Hi Emily how the devil are you today?
Very good thanks. We’re on our mid-tour break and I’m on a train heading into
Emily, I saw you live not so long ago at the Golden Hind in
It is a combination I guess. I am/we are all working hard and have certainly put in a hard graft over the years, so it’s wonderful to feel like things have stepped up. Certainly playing Shepherd’s Bush Empire was a significant marker. We really enjoyed playing that stage.
As you say, the mid point of your biggest
It’s been going really well thanks. We’ve played a lovely combination of bigger shows and more intimate ones too, such as The Band Room in the North York Moors – one of my favourite
What was the inspiration behind the new album ‘
‘Dear River’ is my personal story of ‘home’ but along the way I cover stories of others as well as themes of exile, emigration, colonialism, Indigenous politics and more. Each song has a very strong story behind it. ‘Letters’, for instance, is the story of my Grandfather and it depicts his time during WW11, when he was exiled from his family for 3 years, hiding out on the German/Dutch border with his brother. I managed to piece together his story through some old letters he’d written and a journal he’d kept during his time in exile.
What is the favourite lyric or line from a song on the new album?
I’m quite proud of the lyrics in ‘In the winter I returned’:
“The cold wind pushes day, black and grey though the valley,
there are heartbeats in the leaves, there are crows that hold the trees…”
How do you think music got so far into your bloodstream in the first place?
We always had music playing in the house. My dad was always playing records: lots of 70’s folk revival/singer-songwriter stuff such as Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, etc and my mum plays a bit of guitar and sings too. She would sit the four of us kids down and teach us harmonies and children’s songs.
The band and yourself have been together for a while now, any new instruments learnt in that time?
Indeed! Jo Silverston, our cellist, has recently learnt bass guitar and plays that in our live set. Anna Jenkins has learnt the viola. Gill Sandell already plays almost every instrument under the sun (piano, keyboard, accordion, flute, guitar). I learnt harmonica and am currently brushing up on my piano skills.
Who controls the CD player in the van when on tour and what is the current ‘hit’ on the road?
We take turns! But at the moment we’re not listening to anything and instead either playing pub quizzes after shows or watching ‘Eastbound and Down’ in the lounge of the tour bus (our first time with a bus which is very exciting.)
Is there anyone you would really like to play live with or band that you would like to sing with if any of you got the chance?
I’d love to play with Neil Young. To sing harmonies with him would be an honour. Also,
Gill released a solo album in September, Gill, what was it like being in the studio solo, rather than as part of the band?
It's a very different experience. With the band, we worked on arrangements before going into the studio and had a relatively short time frame to record '
For my solo project, I wrote the songs and lived with them for many months in my head, so it was quite an intense experience. I also visited the studio for a couple of days at a time and built the album slowly.
I enjoyed having ideas for the arrangements and hearing those ideas build over time as parts were added and other musicians were involved. I produced the album with engineer and friend Owen Turner, so had full control over the direction it took, the sound, final mixes and mastering.
It's really fulfilling to see a project through from the bare bones at the start to a complete end product that is as close to how I imagined it from the outset.
Emily, any tips for newer bands hitting the road this year around touring, recording or just getting their music heard?
Pass around a mailing list and collect emails everywhere you go. Make sure you head straight to the merchandise desk after the show to sign cds and meet your fans. Make videos as you travel around to post to youtube. Take photos as you tour for facebook, twitter, etc. Tell your story as you go.
Christmas plans this year, any shows planned?
I’ll be back in
Thu 7th Nov - St Philips Church,
Fri 8th Nov - Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal Buy tickets
Sat 9th Nov -
Sun 10th Nov - Brudenell Social Club,
Mon 11th Nov - Junction 2,
Wed 13th Nov - Discovery Centre,
Thu 14th Nov -
Fri 15th Nov - Plaza Suite, Sevenoaks Buy tickets
Sat 16th Nov - St Mary-in-the-Castle,
Sun 17th Nov - Wedgewood Rooms,
Tue 19th Nov - Glee Club,
Wed 20th Nov - Greystones,
Thu 21st Nov - Floral Pavilion,
Fri 22nd Nov - Folk House,