“…a compellingly original singer-songwriter of rare style and intelligence.”
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“…a compellingly original singer-songwriter of rare style and intelligence.” |
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| From your last two albums (and the two live shows I've been to) I see that you sometimes cover other people's, often 'popular', songs. Are there any particular songs you'd like to cover one day? |
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'Romeo and Juliet' by Dire Straits and Cyndi Lauper’s 'True Colours'. [back] |
| On 'Fretless' you cover 'I Don't Like Mondays'. Do you know what Sir Bob thought of your version of the song? |
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I don’t know. The version of that song I originally copied from a chap called Dave Burland, when I was about 11. Learning it opened in my mind the possibilities of taking well known songs and making them your own. The version on 'Fretless' is different again, with the fiddle (played by Phil Beer) giving it a different feel. I know the 'Fretless' version has been played on various radio shows and used in a BBC Radio 4 feature about gun crime but I don’t know whether Bob’s actually heard it. [back] |
| Have you sung/played on anyone else's album? |
| I am involved with a special project called 'Rumours of Rain'. This is a single, written by Nashville singer, Cathryn Craig, and Brian Willoughby (from the Strawbs). The single is still being recorded and includes some wonderful people, mainly from the folk world, including Ralph McTell, Martin Carthy, Nanci Griffith, Tom Paxton as well as members of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Pentangle, The Strawbs, plus Clive Gregson, Harvey Andrews, Derek Brimstone, Steve Tilston and others!!! The single will be released probably later this year, with a radio version and an extended 7 minute version. It really is a very exciting project and money raised from the sales will be given to charities supporting children who are the victims of war. [back] |
| Where were you born? |
| Hitchin, North Hertfordshire. [back] |
| I came to your recent concert in Cirencester and during the interval you mentioned that you were recording the tour to make a live CD. Is that going to happen? If so, when can we buy the album and will you be using any of the live songs from that night? |
| We haven't listened back to the whole tour yet! The plan is still certainly to release a live CD, probably around September/October time. It won't be available in the shops - only through the website and to people who are on my mailing list. [back] |
| Where do you find the inspiration for your songs? How long does it typically take you to write a song? |
| From a variety of places. My song 'Towerblocks and Lullabies' was inspired by my concern over the behaviour of the young people on a local estate. I wrote lots of mess for about an hour until the phrase 'Towerblock, road, swing, towerblock, road, swing...' came out and the rest of the song grew from this idea of repetitive patterns and cycles. I sometimes discover a good story (such as the tale of John Rand) and write a ‘story song’. My main obstacles in these sorts of songs is which bits of information to leave out/include. Last year I was collaborating with a choreographer and group of dancers for a performance, based on the idea of how too much choice in life can actually be restrictive and leave you in a state of frozen confusion. The instrumental 'Fretless' and the song 'My Love Lies' were written specifically for that dance piece. Songs can be growing in bits for over a year - the basis for 'My Love Lies' was all little pieces made over a long period. Other songs get written immediately - 'Towerblocks' took one afternoon. Others you think you've finished, leave for a couple of days and end up re-writing three or four times before they’re finished. [back] |
| Any news on the Washburn's health yet?! |
| Yes! It's been mended by a fabulous banjo maker and guitar fixer called Dave Stacey in Letchworth Garden City. It's been a bit of a nightmare actually, as every small thing that's needed fixing has opened a host of other little things that also require repair. The guitar's become one of those projects (like an old house) that could go on and on. It's at a stage though where it sounds lovely again. Trouble is, I've become very used to playing the Taylor now and the Washburn requires a very different style of playing. Back to square one again! [back] |
| I have recently "discovered" you and I am very interested to understand more about your guitar style. Specifically, it would be great if you could provide info. on the Guitar tuning you use for Shire Boy and some TAB for this song. I assume you are using your Washburn for this song - it sounds fantastic! |
