Bessie lives on a houseboat on the River Orwell in Suffolk. She’s been played on Radio One and BBC 6 Music and played Latitude this summer, all on the strength of her very first single, Big Sleep. Backed by a band filled with members of Dingus Khan and SuperGlu, as well as playing her guitar as a solo act, her voice is a delicate and tender force of nature, and her lyrics are bright and real. We spoke to the lovely Bessie ahead of her support slot at Open in October and discussed getting noticed by the industry and just why she writes.
38 / OCT-NOV 2017 /
OUTLINEONLINE.CO.UK
You self-funded your first single, Big Sleep, and put it out on your own label – how did you manage to get it noticed by the likes of BBC Radio and get yourself a slot at Latitude so early on? Gypsy magic, hard work and wonderful friendships got me to the stage I am today. Te song was shown to Richard Haugh of BBC Introducing in Suffolk before its release - he liked it a lot and agreed to play it on his show. From there on I can only assume that’s how it then was passed on to Radio One and BBC 6 Music. Te reception from the public was wild, more than anything I could have anticipated and the crazy wave of support continues. I think the combination of goodwill from all, radio plays so early on and a successful live session for BBC Introducing in Suffolk proved that I was doing something good and somehow prompted the guys at Introducing to choose me as one of their two acts to take to Lat- itude…I had the best day of my life. How would you describe your music, and what do you think sets you apart from other singer songwriters around at the mo- ment? I guess it’s moody, honest pop - every lyric I write is relevant to a place, situation or a person I’ve come across. I feel insanely lucky that I’ve been given the voice I have…. I get told it’s quite unique. I have always taken so much joy in geeking out over weird old music and art and literature, so maybe that comes through into my songs too. You’ve been working with Ben from SuperGlu – how did you meet and start working together? We met for the first time about five years ago when I was on the same bill as his first band Ideals. Our paths didn’t cross for some time after that and we became friends again after I’d drunkenly been to watch Dingus Khan (who he drums for too) play a show. About ten of us ended up back at his having a bit of a party and we’ve been best buds ever since.
He really is 100% the reason I’m doing music again. I lacked so much confidence in myself and he heard me sing a song one time and was like, right, that’s it, you’re back in the game. He’s a really great musician to work with, driven, super logical and efficient. Alright at drumming too! You’re from Suffolk, and live on a houseboat on the River Orwell. How does the place in which you live influence the music you make? It becomes such a central part of who you are. I was previously liv- ing in a flat in Ipswich that held so many ghosts and saw me in such bad places. I made some really great songs while I was there but I was so miserable and claustro- phobic, making music with people living through the wall to your north, south, east and west is quite difficult when you’d rather be a stranger and make zero noise to warn people of your existence. Living on a house boat is very free. Tere’s a river to my right and a forest to my left as I look through the windows. It has its downsides too - the winter can be a struggle if you’re not prepared for it, drying clothes, walking to a shop, all the little things you don’t notice you take for granted. What makes you want to write and perform music? My insecurities and my inner child. I think it’s so important to be able to have confidence in ex- pressing yourself, whether people listen or not is up to them but to have the balls to put yourself out there is the most fulfilling (and terrifying) thing. I have had some really awful bouts of illness and depression, seen loved ones go through horrible things and been at the wrong end of a volatile relationship. After a long hiatus of not being myself and writing and performing I’m proving to myself that I’m strong and I can do it.
LIZZ PAGE
Read this interview in full at
outlineonline.co.uk
Bessie Turner plays Open on October 6th, supporting Beth Rowley. Tickets available from
ueatickets.ticketabc.com
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
