Sarah Williams White
In the midst of releasing her new Double A-side single Hide The Cracks/Charlie, Sarah Williams White took the time to answer our questions.
-Are you pleased with how Hide The Cracks has come together as an EP?
Hey Female First! Yeah really pleased cheers! ‘Hide The Cracks’ I produced with Andy Spence of New Young Pony Club, and the roots of ‘Charlie’ I recorded in a couple of takes with drummer Timmy Rickard, and then there’s the remix by Phaeleh.
So they’ve all been produced in quite different settings, but still I think they actually piece together pretty good. Maybe it’s 'cause of my dark mood brooding over it all!
-Where do you draw on for your inspiration?
Wow I draw it from everywhere really. Obviously I’m hugely inspired by other musicians and artists, like Erykha Badu, Fiona Apple, Prince, Jamie Lidell, The Roots, PJ Harvey to name a few… But the stories and emotions I want to express lyrically are just inspired by daily life and personal experience mainly, people I know or meet, and my relationships.
Or just now a really moving drama about two women's struggle with IVF has sparked some new ideas too… Whatever goes basically.
-Were you pleased to have Phaeleh provided the remix on the single?
Definitely! Love it. My band and I have even adopted some of that dirty bassline style into our live version.
I’m still holding out on a couple more remixes too including one from my big bro Paul White, a UK forerunner of the ‘beats scene’ or instrumental hip hop. It's really exciting to hear how other artists interpret and re-work my songs, really love that.
-What was the reason behind releasing it as a double a-side?
Well it means you get more than the one single, which is just better for everyone.
-How has it been working with Minds on Fire?
Well Minds On Fire are just licensing the releases basically, so I get to use their sources but am still in charge. Mwah ha ha.
-You've received a lot of praise from the likes of Huw Stephens. Are you pleased with the reaction you've been getting?
Yeah it’s wicked, I’m really grateful for their support. Tom Robinson (Radio 6-music) after doing a feature on me on the show and they also invited me down to this songwriting weekend with a bunch of other new young songwriters including cocknbullkid and Vinyl Jaket, which was great fun. That’s where I actually started writing 'Hide The Cracks'.
-How does it feel to be compared to the likes of Florence + The Machine and Lily Allen?
I don’t mind. I’ve got respect for them both anyway, they’re doing their own thing. Personally I don’t hear it much, apart from using my own accent, but you’re always going to get compared to someone so it’s cool.
-What do you have planned for the rest of the year?
Another single yet to come, woop, and more creating in the studio mainly. Definitely more collaborations with Andy Spence, and Timmy Rickard.
But I’m also gagging to properly get out on the road, especially with my new live line up, so hopefully we’ll be seeing you in a town nearby soon!
Hide The Cracks/Charlie is available to buy on iTunes now. Head to hidethecracks.com for more information.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge