Louise Distras
Quickly becoming recognised as one of the most exciting and original female singer-songwriters on the scene, Wakefield musician Louise Distras chatted to us about her career.
So, how are you?
I’m pretty damn sweet thank you. How are you? I’d been toying with the idea of going solo because I was frustrated with the old cliché of the other band members not being on the same page as me. I got into Frank Turner and saw him live a couple of times and I thought to myself ‘Well if he can make that transition from Punk band to solo artist, so can I’, and that’s where it all started really. It was a hard transition to make, especially when you’re used to having a band behind you. Most of the critique you receive in a band is aimed at the band not you personally, and because of some pretty bad stuff that had happened in London I wasn’t feeling very confident within myself at all. So when I moved back to Wakefield I decided I was past caring and wrote the songs and made the EP for myself, just to get back into making music again. I did a tour in July and about halfway through I was invited to do a live session on BBC Raw Talent & Our House TV and it kinda just went upwards from there. I want to get my music out there to as many people as possible and as such I treat the whole of the UK as one big playground. There’s so much politics in and out of music at the moment with the recession affecting venues and fans not being able to support artists as much as they’d like to, and it seems like nowadays everybody is in a band so the towns are over saturated with bands and there’s a lot of vultures out there ripping musicians off with their Pay To Play scams. It’s tough times and things are going to get worse and I believe that now more than ever it’s important to take the D.I.Y. approach. Frank Turner inspired me loads in the fact that he made the transition from being in Million Dead to solo artist – and that’s about it. At the end of the day, I’m my own person and I have my own sound. I’m not trying to be the female Frank Turner or anything, but people will always compare me to him because we have similar roots. Just the same as when my hair is black they compare me to Brody Dalle and when it’s blonde they compare me to Courtney Love. It’s all good. Musically I’m into all sorts. I can quite happily sit and listen to bands like Glassjaw and then change over to The Tavares or ELO. I’m not very genre specific because I believe that it’s heart and passion that makes a great song regardless of what genre it’s from. As long as it’s not happy hardcore. To me it lacks substance and what little of it there is, is just so sugar coated…and y’know, it’s getting pretty old, pretty quick. I’d like to think I am the opposite to that. There’s new gigs and updates being added to my website all the time. I’m really looking forward to my single coming out at some point before Easter, putting out a new record in the Spring and getting back on the road again as well as playing the Yorkshire gigs.
Brilliant thanks. Last summer, you made the switch from a punk, band environment to solo folk singer. What prompted that?
Well prior to the switch, my band had split a few months earlier and I was devastated. I felt like my whole world had fallen apart. I was at a huge crossroads in all aspects of my life so I decided to move to London and I lived in Shoreditch for about 8 months and re-assessed my entire existence. It was through living there and drinking in The Flowerpot in Kentish Town that I was initially introduced to the whole Folk Punk scene.
How has the reaction been to your solo material?
To be completely honest I expected to get slated but all the press and feedback I’ve received about the EP has all been extremely positive, so I’m really, really happy about that.
Is it hard coming through in the Leeds music scene?
I love the Leeds Music Scene and there are some amazing musicians & promoters working hard to make it something special, but I don’t view any particular city as being 'better' or 'harder to crack' than anywhere else.
I think it’s kinda hard to break through in any city at the moment, no matter where you’re from.
There’s an incredible wealth of resources out there to help musicians get their music heard, and let’s face it – you don’t need to pay a so called promoter £200 to play at their venue when you can set up an acoustic gig in your own front room.
Your influences seem to be singer-songwriters from London, like Beans On Toast and Frank Turner. Are they the inspiration for this?
Whenever a band becomes known and a scene starts to revolve around them, there’s always a bunch of other bands that want to sound like them because they’ve felt inspired. In my case, my biggest influence was hearing Bleach by Nirvana at the age of 13. If I had never heard that album, I would have never even thought about picking up the guitar, and who knows how my life would’ve turned out?
Who else are you influenced by?
Naturally, it’s my story, background, politics and experiences that influence my lyrics.
If someone thought about checking you out, but needed convincing, how would you describe your sound?
Unpretentious, honest, anti – Ellie Goulding.
What sets you apart from other singer-songwriters?
There’s a million girls with Guitars out there, playing in venues all over the country every night of the week, trying to be the next Ellie Goulding or Eliza Doolittle. Singing ballads about boys and skinny jeans.
You’ve got a few shows already booked for this year. Do you prefer live shows, or writing and recording?
I don’t really have a preference to be honest. I love playing live just as much as I love sitting in my living room making demos. I get the same buzz in each environment.
Yesterday you announced that you’re now on board with Strummerville. Can you tell us a bit about what that means for your career?
