29 f “W
hat’s so fascinating about people like Dylan and Joni is that idea of con- sciously apprentic-
ing yourself. I’m not doing enough of that. Which is why it was so good doing this Purcell thing because it did feel like I was being an apprentice again.”
Ok, tell me about this Purcell thing. What is this Purcell thing?
“Well we’ve just done another live album, similar to the one we did before.”
‘We’ in this case is Olivia, Concerto Caledonia, Alasdair Roberts (who also appears on the EP we’re not talking about), Mairi Campbell and Jim Moray who, in 2010, worked together on a resi- dential project at Aldeburgh, combining early music with traditional song, resulting in a performance and album called, some- what crassly, Revenge Of The Folk Singers.
Moray, Chaney and the Concerto returned to Aldeburgh this March for Pur- cell’s Revenge, collaborating with Brooklyn- based songwriter Ana Silvera and distin- guished counter-tenor James Bowman.
“It’s a live concert recording made after a residency. It’s a mixture of Purcell songs reinterpreted (or not even that in some cases) and some original material. Very intense; very different musical minds. Different backgrounds, agendas and needs.”
But you still managed to complete an album in a matter of days. So how about making your own…
“It’s difficult. If someone knocked on the door after you left and said, ‘Here’s some money…’ Not even lots of money. ‘Here’s a studio and a piano and it’s really atmospheric and…’ I’m not asking for much! ‘Here’s a great mic… and you’ve got a week. And I’m giving you the engineer of your choice,’ then fine.
“So until or if that ever happens I’m going to keep saying yes to loads of bonkers projects that I love doing that keep me inspired and keep me busy. But it is very difficult to know. The EP I did all myself and it’s been a success, in the sense that it’s my way of saying ‘Yes. I’m here’. Again. Because I felt like I’d been saying no for a while.”
“Do I do that all again on a bigger scale? I have to have a bit of help. I am burning the candle at both ends, and it’s fun. I think it would be more fun if I had some practical help. In an ideal world I can do it all.”
Or could you continue to live your life relying on collaborative offers and oppor- tunities?
“Maybe I’m being naïve but I don’t think my problem is not being asked, I think the problem is going to be what to say yes and no to. I play lots of different instruments, lots of different styles and I’m quite a ‘yes’ person so of course I’m going to get asked. But I think over the next few years it’s going to be that I have to say no because I’m making my album that month. I hope that happens very soon.”
“Whatever happens I do really want to make it this summer. But right now I don’t know who with or how.”
The performance of Olivia’s I’ve lis- tened to most while putting these words in order is her cover of Amy Winehouse’s He Can Only Hold Her, recorded with The Balearic Folk Orchestra for a Q magazine covermount CD. In melody, arrangement and mood, this version could be an entire- ly different song from Amy’s skipping ska breeze. And yet it cuts right to the com- plex heartache its author went through to write it. Because of her voice.
I think back to something she said midway through the interview: “If some- one asks me to play on something I can probably do it.” It was the answer to an
Olivia Compiled
Until she makes that album, there are some great tracks that you can current- ly find out there. In this issue’s spirit of DIY, here’s your very own Olivia Chaney compilation kit!
Olivia Chaney EP (5 tracks) from
www.oliviachaney.net
Concerto Caledonia & Guests: Revenge Of The Folksingers (Delphian). Olivia sings lead on 4 tracks and shares vocals on others including 4 duets with Alasdair Roberts.
Various Artists: Oak Ash Thorn (Folk Police). Olivia sings The Brook- land Road.
The Woodbine & Ivy Band (Folk Police). Olivia sings Poor Murdered Woman.
Various Artists: Looking For A
New England (fRoots). Olivia sings Some Rival.
Olivia’s Soundcloud page. 9 songs to hear:
http://soundcloud.com/ oliviachaney
Olivia’s YouTube channel: 18 videos to watch.
youtube.com/channel/ UCw15JgLPgcZ__zhi4Kk75SA
unasked, half-joking question in my head – is there anything she can’t do? The other answer is yes, she can’t make a sodding album. Or more optimistically, hasn’t yet.
Could it be that unhindered ability might not be conducive to single-minded creativity? That there might, in the case of art, be such a thing as too much freedom? Time will tell. Which is of course a polite and philosophical way of saying: get on with it. Those stories won’t tell themselves.
www.oliviachaney.net F
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