Anna Murphy
Anna Murphy is a member of Eluveitie - massively successful Swedish metal band - and she's now released her first album of solo material.
We spoke to the star about her career and new music, as well as painting her own artwork.
You've already seen success in the music industry - in the metal genre - what was it that initially led to you going down that path?
It was kind of just a lucky coincidence - because I had started playing the Hurdy-Gurdy and then a friend of mine told me that the band - Eluveitie - is looking for a Hurdy-gurdist, and then I just didn't think a lot about it and I just asked them, and that was it.
What is it about music that you love?
Everything! Yeah.
You have now released your new album 'Cellar Darling' - tell us about the process you went through when you were creating this album.
Well I think the first couple of years when I started writing songs I didn't even know that there would be an album - I just decided that idea prior to the release, because I just had so many songs and I didn't know what to do with them, so I just decided to release an album under my name, and then things went pretty fast and I got some people together to record an album.
But the writing process is about three to four years.
Where do you find inspiration from for that writing?
From everywhere. Mostly bad things! I'm not inspired by happiness and flowers and all that crap. Rather the dark side of life, I guess - but anything, really.
How have you found the response to the album so far?
It's been very different but pretty positive I think. I was really surprised that so many fans supported me and actually liked the album, even though they're metalheads and all, so that was really surprising and very nice!
Well, here in Switzerland it's different - like, most people ignore it I guess, but it's probably just too weird music for them!
I feel that people understand it more in the UK so far, if I compare it from the reviews and everything.
This is your first album as a solo artist - how did you find that transition?
Well, the difference is it's all me, basically. That was very different - usually I'm just in a studio and I play something and I ask other people 'was that OK?', and this time it's me telling people what I want - that was pretty different.
You've also painted for the album - how different is this side of artistry?
It's actually the first time I've ever painted for the album. I just decided to do that because I didn't know which artwork - I didn't have any idea - and then I just started doodling around and just mixing up s**t with colours (laughs) and then I just found it quite fun - in a way - and then I just decided to do that spontaneously.
So do you think that's something you'll continue to do?
I think so - yeah. I really enjoy doing it. I mean, I can't draw or anything - I just do whatever comes to mind and it just turns out looking like it does (laughs), but yeah I think I'll do it in my free time, definitely.
How do you balance doing all your music with your personal life?
Well, my personal life is music really - it's everything about music as well - so I don't really have a life apart from music.
'Cellar Darling' is out now.