead to the future. To me, this album felt amazing to write and I found myself in a whole new style of songwriting on this record. The producer (Kelly Gray) wanted me to pull back from the Hard-Rock singing on these tracks and to focus on the lyrics - and telling my story -, which I was very grateful to him for making me do as I always used the Hardcore singing to cover up lines in my songs that used to make me feel uncomfortable.

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Has music always been in your life? Which artists did you follow when young?

I have always loved music and all different styles of music. When I was a kid, I would get obsessed with one particular album for a long time - like ABBA’s greatest hits for example. Haha - and I would listen to it day and night. In my teenage years, I got massively into E.L.O, Pink Floyd; Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones.

Also, some of my favourite songwriters from when I was young are still my favourite to this day…like Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Justin Furstenfeld (Blue October); so, as you can see, I have a diverse taste in music for sure. Haha. 

Your music has received a lot of praise and support. How important and motivating is that kind of backing?

It’s very motivating when people reach out to tell you that they like your music and can relate to lyrics etc. For me, I find there are times as a musician where I end up with loads of self-doubt and question my abilities as a musician and songwriter even more so when it comes to releasing new music. It’s really amazing to hear positive feedback.

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

I thought my MTV EMA performance with The Voodoos in 2011 was always going to be my number-one memory but I have to say it was the day I released my charity single for Autism Awareness Month, Your World, as it was such a difficult thing to release such a personal song. But I got messages from parents all over the world to say how much the song meant to them - and that was truly an incredible memory that will be hard to beat.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

August and Everything After - Counting Crows

It was the first album that I really, really listened to the lyrics and felt how powerful they were and, from then on, I was hooked on this band and songwriting.

The Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd

I just think it’s the greatest album of all time. Everything about this record is incredible and, still to this day, blows my mind.

Higher Truth - Chris Cornell

I have always been a fan of Chris Cornell on all his projects but I really connected with his final solo album and I learned a lot from this particular record.

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If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

My own rider would be nice and easy: beer, whiskey and FIFA (smiles.

What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

Lots of plans to tour the U.K. and Ireland this year, including a tour with one of my favourite bands, Candlebox, in June across the U.K. Also plans are well underway for a U.S. tour in 2020.

Is the stage somewhere you feel at your most alive?

Yes, indeed. I always love being on stage as it brings out a different side to me - and one where I always feel happy and comfortable in.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

Besides the obvious advice of ‘work hard and find your sound’, I would say just to try and keep it at a level where you love doing it. It can easily stop becoming about writing and performing because of how competitive and hard the music industry is, so I think once you are doing it for the right reasons and work hard, success will come along with that.

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Better Oblivion Community Centre

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Better Oblivion Community Center - which is Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers together - is a really amazing new band and the album is brilliant. Irish band Fontaines D.C. are now starting to blow up and the album they just released is killer!

 IN THIS PHOTO: Fontaines D.C./PHOTO CREDIT: Daniel Topete

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

I do get a nice bit of time to chill away from music. I love hanging out with my two kids and my better half, Claire, and playing/watching football. Although, being a Man Utd fan at the moment isn’t the best way to unwind. Haha.

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

I’ll go with a Fontaines D.C. tune! Boys in the Better Land…and thanks for having me

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Follow Mark Daly

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INTERVIEW: Lucy Spraggan

INTERVIEW:

Lucy Spraggan

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IN this interview...

I have been speaking with Lucy Spraggan about her new track, End of the World, and how that came together. I ask what we can expect from her upcoming album, Today Was a Good Day, and which records Spraggan holds dearest – she tells me about plans regarding touring.

Spraggan reveals which rising artists we need to watch and which musical memory stands in her mind; when music came into her life and who’d she support on the road if she could – she chooses a great song to end the interview with.

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How are you enjoying the weather at the moment? Does the warm conditions inspire songwriting? 

The weather is beautiful! I am definitely in a better mood when the sun is shining, so I guess I write happier songs. My songwriting really can happen anywhere at any time!

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

I am a singer-songwriter/storyteller from the U.K. that writes about life in general; the highs and lows and everything in between.

