Manchester-based artist dilettante paints a vivid picture of a love akin to a solid stone. A cheerful production features a driving bass line, an enticing groove, and artistic nuances in the arrangement, resulting in a well crafted playful piece. Read our discussion below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Spiky Weird Pop
Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind your new single, “Stone”?
Basically it’s about wanting to fill your life with a range of experiences and relationships and being told by someone that you need to just choose one. I’ve always found it strange that we’re supposed to meet someone and fall in love and be together forever. It’s a nice idea but I just can’t see that happening for me – relationships are constantly evolving things, and so are people. That growth (both together and apart) that happens over the course of any relationship is healthy and good for people even if it means the intimate part doesn’t last forever. I pretty much always stay friends with my ex-partners because I’m not going to waste my time with anyone that I wouldn’t also consider a friend. I also don’t really believe that I can just love one person, and because I value honesty it’s tricky for me to swallow feelings I might have for other people. There’s a great Fiona Apple line in her tune ‘Ladies’ that goes:
Nobody can replace anybody else
So, it would be a shame to make it a competition
And no love is like any other love
So, it would be insane to make a comparison with you
Which I think is great. I guess the whole theme of ‘Stone’ is there’s so much love out there and I want to experience it all, because it’s all different and it’s all valuable. But that has also meant giving up on really important relationships that didn’t allow for that which has been incredibly painful but ultimately the only way things could go.
How has your musical style evolved since your debut album, “Tantrum,” released last year?
‘Stone’ is the first tune I’ve ever put out where I was the sole producer so it was pretty scary at first but I think it turned out okay! It’s kind of nice being the only one in charge but I guess if everyone hates it then I don’t have anyone else to blame which makes me feel pretty vulnerable. Not so much in this tune but in the others I’ve been writing recently I’ve been trying to chill out a bit and there’s a few more ballad-y type tracks in the works with lots of nice woodwind arrangements.
Artists and people that have influenced you?
Musically, I’ve got my big three which I assign heart, body and mind. Mind is early St Vincent, her lyrics are so precise and her guitar playing is so her own. Body is Tune-Yards, everything she writes makes you want to play the drums or dance or generally move yourself (which, as anyone who has attended a club night with me knows, is a mean feat). And heart is Fiona Apple; sometimes she sings and you can hear her pain so clearly but not in a showy way I just think she has this incredibly raw talent for expressing exactly how she feels through her songs, like no one else. Honourable mention to Kate Bush too who is just generally speaking super fucking cool.
I also feel really lucky to be surrounded by incredible musicians all the time. Being a member of BC Camplight has taught me so much about stagecraft and generally being in a band. And Adam (the producer from ‘Tantrum’) completely changed my life. He gave me so much time and energy and coming out of that album I’m so much stronger, musically, mentally and physically, I honestly wouldn’t know how to thank him if I tried.
Could you share any memorable or unique experiences from your past live shows? Anything funny that happened during one of your gigs?
In Newcastle (which is btw definitely one of my top towns to play in the UK) a lady came up to me and gave me a handmade bracelet and said ‘I know things have been tough for you recently but I wanted you to know that you are loved’ which I just thought was incredibly sweet. Also, apparently after the Glasgow show an attendee went up to Jack and Katie and asked whether it was really intimidating to be around me which I thought was hilarious.
Generally the September tour was super fun, we’re now a five piece and it’s sounding amazing musically but also I really fucking love all my bandmates, they’re the best.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Firstly that you need to be more patient – I spent much too long wondering why I wasn’t getting all the grants I applied for, or why shows weren’t super well attended or why other bands had better social media numbers. When I started working with Adam Pardey (of Caro, who co-produced Tantrum with me) he told me to just concentrate on writing the songs. If the songs are good then success will come, and that method has definitely been serving me better.
And secondly, when I first became a full-time musician I wasted so much time thinking about what I should or could be doing and absolutely not enough time doing it. ‘More was lost to indecision than wrong decision’ is my mantra now. I also really like ‘Just Do It’ but I think Nike has the monopoly on that particular phrase.
What isn’t a crime but should be?
Scrolling on your phone while someone’s talking to you. It pisses me off so much and even though I know it comes from a place of insecurity and awkwardness people just need to get over it and look at each other when they’re having a conversation. Also, there’s been this weird rise of people being on their phones when they’re in the cinema which I find super fucking bizarre. Just generally get off your phone, it looks real dystopian whenever I’m on public transport and there is not a single other person looking up from these attention thieving things.
A song you are secretly obsessed with?
Absolutely not a secret that I’m obsessed with it because I put it on in the van at absolutely every opportunity but I fucking love ‘Let Me Blow Ya Mind’ by Eve (feat. Gwen Stefani). There’s something super sexy about that guitar riff, I remember even when I was younger and didn’t know anything about music that everytime I heard it I would be like ‘what the fuck is THAT’. It’s super cool. Also the melody in the second half of the chorus is too good. I love noughties melodies probably because I just don’t think I could ever write them, there’s this slightly unhinged quality to late nineties/early noughties pop that I don’t think you have much anymore in the mainstream (maybe that’s the space Billie Eilish occupies?)
Thank you!
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