Hi there, how are you today and what's the view like?
I'm well today thanks! I've had a bad virus for the past week and have finally come out of it, so feeling much more like my ol' self. The view? I've just started answering your questions on my laptop in bed and it's 2am...that's a very bad habit!
Why produce music under 'The Cheek of Her' and not your own name?
'cause I'm shy?....Well, The Cheek of Her started off as myself and a Guitar player who I wrote a handful of tunes with and then we got a band together, but as things evolved it became clear that in fact I was the only fixed and permanent part of The Cheek of Her, well it / she was/is me! The name stuck and well I kind of like it :).
When you have a stage name it is a little bit like a security blanket you can hide behind / be another person, so maybe that initial response to your question "'cause I'm shy" has got something to do with it!
You used to be a librarian, what sparked the change to musician and do you miss the old job?
I always knew that I was a creative person but hadn't quite figured out how I wanted to use my creativity, so I trained and searched for a job which was still Arts related while I figured that out! Music completely came knocking on my door a few years ago, and I needed to go with it and find unrelated / non-consuming side jobs to pay the bills and let me focus on it to see where it took me.
I still think of myself (in no particular order) as an Information Professional, Singer-Songwriter Musician, Artist, Digital Marketeer, general all round head-case!....I don't think there's anything wrong with wearing a few different hats. I guess we all do in some shape or form!
How do you write, lyrics or music first and, do you have to be in a specific location for the muse to flow?
It may be a bit odd, but I generally always write music and lyrics at the same time! Most of the time I play a few chords on the piano and hum, then the hums turn into words and it evolves into a song. The time frame for that can vary from half a day to a few weeks or a month with different sections floating about in my mind becoming one song, two songs or 4 separate songs! I've never written out completed lyrics and put them to music, but I should experiment and see how that changes things!
You have a pledge music campaign running for your debut LP, 'Adult Angst Anonymous' how is that going and would you recommend the concept to other musicians?
It's a bit of a struggle to be entirely honest! I'm on 20 or so percent at the moment, so still a fair way to go. I think some people are dubious about Pledging as they think I'm asking for donations, when all Pledges are in fact pre-orders of an Album of 12 recordings I'm itching to make! In any case, it's good to try these things to see if they work for you and learn from them.
I'd recommend crowdfunding to Musicians / Bands / Artists who have a massive dedicated following or those who have previously had a record deal and want to go it alone. Those are the types of profiles who seem to come out rosy! In any case if any of you would like to hear 12 stomping, original tracks from The Cheek of Her camp please pledge and pre-order HERE ....you see clearly I haven't given up hope...yet! :p
The songs for your album are already demoed. Do you expect them to change much when you get to the studio?
The short answer to that is well ummm "no"! I'm not completely fixed in my ideas (although the Producers I work with Sean Kennedy and Joe Lonsdale will probably disagree!), but I just have a really clear vision for the songs I write, and a better version of the demo is usually how the final track ends up!
Will the album be recorded solo or with a band?
I don't play Guitar, Bass or Drums damn it...so one of the Producers will lay those parts down and I'll co-produce, do all the vocals and keyboards and general nit-picking. I'm putting some solo acoustic tracks on the Album though and potentially an a cappella cover!
10% of funds pledged, after reaching your goal will be donated to The Music Therapy Charity, can you tell us a bit about the charity and their work?
I was researching charities I'd like to support through my Pledge Music campaign for the new album, and thought it would be really fitting and nice to give a boost to a charity which helps others through music. I then discovered "The Music Therapy Charity", which is the only one of its kind in the UK and is funded entirely by donations.
The Charity employs trained Musicians and qualified Therapists to work with Adults and Children with a wide range of physical, mental, emotional and neurological problems, as well as funding research in to treatment outcomes.
If through my project I can give back not just music to those who get involved, but support to other Musicians who directly help people with their difficulties in life, well I would be very happy.
Your pledge scheme closes on 24th December. Is that hopefully your Christmas present and what are your plans for the upcoming festive season?
Yes, that would be the ultimate Christmas! - to be enabled to create and give music back to those who have pledged their support and confidence in what I do. Fingers crossed! I'll be in London, having Christmas with my family and lots of Brussel Sprouts! (love them!)
What was the first serious record you brought and do you still play it today?
Probably "Everyone else is doing it so why can't we?" The Cranberries - simple songs, memorable lyrics but always melodic and catchy. I could have just described my own music there! Definitely a shaper and influencer - I might call my next album "They did it, so why can't I?"....well, if I manage to make "Adult Angst Anonymous" first...Happy Christmas everyone! The Cheek of Her xxxx