The Cheek Of HerHas music always been a passion of yours?
I have always loved singing from a young age and listening to music, but didn't really know people playing in bands growing up which probably seems strange to hear! So it's not something I considered seriously, more like a 'dream' to be a singer one day that I put to one side to study to get a 'real job'.
I knew from a young age I was musical, but at school didn't really have the right outlet to express myself musically and creatively in the way that may have been more fitting for me, which is a shame in a way. It seemed like there was the Classical route and that was it - but I more than make up for it now!
When did you realise it was a career you'd like to pursue?
I had a non-classical singing lesson about 5 years ago for the first time, and from the off I was told that I am a singer and should write songs, get a band and gig. So I did! Didn't take much encouragement! I just needed that confirmation. From then on I've been hooked!
What are some of your earliest music-related memories?
Summers in Ireland singing along to traditional music in the car! Making radio mix-tapes cutting off the DJ talking before and after the track, discovering The Cranberries, Alanis Morissette, Skunk Anansie as a teenager and falling in love with rhymes and melodies.
How did you find the response from friends and family when you said this is what you wanted to do?
Those closest to me understood in a way, because they could see how driven and passionate I was. A stock response is that 'it's very hard and there's too many people doing it" etc., that is true, but you've got to try. I am totally in love with song writing on many different levels, and for me it's the ultimate form of self-expression.
I am sure some people look at me and think that I'm not successful because I'm not some CEO of a large company or something, but that's all subjective. I am fortunate enough to dedicate a lot of my time to music for now because I want to, making a decent living out of being an original artist is another thing...
Where do you draw influence or inspiration from as an artist?
Life generally... personal relationships and a dollop of my imagination thrown in for good measure! Sometimes it can be something as straight forward as a lovely chord progression that gives me a melody, and then I mumble, spurn off some words lucidly that end up forming a song. It really is as organic as that for me sometimes!
How difficult of an industry do you find the music business to be to break into?
It really depends what you want... there are the cliches like "It's who you know". "It's a bit of luck" etc., and yes I think that does have a lot to do with it, but that's not all. I think if you want to work in the industry that's one thing, but to be a performing artist in the industry is a completely different kettle of fish - yes that is hard, but again depends what your aims are.
Often as an artist you neglect looking at things from a business point of view, as you get so caught up in your art etc. I know that the music industry has changed and people aren't buying music like in the past, so that famous artists tend to derive their main income from live performance, brand partnerships and turning up at certain events.
I wouldn't say I have completely broken into the music business either to be honest, I'm just ploughing away on the fringe. I'm not aiming to be signed to a major label and turn myself into Lady Gaga either, but this year I will be looking at other avenues to make it sustainable as an Indie artist - which isn't easy.
Your new single is 'Guitar Muse' - what creative process went into making this track?
I just banged out some chords on the piano and started singing out lyrics about guitar players, so figured that would be the song's theme! It probably came together in separate parts in a week. Sometimes it takes an hour, other times a day, a week a month to finish a song, really depends. I have literally hundreds of snatched song section ideas and piano riffs recorded on my phone over the years!
When I have the song as a whole, run through and practiced a few times I usually record an acoustic version at home. I have got into the habit now of writing songs, and not really bothering to make a proper demo with drums, bass and piano and BVs unless I'm going into the studio so the producer I co-produce with can build on it straight away, or at least use it as a template for the final production.
I never really appreciate my lyrics until I listen to the song with fresh ears a few months on and I'm like, 'how did I do that? It's quite good and I didn't really put much thought into it!' That seems to work for me, don't try too hard - let it flow and be honest in your writing.
How important is it for you to be in creative control of the work you produce?
Super important. I'm a control freak when it comes to that aspect, but I don't think to the point where it hinders the work from being the best it could be as a reflection of my vision at least! I just like to keep sincere to the true meaning of the song and reflect that in the production too. If there is a new idea and it's clearly a good one thrown in the mix, I'm certainly not going to dismiss it either.
What do you think of the musical landscape today and current mainstream artists?
There are some good pop songs on the radio, which sometimes I don't know if I really actually like or it's just that they are played on rotation so frequently that I've been brainwashed!
Katy Perry's "Roar" is a perfect, fun, pop tune for me, but a lot of the stuff I hear I could take it or leave it. I think sometimes actual heartfelt emotion gets thrown out the window when some artists get big and perhaps it's just all about the 'money, money, money' as Ms. Jessie J. so eloquently puts it in another perfect pop tune.
I'll always have issues with the mainstream, and especially how women are depicted whether by choice or by persuasion, but I could write a book about that! I think especially in music things have become more looks focused than ever, and talent and voice are secondary or not important at all. I for one am so bored of it.
I'm not really into hipster cool stuff for the sake of it. I just really like a great melody and a sincere artist who sings from the heart.
What should we expect from you in the coming months?
There is a new lyric video which you should look out for, for one of the tracks from the album 'Adult Angst Anonymous' (2014) which is called 'Another Guy I Buried in the Woods' and coming out this month. It's more like a hand drawn music video frame by frame, which I am also excited to see! It's by Pedro Chaves of Dream Journey Studios. A preview is here:
I have an acoustic gig at The 100 Club on Oxford Street London on the 29th August and tickets are available on Big Cartel in advance: http://thecheekofher.bigcartel.com/product/the-cheek-of-her-at-the-100-club-friday-29th-august-2014
An upgraded The Cheek of Her website is also coming by the end of Summer 2014 too! You can check out all current info in the meantime though on the website: www.thecheekofher.com
Aside from that I am writing more music and already thinking about new concepts for a further release.
My dream is no longer to be a 'singer', it is to make a sustainable living from my art, just haven't quite figured that one out yet, but will try a little while longer. You've gotta try.