Te Handsome Family, a duet between husband and wife, are a band who know how to vocalise our own humanity more than most other bands I can recollect. Tey are able to emote crushing heartbreak, make us recall deep sadness and the most human element – they manage to soak it all in humour, although like with most things, you have to want to find the laughs in things…
You’re playing in the Famous Spiegeltent, the beautifully constructed travelling arena; are you able to feel the performances past of a venue, and how do you think the show will feel in this nomadic wonder? Rennie: What a gorgeous place to play. I will try and hear the echoes of every clapping audience that has sat inside and even the ants that have crawled beneath it and paused in their work to remark on the rise of a beautiful harmony.
You’ve been described as having an “Unorganised live show” – with so much touring is there a danger that you may achieve an organized perfection?! R: I adhere to what the Navajos around our hometown believe: you should always leave one dancing maiden in your sand painting empty-handed even if all the others are holding ears of corn. Brett: I prefer to think we leave room for chance. Why see live music if it's completely premeditated?
To talk about your environment, your home is now in Albuquerque – do you take much from your environment, or is that hard with touring so much? R: I always take a turquoise ring with me to remind myself of the amazing blue skies of home. Also I could probably trade the ring for a scotch egg if things got rough.
Not to tie you down to one genre, but to look at a strong aspect of your music, country music has always been a strong vehicle for raw emotion – is this why you found your way into its arms? R: When you take songwriting seriously then you're going to have to take some time to consider, ‘Te Grand Tour’. B: Rennie's right. If you are serious about songwriting, this pursuit will inevitably lead you to Folk music and its older brother, Country. Also will lead to Tin Pan Alley and its older sister, Jazz.
Rennie, do you write based on your collective NORFOLK AND NORWICH FESTIVAL
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