L. Your new album, “The Sea Cabinet”, was
launched last month at Wilton ’s Music Hall but
the actual tour proper commences tonight – that’s June 12 – at Sage Gateshead .
GH: That’s
right. This is our first large-scale UK tour for a while, and many of
the venues have a particular resonance with me and the project. When I first sang at Wilton ’s three years ago, I fell immediately
in love with it. It's the oldest surviving Grand Music Hall
L Listening to tracks from the album and reading the press release it
seems to me to be a giant step away from anything you've done previously, would
you agree? I'm familiar with Bittersweet
and Blue and of course I enjoyed your last visit to Sage
GH: Every day I seem
to be taking giant steps away from the one that went before, only to leap
sideways and then jump back again the next. In one week I might be recording
some 18th Century murder ballads for Radio 4, composing a film score
for toy orchestra, singing “Why Don’t You Do Right” with a big band,
researching maps for a musical about the inventor of the A – Z, producing a
neo-cabaret satirical comedy record, rewriting folk legends with kids, having
my head cast in plaster for an art exhibition about obsession and desire… I
don’t see my “career” as a linear progression.
It’s a kind of frenetic, ever-expanding hopscotch. On the spot.
L: The diversity of material
should appeal as much to the folk world as well as to the jazz world? The songs
are so descriptive of the people and places portrayed.
GH: Isn't it funny
how we are still obsessed with genre? Almost as if it’s an ethnicity, or an old
school tie. My songs are inspired – as
you so rightly point out – by people and places. I’m a story magpie, and as I
wrote most of the album whilst staying on the Suffolk coast, many of the sonic
and lyrical ideas are thieved from my time there – the chattering of fisherman,
the cry of the gulls, a chance encounter with a beachcomber… This emphasis on narrative in song is
certainly present in the folk tradition.
And having jazz musicians in my band – access to that wonderful
improvisatory dialogue between players - certainly informs the sound. In “The Sea Cabinet” there are elements of
shanty and bubblegum pop and barbershop music hall… but really it’s the
magically diverse language of the sea and the coast that we’re exploring. And I hope anyone can be transported to Mrs
Wittering’s faded seaside hotel or be seduced by Lorelei’s moans… no matter
what “tie” they may be wearing.
L: Will you be using a choir at Sage Gateshead as you did at Wilton
GH: We have a very
special Pirate Chorus from Burnside
College
L: Do you see your future as composing and singing your own material or
will you still dip into the Songbook?
GH: The short answer
is yes. In terms of album output, since
Bittersweet and Blue was released 8 years ago, there have been 3 Herbert
records with only one cover between them - David Bowie’s “Rock and Roll
Suicide” – and in fact it’s only very recently that I’ve allowed myself to fall
in love with jazz again. Not that I ever
fell out of love with it, just that I was busy investigating and making and
playing and falling in love with other things. I loved singing the beautiful
songs of Peggy Lee, and later this year am continuing my association with the
wonderful “Café Society” project, exploring the songs and stories of the
legendary Greenwich Village Club of the same name. I am sure that jazz and the Songbook will
continue to be a part of what I do.
L:. You attended Durham University
GH: Every time the
Cathedral looms large and beautiful into view, I get all misty-eyed out of the
train window. I made my strongest
friendships and spent some of my most wonderful years here – playing with
Brancepeth trio as “Gwynnie and the Pacemakers”, cutting my teeth with
guitarist Will Rutter at Durham cafes and Newcastle
L: Finally, you were part of the Take 5 development scheme. Has this been of great value to you?
GH: It certainly
has. As part of the scheme, we had
access to inspiring people from all areas of the industry who encouraged us as
independent artists to think creatively about
the business aspects of our career, rather than seeing the elements as mutually
exclusive. I found the whole thing
experience empowering. And I also met a
bunch of incredible musicians, got an insight into their very different
approaches to artistic process, and made some wicked music together… look out
for various collaborations hitting the stages in the next couple of years!
L: Thank you Gwyneth - I'm very much looking forward to tonight's concert.
Tonight's performance by Gwyneth Herbert of The Sea Cabinet is at 8pm in Hall Two, Sage Gateshead. £16.50. Tel 0191 4434661.
Tonight's performance by Gwyneth Herbert of The Sea Cabinet is at 8pm in Hall Two, Sage Gateshead. £16.50. Tel 0191 4434661.
2 comments :
Good stuff. We were at Durham Uni together. She was fantastic back then and has gone from strength to strength since!
smart lady! a good interview Lance.. well done!
Liz
Post a Comment