End of the World is your latest track. What is the story behind it?

My wife and I were in a bar in Cologne that was totally dead. The beer wasn’t so nice and there was a funny smell floating around. I realised, in that moment, that it doesn’t matter what is going on around us - as long as you are with someone you love you can have the best time anywhere. 

It made me think about the end of the world; there’s no person I’d rather be with when it happened.

Today Was a Good Day, your album, is out on 3rd May. What sort of themes and ideas define the music throughout?

This album is quite a positive-sounding album! Which is different to my last couple. It is more up-tempo and outlines the way I feel at the moment. 

Take me back to the start. When did music come into your life and do you recall the first album you bought?

My family are very musical and there’s always been a lot of singing going on at parties and B.B.Q.s in our house. My dad and brothers play guitar and my mum always had music on in the car. 

My first album was Americana - The Offspring.  

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

I played Glastonbury last year and was completely blown away. The tent was so full; everyone was singing along and cheering. I get goosebumps thinking of it. 

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Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)? 

Americana - The Offspring was the first album I bought so brings back a lot of memories. 

Watsky - Cardboard Castles. I just love this album. I think he is an amazing lyricist. 

The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. I put this on when I need cheering up!

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

I’d love to support Ed Sheeran. What he has done for music is incredible and I have so much respect for him. I’d be happy with some waters on that rider!

Are you excited about playing Glastonbury for the second time?!

Yes! See above!

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What are your other plans regarding gigs/touring?

I am touring the U.K. throughout May and have another tour in June in the U.S.A. After that, I’m back for festival season in the U.K. (a couple of euro festivals too) and then back for an autumn tour! 

Is being on the stage something you really love? Is it possible to describe that feeling?

It’s my favourite thing to do. There really isn’t a way to explain it. It’s such a natural high and I love what I do.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists? 

Keep being yourself, stick to your guns and do what YOU want to do!

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 IN THIS PHOTO: Andrew Duhon

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out? 

Andrew Duhon, The Dunwells and Watsky. Not new but absolutely amazing. 

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IN THIS PHOTO: The Dunwells

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

I don’t get very much time to be honest but I’m always doing what I love. When I have time off I generally go fishing. 

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Lana Del Ray - National Anthem 

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INTERVIEW: Serapha

INTERVIEW:

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Serapha

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STARTING off this week is Serapha...

who tells me about her latest song, That Feeling, and its background. I wanted to know how she got started in music and whether there are any particular albums that are especially important to her – she explains the significance of writing and producing her own work.

Serapha tells me about future touring plans and what she does when she has time to chill; a rising act we should watch and whether she’ll come visit us here in the U.K. – she chooses a great song to end things with.

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Hi, Serapha. How are you? How has your week been?

Hey! I’ve been doing amazing. This week has been busy with a lot of music industry events going on, but that’s one of the great things about living in Los Angeles.

What is the weather like where you are? Have you got the same sort of warmth we have in the U.K. at the moment?

The weather has been really mild in Los Angeles, which has been nice, though I can empathize with the heat since I lived in the Arizona desert before moving to L.A. last year.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

Yeah! I’m Serapha, a singer, songwriter; producer and engineer based in Los Angeles. I’ve been creating original music for about six years. After graduating from audio production school last year - when I was seventeen-years-old - I solidified my ‘newstalgic Synth-Pop’ sound.

That Feeling is your new single. Can you explain how it came together and what inspired it?

That Feeling is a song about my experiences leading up to graduating from audio production school and high-school simultaneously. I had to be extremely focused and work a lot more than normal, but there are always times when you sort of mentally block yourself. In order to control That Feeling and not shut down I can always count on making music.

The song talks about how important it is to keep everything in perspective in relation to the future, present and past. The song also mentions lifting others up - it is meaningful for me to mention being kind to everyone, as well as the importance of supporting talented women in the music industry - especially because in music production we are extremely underrepresented.