| Thank you! The guitar tuning I use for Shire Boy is E, A, D, E, A, E. On the album I play with a capo on the 2nd fret. Live I've started putting it on the 3rd fret. I don't have any TAB for any of my songs as yet. Plans for a songbook have been floating around for a while now, but I have a feeling that the book may become too fat with TAB in, as well as words and music. Our latest idea is to provide TAB for individual songs so people can just get hold of the particular tune they want to work on. What would you think of that idea? [back] |
I read that you did a Theory of Songwriting
Degree. I've never heard of a degree in Songwriting Theory - where did
you study for that? |
| No, that's not true! I did English and Education at college. I'm not sure where the theory of songwriting came from! Where was that written? I don't know of anywhere that you can study theory of songwriting - it would be great if people could. Maybe Popular Music Degrees have an element of that in their course of study?? [back] |
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I've
noticed that you've not been using the Washburn recently - why's that? |
| Two reasons really. I've been loaned a Taylor by a friend and I love everything about it so much that I prefer to use that whenever possible. I love the deep yet twinkly quality it has. The washburn also took a little bit of a fall, which dislodged the pickup inside. It hasn't been to the guitar hospital yet so it's been resting at home! [back] |
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When's the new album
going to be ready and will 'I Don't Like Mondays' be on the album? |
| The plan is for the new album to be available in the shops and at concerts from October 2003. People on the mailing list will be able to get it earlier in September. 'I Don't Like Mondays' will be on the album - definitely, 'cos I've already recorded that one! [back] |
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I have been reading your reviews for the Shire Boy album. I noticed
that a couple of reviewers suggest that including Dream a Little Dream
was unwise. In retrospect, what do you think? |
| It’s tricky really. I tend to think that if two or more people, whose opinions are trusted and well informed, make the same comment then you should take note of that comment. I particularly respect both those reviewers and can see why, from the point of view of a reviewer of folk music, they might have taken issue with that particular popular cover. Making the CD was (and is) a learning process and I have been pretty much alone in making the decisions about the songs and their arrangements on the album, so I need to listen to the feedback that is given. Having said that, feedback comes from reviews and audiences and several people have mentioned that Dream a Little Dream is their favourite on the album. I put it on there because Diz Disley said he remembered the tune from the 40s and suggested that people might find it an appealing contrast to the typical songs found on a folk album. To answer the question, in retrospect I don’t regret putting it on there. [back] |
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Does Emily play her apx in standard tuning on the first song of Small Talk?
Also, can I get chords or guitar tab to any of her songs?? |
| Yes. For the first song on
Small Talk (Brooks Williams's 'Postcard from the Gulfside') I use standard
Am and E major chord shapes, although I think I had the capo on the first
fret for that recording.
I haven't got a songbook or guitar tab for any of my songs yet, although we make sure that lyrics are always put up on the website and in the CD cases. Perhaps it would be something I should begin to consider. Do you think people would be happy to buy sheet music/tab for individual songs, or would they prefer a book? Perhaps you could let me know! [back] |
| The
small guitar you use - what make is it? |
| The small guitar is a Washburn which would have been made in around 1920, originally with gut strings. Inside it has its original label, which says '1897 style. George Washburn. New Model. Best in the World' - !! I got it from my grandad, who bought it second hand in the early 40s. Many people think, at first glance, that it might be a Martin. It's a nice size for a female player as it's small bodied. (Thank you to the friend who sent me details on this guitar from "Guitars from the Renaissance to Rock" by Tom & Mary Evans (1977 ed.) [back] |
| What
was the last CD you bought? |
| Until two weeks back I was ashamed to say that I'd only ever bought 3 CDs!! But I went on a CD spree two weeks ago and bought: John Tams - Unity; Martin Simpson - The Bramble Briar; Paul Simon - Graceland; Joni Mitchell - Blue; Tim Buckley - Happy Sad; and Nick Drake - Way to Blue [back] |
| Who
is the guitar player that you admire most? |
| Isaac Guillory, Martin Simpson, Clive Gregson and Brooks Williams - four favourites. [back] |
| If
you could see any act play live who would it be? |
| Well...Dire Straits actually. There are a few. Queen would have been the ultimate band to see live, for me. I'd like to see Jackie McCauly's Poor Mouth live and James Taylor. [back] |
| What
tuning do you use on While Gamekeepers Lie Sleeping? |
| E A D E A E [back] |
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