Truly Ford
Truly Ford is one of the artists to watch out for this year and she has been whipping up a storm on the live circuit in London.
We caught up with her to chat about the tracks she has previewed on line, the upcoming EP and what lies ahead.
- You are being tipped as one of the artists to watch out for in 2013 so what are you up to at the moment?
I have got my tour around London, well a mini tour, so I am doing lots of gigs at the moment. I also have my EP Supernova coming out really soon and we are hoping that the first single is going to be called Tiger’s Eyes - it is going to be played on BBC Introducing in Oxford this weekend.
Next Thursday I have an interview with Oxford BBC and they are going to play Tiger’s Eyes, so that is exciting.
I am going to have a writing session with a member of the Faulkner family - I am not entirely sure who it is but I think it will be with Newton Faulkner’s sister. He is one of the people who inspired me to play guitar and so I was amazed when I found out.
I am also doing a recording session today where I am hoping to finish off a new song - I am hoping it will make the EP but we will have to see.
- You have mentioned Tiger’s Eye already and that and Help Me If I Fall are just two of the tracks that you have previewed online and they are very guitar driven with a folk elements but how would you describe your sound to people who are new to your music?
I am definitely folk driven as I am obsessed wit guitars and heavy drums. But I am inspired by a load of different artists including Lana Del Ray, Florence and the Machine, Lucy Rose, Tracy Chapman, Etta James and Laura Marling.
I am obsessed with Laura Marling and I would say that my music is very Laura Marling inspired. A lot of people say that I sound like Florence and the Machine when I sing and while I do see that I can also see the differences in the sound; I am much more folky with the guitars.
I have had a lot of blogs and things written and they have said ’she is the one who is up against Florence’ and I was like ’oh my god’ (laughs). So there is a folk and indie vibe to my music - that is the vibe that I am going for.
-- I was reading that you draw inspiration from the likes of Tracy Chapman and Laura Marling so what is it about these musicians in particular that inspires you?
When I was growing up my mum always listened to Tracy Chapman and Van Morrison so that was the soundtrack of my childhood.
I can just listen to Tracy Chapman for days and days and days because she is just incredible - if I could go on a tour I would love to tour with her. I have never tried to make my music sound like her but I have just taken inspiration from her.
I think that my guitar style comes from Laura Marling as I love the odd tunes, fiddly bits; her emphasis on the guitar is pretty amazing.
- As I have mentioned already you have previewed some tracks on line and you have been playing some gigs in and around London so how have you found the response to the songs so far?
It has been really good as I have a lot of really good feedback. People are really interested in it and have been like ‘I haven’t heard anything that this before’ so I am hoping that I am bringing something new to the music scene; but everyone hopes that.
When I play live a lot of people love Tiger’s Eyes because it is quite an upbeat song - even if it is just me on the guitar. There is another song called Black Dog and that is quite a nice one and a lot of people like it because it is down and quiet. A lot of people are saying that I am an engaging performer and that is nice.
- There is an EP around the corner so what can we expect from the tracks?
I am hoping that it will be something that will inspire people. The way I write songs the lyrics don’t really make sense and so you have to really listen to them over and over again to get into it.
I want my songs on the album to catch people’s attention and make people think about it. I am thinking about how to answer this question really well (laughs).
- Are we going to see the tracks go down a similar path to what we have heard from you already?
Yeah, they are all slightly different. There is one track on there called Gold and I don’t actually play guitar on it - it was just a little experiment of mine - and it is a little more upbeat and it has some piano in it. I am hoping that all my songs are slightly different so you have a different experience with each one.
Each song you listen to you get a different feeling from and I really like that because each sound is completely different and yet all the same - when you hear the record in full you will understand what I mean.
So one track will have more violins, one with have more piano, one will have more guitar and it all ties together nicely.
- This is your debut EP so what has been like getting into the studio and recording your own music?
It has been amazing (laughs). When you are on stage you get this buzz of playing live but when you are in the studio you get a whole other buzz - you get butterflies and you are just smiling the whole time.
Every song starts as an idea in your head but when you see that song grow it is incredibly. To know that you are going to release it and people are going to be able to hear it is the dream. It is all happening now.
- You signed to BGM in September of last year so how have you found working with the label - they do seem very excited about you?
They are very excited. At first I was just doing a few gigs and we were really just getting to know each other - originally it was just a six month contract but now we have gone for a full blown contract now.
It has all happened quite quickly really as in the last month I have finished recording all of the songs and got all of the gigs ready we have a video to shoot really soon and it is all going on the radio. I have also got a lot of festivals this year hopefully so that label is in talks.
- How did you get into music in the first place? How much is it something that you have always wanted to do?
I have always loved music. When I was seven or eight I went to see Phantom of the Opera in the West End, on the same day I also saw Mary Poppins, and from that point I was obsessed with opera singing - so that is when I really got into it.
I actually wanted to be an actress at first but when I was about ten I got a piano for Christmas and I started playing around and writing songs.
When I was about eleven or twelve when I started listening to Newton Faulkner ad Tracy Chapman - I had already been listening to them but I started appreciating music a lot more.
I would just be in my room singing and listening to music before I picked up a guitar at the age of twelve. I have always really been into it and I was determined to be good.
- Finally you have been playing some gigs around London but what other shows have you got on the horizon as the release of the EP draws close?
We are hoping to get some bigger venues - nothing is confirmed yet - but the shows that I am doing are in Camden; they are all great venues. It is all happening so quickly at the moment. I am also going to be on the radio next week and so that is going to be interesting.