When I was creating That Feeling, I first came up with the synthesizer sound, which is what everything was based around. I automated its filter, added a decent sustain and kept it simple by using oscillators with square waves and a saw wave. I then added sounds around that. Then, when I finally added the guitar sound in the chorus, I knew that it was the ‘icing on the cake’ sound. When I listened back to the mix, I was, like, ‘yes! This is the sound!’ I then wrote down the lyrics that were on my mind as I simultaneously thought of melodies. The next day, I recorded and mixed the demo. 

Once I moved to L.A. - two months after turning eighteen - I polished the demo then recorded it at the legendary Los Angeles Record Plant. I recorded it and co-mixed it with Alex Layne, who was great to work with! He has a great knowledge of audio production and has worked with artists like CHVRCHES, Marshmello; Sam Smith, Kendrick Lamar and ZAYN.

Fast-forward to now…I’m so excited to finally share That Feeling with the world!

Might there be more material coming later in the year?

Yes! I’ll be releasing a single this summer. It’s a really fun song and it’s a great continuation of my ‘newstalgic Synth-Pop sound! I plan on releasing the song title on my Instagram (@seraphamusic) a few weeks before the single is released.

You write, produce and engineer your music. Is it important to have that control and personal input?

Yes. It’s very important for me to have artistic cohesion in my music. I want people who listen to my music to be able to feel that the whole project was born in my thoughts then transferred into a song.

Tell me how you got started in music. Was it something you were always drawn to?

I was always drawn to different types of sounds. When I was three, I started playing around on my grandparent’s organ because I was fascinated by all the different sounds that it made. This led me to learn piano, then I ended up learning ten different instruments throughout middle-school and high-school (I mainly played Classical oboe and Jazz saxophone) as well as singing in choirs. I started to write and produce original songs when I was thirteen; then I took my self-taught production skills up a notch when I attended and graduated from audio production school at seventeen.

Once I turned eighteen, I drove six hours out of the desert in my Mini Cooper into Los Angeles where I’ve been living and been actively involved in the music industry ever since.

Do you have a standout memory from your time in music so far?

In 2017, I performed throughout Europe in a band - and it was incredible to see first-hand how powerful music can be because of how it connects with people and how it brings people together. 

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

One of my first inspirations to begin songwriting and producing when I was thirteen-years-old was Lorde’s album, Pure Heroine. The way that Lorde writes is so poetic and metaphoric - it was and still is inspiring. Billy Joel’s album, 52nd Street, also means a lot to me since my dad would always play Billy Joel’s music. I actually saw Billy Joel live in concert for the first time about a month ago and it was amazing to hear his songs live, decades after my dad had listened to them for the first time. It is amazing how his music is still relevant and great, many years after its creation. Also, CHVRCHES’ use of synthesizers and sound design in their album Love Is Dead is really inspiring since my songs are mainly sculpted around synthesizers.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

I’d support MARINA because I look up to her as an artist and I’d love for her audience to be introduced to my music. I’d probably go pretty simple with my rider and get water, watermelon and Belvita biscuits (they were my lunch almost every day when I completed high-school and audio production school in the same year – at this point they should sponsor me. Haha).

What are your plans regarding gigs/touring?

I’m looking forward to gigging in L.A. The sooner I start gigging with my original songs the better!

Will you come to the U.K. and perform at any point?

I’d love to perform in the U.K. again! I performed in London with a band in 2017 but I’d love to perform my original songs there sometime in the future.

Is there any advice you’d give to upcoming artists?

I’d give upcoming artists the same advice that I was given a few years back…which is that, if you are serious about something, there are also many other people who are serious about that same thing who are working many times harder than you, so it is important to always do as much as one can towards one’s goal in order to rise above the noise.

 IN THIS PHOTO: Still Woozy/PHOTO CREDIT: Palmer Morse

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Yes! I recently saw Still Woozy live in Los Angeles and they were great! Lava came out shortly after I saw their show — it’s equal parts vibey and catchy.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

On the rare occasion that I get time to unwind, I like to drive to the Venice, Santa Monica or Malibu beaches.

Finally, and for being a good sport; you can choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Santa Monica by Evelyn has been the soundtrack of my first year living in Los Angeles. The vocals, lyrics and production have many great elements!

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