![[The great] Rachael Dunn Interview](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/5/2/7/8/racheldunn.jpg)
" Most of the songs tend to be about relationships, interactions with people."
Sometimes strange things can happen in life. Last year she was sparkling in the kitchen most of her time, this year her voice is coming out of the speakers in many living rooms, from the United States to France. And next year? Glastonbury of course. A conversation with Rachael Dunn, one of the most outstanding female singers from the acoustic music scene in Liverpool.
[altsounds] How did it all get started?
My first actual gig was last April (2008) at the Mocca Lounge.My children are growing up fast and all at school. So I started the Myspace page in 0ctober 2007 and put up a couple of home recordings to gauge a reaction.I was amazed of the feedback, so I carried on. The first gig I was scared, I wasn’t in a real band (before), it was more like a hobby. The second gig was for Oxfam, a charity gig. Then I was asked to do a local festival. At the same time radio stations around the world played my songs. It’s really surprising, I suppose.
[altsounds] What is your music about?
Most of the songs tend to be about relationships, interactions with people. In a way, it’s a personal diary of things that have happened. It’s quite emotional, very reflective. Some of my songs are quite…I don’t want to say the word dark…I would use ‘moody’. Maybe a little bit sarcastic. It’s like little stories, like narratives, just how I feel about situations.
It’s vulnerability, a sharing, but I don’t feel uncomfortable about it. I’m really into melody, harmony; I like things to be beautiful.
[altsounds] You seem to like every kind of music. (A small part of her list of influences: Clannad, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Travis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse, Greenday, Ash, Turin Brakes, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Vangelis, Aha, R.E.M., Enigma, Kate Bush, Loreena McKennett, the Cure, Japan, John Foxx en David Sylvian)
So why do you play this particular style?
I suppose it comes very naturally, almost accidentally. Again, it’s very much like expressing, it’s spontaneous. When you’re writing it’s not one style, it’s the way I sing, the way I play…
Obviously I’ve been inspired from life experiences. Maybe art as nature. Someone said he could hear the ocean in my voice. That was a poet. It was a very nice thing to say. It just comes naturally, I don’t try to sound like someone else, I just do it. I don’t think about it. I just don’t like too much pretentiousness.
[altsounds] Which one is your favourite song and which one is your most popular?
Give me a minute to think about that. I’ve got so many songs. I suppose (deep, deep thought) I think I have to say my new song ‘Hang in Time’, it’s a reflection of my indecisiveness. In the end it’s only you, you can’t ask people to do it for you. It’s my favourite at the moment. And it’s got a beautiful melody. I like things to be beautiful. Maybe not to look beautiful, but feeling it.
My most popular song is ‘Out in the Storm’ – it’s the one where everyone says ‘I like that one’. I give a lot of emotions and it’s got a nice tempo.
[altsounds] What is the scene like in Liverpool?
It’s a very amazing acoustic scene. It’s very folk…there are a lot of folk musicians definitely. There are things for everyone – they (the venues) try to do all different styles for everyone. The only shortage is female, it’s man dominated.
[altsounds] How do you get on stage? Do you ask venues to play there or are you invited?
I was approached to do this and I said yes. I suppose a lot of artists have agents, but to me…they just ask me. Next year I might be more pro-active and get some more gigs. I suppose I got the perfect set.
[altsounds] What do you like about playing live?
It’s exciting, but it’s scary at the same time. It’s a personal thing, it’s all yours. It helps my development, I can build on my confidence, Each time I do it slightly different, I find new angles. Actually I’m still finding my voice, it’s getting better every time, the things I can do with my voice.
[altsounds] What is the reception of the audience been like until so far?
It’s been really positive, I’ve never had a bad reception. I tend to think people are quite surprised.
[altsounds] Describe your dream show.
Glastonbury (laughs). I would like to be appreciated, for the time and effort I put in. But no real dreams…it’s just to see what happens, I suppose.
[altsounds] According to your Myspace page you get a lot of attention on the radio, even in America. How do they find you?
Again, just on Myspace. They send a message that they like it. Also through the Myspace page liverpoolbandsfriends, one of my tracks was picked up there. I’m also on a Top 40 Charts of an Irish radio station.
I’m playing live (at radio stations), I’m also part of a festival…it’s only Prescott, but still…it does feel weird. Like France…it’s only one station, but it’s still incredible.
[altsounds] So what’s life like now you’ve been ‘discovered’?
It’s really hectic, lots of routine, lots of domestic things going on. I absolutely love my children. It’s a very big inspiration as well, they’re my audience at home. They’re really honest about my music. I know when they say it, they mean it.
[altsounds] And what about a work career or study?
