53 f 9
Bach come armed with a second album comprised of original songs, bar one which they own the recording and publishing rights to, courtesy of Arts Council of Wales funding. They could be looking for possible licensing deals as well as live work.
Hard-selling your own act is a tough call for most musicians, so letting the music do the work, while only part of the story, has to be the main focus – a 45-minute window of opportunity. Martin ponders this: “If you think about the fact that you’re playing in front of all of these people in the industry – people that could do something for you – it’s too much. The temptation might be to do something special or different, but really you just need to do what you do. Play your songs, not the gig.”
The songs that 9Bach bring to the stage layer sparse instru- mentation and languid grooves to convey the darkness and drama and beauty of the mountain landscape that surrounds them, and the stories of the lives lived out there. Lisa Jên Brown sings in her mother tongue.
She considers: “If you are singing in a minority language,
from a Womex perspec tive you have to catch an eye. Look at Dub Colossus… I don’t understand what they’re singing about, but that voice! Who sings like that? It’s amazing! There has to be something about it. There has to be something about you that draws attention in.”
Lisa’s voice has an immediate appeal: it is beautifully elegiac. She draws focus in to the heart of the song. She recalls a natural (and unconscious) immersion in song and story engendered by a Welsh-speaking upbringing, as well as the deep connection to her landscape that inspires her songwriting.
“It’s everything to me, where I am. I feel connected with Bethesda, my home, my ground. It’s embedded in my storytelling in 9Bach. I can’t say I’m an expert on traditional Welsh music, but I’m so drawn to the feel of the stories… not the rhythm or the technical aspects of singing, or the pace. In 9Bach we don’t want to drown the story with endless instrumentation. We strip it back to its core; the grooves let it breathe. Because I’m an actor as well, when I’m on stage I become that character in the song. I come off stage exhausted because I’ve lived it!”
Showcase novices Emily Portman Trio, featured on the official showcase programme, come to the event with ears and eyes open for inspiration.
Emily reflects: “I feel that nowadays we all have more oppor- tunity than ever to be influenced and inspired by music from all over the world. It seems that Womex can help to define our unique musical identities… and blur the boundaries too! The music I’m making draws from ballads and folklore of the UK, but there are so many other influences… and after Womex I’m sure my head will be swimming with more inspiration.”
Tending the flame of tradition, Emily creates some of the most interesting new music borne out of English folk traditions. Her own dark imaginings and urban fairy tales are clad in deceptively charming clothes. “It is a real privilege to be part of a such a presti- gious event, especially as a songwriter within the English folk scene. I think it shows how people value writing as part of creating new traditions. Original song is an important part of a tradition going forward.”
Building on the impact of her second album, Hatchling, the title track of which won her a BBC Folk Award for her original songwriting earlier this year, the trio will be looking to widen their touring options at Womex.
Lau “I would be
excited for my music to reach further than it does at the moment. We are currently very UK-based, that’s where we have a growing audi- ence. I’m hopeful about different people picking up on the music, hearing it and appreciating it. It’s brilliant to feel that British music can happi- ly rub shoulders amongst other world musics.” F
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92