There is a great amount of romanticism
about making music. Whether you have the luxury of a fully built-out state of
the art studio or you’re at your kitchen table with a laptop and an inexpensive editing
suite.
If you’re doing it on your own and without
meddling hands or friendly, but unwanted, ‘advice’, the experience can be even
greater, if not daunting. If you are traveling this route then you know the
struggles and rewards of being a DIY artist.
Out of South London comes such a music
maker going by the longstanding moniker Strobegirl. Beautifully voiced with matching lyrics and making sounds ranging from
folk, indie-pop/rock and retro flavored synth coolness and it’s all 100% DIY. This
is an artist who also reacts, supports and helps nurture other ‘indies’ through
social media and her surrounding scene. That is something to dig on.
You're from the South London or at least
based. How did you get started with your music?
Yes I'm from Croydon which is south of
London. My Uncle who was a jazz musician bought me my first guitar when I
was 18 and it started from there! I plodded along but I was first able to get
my music out there more with the advent of social networking and the indie
artist revolution. There are so many tools available to indie artists now that
there weren't when I first started out.
How did you get the discoey name
Strobegirl?
Because when I was a girl I was always
first on and last off the dance floor! I'm more of a woman now but ‘Strobewoman’
doesn’t sound as good. I bet she would make an awesome super hero though!
There
are a ton of big name artists from the Croydon area. Any of them play a part in
your diverse range?
LOADS of great artists come from the
South London area. Incidentally Croydon played a huge part in the birth of
dub…but I digress! There wasn't
really any big names locally , more like other indie artists like myself and
producers that really encouraged me to keep going.
They played a big part in what I do now.
They played a big part in what I do now.
You are clearly all out DIY, what
struggles do you have as an indie artist?
To put it
simply my main struggles are lack of time and money…and it gets lonely!
To
elaborate you have to be your own manager, promoter, booker, negotiator, and
also work maybe outside the music world to fund your music. All this on top of practicing,
writing and actually recording your material. I like to do my own mixing so I
work a lot on the production side of music as well now.
You worked with
engineer/producer Roger Fife on The
Strawberry Sessions, what’s the story there?
Well
this is way before I had my own studio set up. I was looking for a producer for
my first EP at the same time he was looking for new projects. I saw his ad, got
in touch. He had just finished working with Cyndi Lauper who is a bit of a hero
of mine in New York so that was cool. We
met up and he liked my demo so arranged to work together.
The
cost of producers and studio time is really restrictive though for an indie
artist. I saved and worked for over a
year to fund the production of this ep.
I'm very happy with the EP and learnt a lot from the experience. But
decided to use my future funds to set up my own studio which is now where I am
based.
You also work with other
indie artists, tell me all the details.
Well
I obviously meet a lot of other indie musicians through doing what I do.
Sometimes something clicks and you both say hey we gotta do a project together
and then you do.
Your sounds range from folk-ish singer-songwriter to throwback
synth-pop, where are you more comfortable?
I'm
really comfortable spanning the genres! My first love is folk. Joni Mitchell
and Cat Stevens were the first LPs I ever listened to. But equally I have been
hugely influenced by synth electro acts such as Depeche Mode, as well as punk
acts like Siouxsie and The Banshees, rock bands like QOTSA and Muse and I also
love a bit of Shoegaze dreamy pop too!
You do a good amount of
covers. Is that to show further range or is it just a fun thing to do?
Purely
for fun, I like to try and put my spin on things. Also sometimes I like to
cover songs that have meant something to me in my life.
You also have a keen
sense of humor as well. In "Lonely Like Me", one of your best
vocal deliverers, you say I'm not an emo girl but I think I
could be" in an almost sarcastic & sunny
way reminiscent of 60s era California pop. Do you enjoy the lighter
side of writing?
I
never really looked at that as being humorous before; I guess it was a tongue
in cheek line though looking back on it now. Yes I do have to rein my comedic
side in ha ha. If I get bored of music maybe I'll try some stand up!
You give a lot of love
and support to other artists on social media, that's very kind.
Why
thank you, I guess I'm just a nice person!! All us indies should stick together
and try and support each other.
I haven't seen you live,
tell me what your shows are like.
At
the moment I don't have a band. So it's just me and a guitar! I like to get a
bit of banter in there and generally entertain.....it's the stand-up comedian
in me again!
Who would you most like
to collaborate with?
Either Josh
Homme (QOTSA) or will.i.am! I know contrasts eh! I think they are both amazing
producers. If I had to pick I would go
with Will, I think he is an incredibly imaginative inspiring human being.
Almost visionary in his outlook. I think
his style is completely different from anything I have done so I would love to
work with him.
What do you with yourself away from
music?
When I'm
not making music. I spend a lot of time with and on my family. I have 3
amazing, creative older children. I also
teach art, craft and jewelry making workshops. I paint and make jewelry and
other fun stuff which I sell at craft events.
I am also studying sound production.
What the most important
thing the world needs to know about Strobegirl?
You
need to know where my music is and check it out!
What's next for you? New
album, new band, live dates...
Yes I need a band! Also I am working on a new ep and some hush hush collaborations.
Yes I need a band! Also I am working on a new ep and some hush hush collaborations.
In a battle of the
bands: ABBA vs. Siouxsie & The Banshees
The
strobe loving dancing queen in me adores ABBA but Siouxsie has been a huge
influence on me so I would have to go Siouxsie!
Thank you for the chat
and stay in-touch!
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