I’ve been to Art College. I’ve studied art to degree level and have studied illustration and digital arts. I’m creative in so many different ways but music is taking over at the moment, which I’m happy with.
[altsounds] Did you do creative things as a kid?
I was always drawing pictures, from the age of seven. It’s kind of in the family. My brother, my sister, my dad is very creative, he taught me to play the guitar. He’s playing Buddy Holly, Elvis, country & western, he could play anything. My mum is creative too, she’s in design. It’s a creative family.
[altsounds] What music did you grow up with?
When I was 14 (1988), dance music started. But I wasn’t really into that. I listened to the Cure, Japan, John Fox (Ultravox). I absolutely like Kate Bush. Bands like the Clannad. I was stunned by her (Máire Ní Bhraonáin) voice, she was really an inspiration. I was heavily into rock ‘n roll...Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Dion and the Belmonts...all these harmony groups.
[altsounds] Were you the alto of the group then?
Definitely. I still am. I was alternative, very rebellious in the way I dressed. It’s like...I just did what I wanted to do. I didn’t follow the crowd. I just tailored my own interests. I didn’t care (about the rest). At the time it was all house music and I wasn’t into that, still not. Some people tried to be different on purpose, but it came naturally to me. Because I got a creative family.
[altsounds] What did you want to do for a living back then?
I really liked history when I was younger. I wanted to be archaeologist, but I ended up being an artist. But I still like history, I’ve got an obsession with castles. It captured my imagination, I suppose.
[altsounds] Do you regret that you don’t have a regular paid job?
(for the record; she’s a freelance illustrator every now and then)
No, I really love my children. I get a lot from them. It’s hard work and you don’t get a lot of time for music, the time is limited so you got to make the most of it.
[altsounds] You recorded a demo with producer Alex Dunford. How did that happen?
I’ve been collaborating with Alex Dunford who I met online through Myspace. Alex was looking to work on an electro/folk inspired project and I thought this was something I would like to do as I have been primarily working alone. Alex produced one of my tracks 'Out in the Storm' and really brought out the beauty and feeling within the song, so we plan to write together and eventually do some live performances.
[altsounds] And the future. What will be your next step?
At some point I may be releasing an EP, but more acoustic based.
[altsounds] Do you want to become a fulltime musician?
Definitely, that’s what I’m aiming for, trying to make a living out of it. It’s (already) more than a hobby now, because I’m sharing it with other people. I want to do more live gigs. Who knows how it’s gonna go from there. I also want to be in a position where I can record an album. And then Glastonbury.
[altsounds] How did it all get started?
My first actual gig was last April (2008) at the Mocca Lounge.My children are growing up fast and all at school. So I started the Myspace page in 0ctober 2007 and put up a couple of home recordings to gauge a reaction.I was amazed of the feedback, so I carried on. The first gig I was scared, I wasn’t in a real band (before), it was more like a hobby. The second gig was for Oxfam, a charity gig. Then I was asked to do a local festival. At the same time radio stations around the world played my songs. It’s really surprising, I suppose.
[altsounds] What is your music about?
Most of the songs tend to be about relationships, interactions with people. In a way, it’s a personal diary of things that have happened. It’s quite emotional, very reflective. Some of my songs are quite…I don’t want to say the word dark…I would use ‘moody’. Maybe a little bit sarcastic. It’s like little stories, like narratives, just how I feel about situations.
It’s vulnerability, a sharing, but I don’t feel uncomfortable about it. I’m really into melody, harmony; I like things to be beautiful.
[altsounds] You seem to like every kind of music. (A small part of her list of influences: Clannad, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Travis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Muse, Greenday, Ash, Turin Brakes, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Vangelis, Aha, R.E.M., Enigma, Kate Bush, Loreena McKennett, the Cure, Japan, John Foxx en David Sylvian)
So why do you play this particular style?
I suppose it comes very naturally, almost accidentally. Again, it’s very much like expressing, it’s spontaneous. When you’re writing it’s not one style, it’s the way I sing, the way I play…
Obviously I’ve been inspired from life experiences. Maybe art as nature. Someone said he could hear the ocean in my voice. That was a poet. It was a very nice thing to say. It just comes naturally, I don’t try to sound like someone else, I just do it. I don’t think about it. I just don’t like too much pretentiousness.
[altsounds] Which one is your favourite song and which one is your most popular?
Give me a minute to think about that. I’ve got so many songs. I suppose (deep, deep thought) I think I have to say my new song ‘Hang in Time’, it’s a reflection of my indecisiveness. In the end it’s only you, you can’t ask people to do it for you. It’s my favourite at the moment. And it’s got a beautiful melody. I like things to be beautiful. Maybe not to look beautiful, but feeling it.
