appreciatingbeforeanyway; likeoutside greenspace. Christina:WearereallyluckyinNorwich becausewearesoclosetothe countrysideandtherearesomelovely walksbytheriver. I thinklockdownwas challenginginsomanywaysandmaking theadjustment fromspendingallour timetravellingtobeingathomewas quiteashockatfirst. Therearesomanygreatanimal charactersdottedamongst thetracks; weretheyinspiredbyreal life creaturesinyourlife? Alex:We’vegotacat; shelooksabit likea Greenlandshark. Christina: Iwishtheywere! Unfortunately,wearenotacquainted withbearsandwolvesandsharks.We arealwaysonthelookout for stories to inspireour songwriting. Whichanimal (notnecessarilyfrom thealbumjust thewholeanimal kingdomareeachofyoumost like andwhy? Alex: I likeanteaters, itwasmyfavourite stuffedanimalwhenIwas smaller. Christina:Somethingwoodlandythat likes tomakeburrowsandnestsand stockupfor thewinter.Maybeasquirrel? What iscurrentlyplayingonshufflein yourheadphones? Alex:ReallyenjoyingYeVagabonds -The Hare’sLament. It’s suchabeautiful album. I lovethestringtextures, space andhowsimpleit feels. Christina:Mari Joyce, JimmyAldridge andSidGoldsmith,HoneyandTheBear, This IsTheKit, I’mWithHer. Doyouhaveanall timemusicalhero? Ifso,whoandwhy? Alex: Idon’thaveone. Christina:No, I’mtooindecisivefor that. Therearecertainlyartistswhohave inspiredmysongwritingandplaying suchas JohnnyFlynn,GillianWelch, SarahWatkins,Mari Joyce,Ye Vagabonds. I thinklockdownhasmadetheworld appreciatelivemusicmoresothan ever,but formusiciansI imaginethis feelingis10fold.Whatareyoumost excitedabout forgettingbackon stage? Alex: It’skindofmixedtbh.Beinga musiciancansometimes feelvery undervaluedinthiscountry- the amountof timeswegetaskedifwehave


24 / JUNE-JULY 2021 / OUTLINEONLINE.CO.UK


Wearealways onthelookout for storiesto inspireoursong writing.”


a‘proper job’ itmakesmecrazy!! Ido lovebeingamusicianandhavingitas myprimaryfocusbut this lastyearhas definitelymademereassessmy priorities.Wewereplayingovera hundredofgigsayearearningjust enoughtokeepusgoing,payingfora housewespentverylittletimeinand withverylittleavailabletimefor friends andfamily.Thepandemichas forcedus todiversifyhowwemakealivingfrom musicandwewillbealotmoreselective intakingbookingsandplaceahigher valueonwhatwedo. Christina:Weareincrediblyluckyinthe folkworldtohavesuchasupportive networkofmusiciansandfans soI’m veryexitedtoreconnectwiththat community. Ican’twait toseeoldfriends we’vemadethroughoutouryearsof touringandhaveajamwithmusicians we’venot seenforoverayear. Doyouhaveanypre-showritualsor routines?Whathelpswiththenerves ifyouget them? Alex: Ifindhavingquiet spacebeforea showreallyhelpful - ifmyheadisbusy beforewegoonstageitcanmakethe performancemoredifficult. Christina:Nervesaretrickythingsand oſtensurpriseyouwhenyouleast expect it…it’sbest tobekindtoyourself andnotworryaboutmakingmistakes. We'vejusthadMentalHealth AwarenessweekinMay- isthere anythinginparticularthathelpsyou withyourmentalandemotional wellbeing? Alex:Beingpresentandpositive.When thingsarehardInoticemyself focusing moreonnegativethingsandbeing awareof thathas reallyhelped. Christina:Goingforawalkisgreat to clear theheadandallowingtimeto yourself is reallyimportant. Whichlocalpubareyoumostexcited tovisitnowthatweareallowedtogo outoutagaininourfinecity? Alex:WelovetheGeldestonLocks. It’s justbeensavedbythelocalcommunity fromtheinevitabledevelopment into ‘luxuryflats’ (etc)andit’s suchaunique


place.


What'sbeenyourgo-to entertainmentduringlockdown? Netflix?Puzzles?Bakingbanana bread? Alex:Makinganalbum!! (Yeahwe’ve beenwatchingNetflixinourpjs too) Areyouplayinganyfestivalsthis year? Christina:Wehaveahandfulof festivals thisyear…it’sbeenhardfororganisers to planaheadwiththecurrent situationso alotarere-bookingsornotgoingahead. Weareverypleasedtobeheadingto FolkEast inSuffolk.Wehavebeenevery yearandit’sour favourite. Itseemslike2021isgoingtobeyour yearguys; thealbumisgreat,you've hadsomefantasticreviewsand feedbackbothlocallyandnationally, doyoufeeloptimisticabout the future? Christina:Yes!This lastyearhasbeena realadjustmentandat times ithasbeen hardtoo, sowefeelgratefulwe’vebeen abletoplaymusictogetherandmake this record. It’s feltquiteoverwhelming howHunterhasbeenreceived;hearing itplayedon6MusicandRadio2and gettingreviewedinTheGuardianhas beenamazing!!We’rebothreallyproud of thisalbumandarelookingforwardto takingitoutontour.Wehaveabusy yearofconcertsalongwithanArts CouncilprojectwithJohnWardanda collaborationwithour friendsThe ShackletonTrio.


Words Kelly Page


Scanhereto read theinterview infull


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