In short, Strummerville are supporting me and helping me to get my music heard by providing me with exposure and opportunities that D.I.Y. musicians wouldn’t normally get for a whole bunch of reasons, whether it’s because you’re so broke you can’t even afford to pay the rent and eat, never mind cut a record and go on tour.
There’s a big community vibe and everyone supports one another which is a really important thing, especially for musicians like myself who have lacked a solid support network in the past. I’m really proud to be a part of it.
When did you find out you’d been invited?
Before Christmas, but I was so excited I didn’t even tell anyone for fear of jinxing myself. It’s an amazing opportunity and a great philosophy.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what 2011 brings, and getting more involved with Strummerville.
What is your dream, musically?
It’s the same as everyone else out there. I want to be able to make a living out of doing what I love so much. I live, breathe, eat and sleep music. I just can’t imagine doing anything else.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Quickly becoming recognised as one of the most exciting and original female singer-songwriters on the scene, Wakefield musician Louise Distras chatted to us about her career.
So, how are you?
I’m pretty damn sweet thank you. How are you? I’d been toying with the idea of going solo because I was frustrated with the old cliché of the other band members not being on the same page as me. I got into Frank Turner and saw him live a couple of times and I thought to myself ‘Well if he can make that transition from Punk band to solo artist, so can I’, and that’s where it all started really. It was a hard transition to make, especially when you’re used to having a band behind you. Most of the critique you receive in a band is aimed at the band not you personally, and because of some pretty bad stuff that had happened in London I wasn’t feeling very confident within myself at all. So when I moved back to Wakefield I decided I was past caring and wrote the songs and made the EP for myself, just to get back into making music again. I did a tour in July and about halfway through I was invited to do a live session on BBC Raw Talent & Our House TV and it kinda just went upwards from there. I want to get my music out there to as many people as possible and as such I treat the whole of the UK as one big playground. There’s so much politics in and out of music at the moment with the recession affecting venues and fans not being able to support artists as much as they’d like to, and it seems like nowadays everybody is in a band so the towns are over saturated with bands and there’s a lot of vultures out there ripping musicians off with their Pay To Play scams. It’s tough times and things are going to get worse and I believe that now more than ever it’s important to take the D.I.Y. approach. Frank Turner inspired me loads in the fact that he made the transition from being in Million Dead to solo artist – and that’s about it. At the end of the day, I’m my own person and I have my own sound. I’m not trying to be the female Frank Turner or anything, but people will always compare me to him because we have similar roots. Just the same as when my hair is black they compare me to Brody Dalle and when it’s blonde they compare me to Courtney Love. It’s all good. Musically I’m into all sorts. I can quite happily sit and listen to bands like Glassjaw and then change over to The Tavares or ELO. I’m not very genre specific because I believe that it’s heart and passion that makes a great song regardless of what genre it’s from. As long as it’s not happy hardcore. What sets you apart from other singer-songwriters?
Brilliant thanks. Last summer, you made the switch from a punk, band environment to solo folk singer. What prompted that?
Well prior to the switch, my band had split a few months earlier and I was devastated. I felt like my whole world had fallen apart. I was at a huge crossroads in all aspects of my life so I decided to move to London and I lived in Shoreditch for about 8 months and re-assessed my entire existence. It was through living there and drinking in The Flowerpot in Kentish Town that I was initially introduced to the whole Folk Punk scene.
How has the reaction been to your solo material?
To be completely honest I expected to get slated but all the press and feedback I’ve received about the EP has all been extremely positive, so I’m really, really happy about that.
Is it hard coming through in the Leeds music scene?
I love the Leeds Music Scene and there are some amazing musicians & promoters working hard to make it something special, but I don’t view any particular city as being 'better' or 'harder to crack' than anywhere else.
I think it’s kinda hard to break through in any city at the moment, no matter where you’re from.
There’s an incredible wealth of resources out there to help musicians get their music heard, and let’s face it – you don’t need to pay a so called promoter £200 to play at their venue when you can set up an acoustic gig in your own front room.
Your influences seem to be singer-songwriters from London, like Beans On Toast and Frank Turner. Are they the inspiration for this?
Whenever a band becomes known and a scene starts to revolve around them, there’s always a bunch of other bands that want to sound like them because they’ve felt inspired. In my case, my biggest influence was hearing Bleach by Nirvana at the age of 13. If I had never heard that album, I would have never even thought about picking up the guitar, and who knows how my life would’ve turned out?
Who else are you influenced by?
Naturally, it’s my story, background, politics and experiences that influence my lyrics.
If someone thought about checking you out, but needed convincing, how would you describe your sound?
Unpretentious, honest, anti – Ellie Goulding.
There’s a million girls with Guitars out there, playing in venues all over the country every night of the week, trying to be the next Ellie Goulding or Eliza Doolittle. Singing ballads about boys and skinny jeans.