My most popular song is ‘Out in the Storm’ – it’s the one where everyone says ‘I like that one’. I give a lot of emotions and it’s got a nice tempo.
[altsounds] What is the scene like in Liverpool?
It’s a very amazing acoustic scene. It’s very folk…there are a lot of folk musicians definitely. There are things for everyone – they (the venues) try to do all different styles for everyone. The only shortage is female, it’s man dominated.
[altsounds] How do you get on stage? Do you ask venues to play there or are you invited?
I was approached to do this and I said yes. I suppose a lot of artists have agents, but to me…they just ask me. Next year I might be more pro-active and get some more gigs. I suppose I got the perfect set.
[altsounds] What do you like about playing live?
It’s exciting, but it’s scary at the same time. It’s a personal thing, it’s all yours. It helps my development, I can build on my confidence, Each time I do it slightly different, I find new angles. Actually I’m still finding my voice, it’s getting better every time, the things I can do with my voice.
[altsounds] What is the reception of the audience been like until so far?
It’s been really positive, I’ve never had a bad reception. I tend to think people are quite surprised.
[altsounds] Describe your dream show.
Glastonbury (laughs). I would like to be appreciated, for the time and effort I put in. But no real dreams…it’s just to see what happens, I suppose.
[altsounds] According to your Myspace page you get a lot of attention on the radio, even in America. How do they find you?
Again, just on Myspace. They send a message that they like it. Also through the Myspace page liverpoolbandsfriends, one of my tracks was picked up there. I’m also on a Top 40 Charts of an Irish radio station.
I’m playing live (at radio stations), I’m also part of a festival…it’s only Prescott, but still…it does feel weird. Like France…it’s only one station, but it’s still incredible.
[altsounds] So what’s life like now you’ve been ‘discovered’?
It’s really hectic, lots of routine, lots of domestic things going on. I absolutely love my children. It’s a very big inspiration as well, they’re my audience at home. They’re really honest about my music. I know when they say it, they mean it.
[altsounds] And what about a work career or study?
I’ve been to Art College. I’ve studied art to degree level and have studied illustration and digital arts. I’m creative in so many different ways but music is taking over at the moment, which I’m happy with.
[altsounds] Did you do creative things as a kid?
I was always drawing pictures, from the age of seven. It’s kind of in the family. My brother, my sister, my dad is very creative, he taught me to play the guitar. He’s playing Buddy Holly, Elvis, country & western, he could play anything. My mum is creative too, she’s in design. It’s a creative family.
[altsounds] What music did you grow up with?
When I was 14 (1988), dance music started. But I wasn’t really into that. I listened to the Cure, Japan, John Fox (Ultravox). I absolutely like Kate Bush. Bands like the Clannad. I was stunned by her (Máire Ní Bhraonáin) voice, she was really an inspiration. I was heavily into rock ‘n roll...Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Dion and the Belmonts...all these harmony groups.
[altsounds] Were you the alto of the group then?
Definitely. I still am. I was alternative, very rebellious in the way I dressed. It’s like...I just did what I wanted to do. I didn’t follow the crowd. I just tailored my own interests. I didn’t care (about the rest). At the time it was all house music and I wasn’t into that, still not. Some people tried to be different on purpose, but it came naturally to me. Because I got a creative family.
[altsounds] What did you want to do for a living back then?
I really liked history when I was younger. I wanted to be archaeologist, but I ended up being an artist. But I still like history, I’ve got an obsession with castles. It captured my imagination, I suppose.
[altsounds] Do you regret that you don’t have a regular paid job?
(for the record; she’s a freelance illustrator every now and then)
No, I really love my children. I get a lot from them. It’s hard work and you don’t get a lot of time for music, the time is limited so you got to make the most of it.
[altsounds] You recorded a demo with producer Alex Dunford. How did that happen?
I’ve been collaborating with Alex Dunford who I met online through Myspace. Alex was looking to work on an electro/folk inspired project and I thought this was something I would like to do as I have been primarily working alone. Alex produced one of my tracks 'Out in the Storm' and really brought out the beauty and feeling within the song, so we plan to write together and eventually do some live performances.
[altsounds] And the future. What will be your next step?
At some point I may be releasing an EP, but more acoustic based.
[altsounds] Do you want to become a fulltime musician?
Definitely, that’s what I’m aiming for, trying to make a living out of it. It’s (already) more than a hobby now, because I’m sharing it with other people. I want to do more live gigs. Who knows how it’s gonna go from there. I also want to be in a position where I can record an album. And then Glastonbury.
