Encore: Little Lore
What was the first song you learned all the words to?
I probably knew the words to Sweet Caroline first when I was a child or Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now (also covered by Neil Diamond) because my parents where obsessive Neil Diamond fans.
A live show that changed your life?
Seeing First Aid Kit at Brixton Academy a few years ago when they staged the whole performance as characters from The Wizard of Oz. It was utterly breath taking in terms of music and performance, and to embrace a staged gig like that felt very brave and exciting. Something I would like to explore in the future.
A song that reminds you of growing up?
OOH that is so hard! I was a child of the 80s so there is a lot to choose from. I have very strong memories of singing Rat Trap by the Boomtown Rats late at night with my friends and a boy I really fancied, sitting by a weir near where I grew up. It was an iconic song for us, even though it had come out in the 70s, we could all sing it word for word. I think it tapped into the idealism of being a teenager and our emerging feelings about society. Musically it was rock but had these really punk leanings which was probably quite exciting and accessibly rebellious to our young ears. I still love it today. Brilliant songwriting.
A song you can no longer listen to?
Quite harsh to say I would never listen to something if the circumstances were right, but I used to work in a Karaoke bar when I was about 20, I was behind the bar, but because I was a singer the DJ would always get me up to start the night off. He loved it when I sang Arthur’s theme by Christopher Cross, so he would start the backing track and announce me without asking me what I wanted to sing. I enjoyed the song then … but now … I think it goes on the list of songs I have heard and sung one too many times.
An album that made you want to be a musician?
Hard to pinpoint one, but certainly albums that have been really important to me include Suzanne Vega’s Solitude Standing, Joni Mitchell’s Hejira and Lori McKenna’s The Kitchen Tapes – Lori is a huge inspiration to me because she was a little later in life when she found her voice.
Why did you decide to release ‘Seven Stories’ across two parts?
Truthfully, because of the algorithm! If you let all the songs go out in one hit you lose a chance to publicise and have a conversation with potential listeners. I am a huge fan of collections of work so it is a compromise that you have to think this way as an artist, but sometimes you just have to play the game. I have another EP in the making and an album so I will stay dedicated to collections of work going forward, but sometimes you just have to help the system help you. This is especially true for female artists because the music industry is statistically male orientated. Sad really … but that’s the honest answer! I justify to myself that at least releasing it in two parts was truer to my artistry than 7 singles.
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