What was your childhood like, musically?
There was always music in the house. My dad always had the guitar and my mom had the voice. She taught me to sing without fear. I’ve always sung – and was in choir all through school. I didn’t learn to play the guitar until later on, when I moved away from home at 19.
Who are your heroes, musical and otherwise?
I love Sandy Denny’s voice – it is so pure and honest. Neil Young is a legend.
What music are you listening to and enjoying at the moment?
I have been enjoying many hits from Fleetwood Mac in the past few days – I got some new headphones (in Brighton!) and they really improve the sound of things.
How do you feel you evolved between “The Pirate’s Gospel” and “To Be Still?”
For me, it is mostly the passing of time that marks the difference between “The Pirate’s Gospel” and “To Be Still”. There were about five years between the two records, during which time, I was writing and becoming a bit more comfortable on the guitar. I had all these ideas for more instrumentation on the new record, and so we added all sorts of things in the studio. The difference in the sound of the records, is just what happened as I did more writing, living and singing.
Your music references California a great deal. Do you miss California?
California is my home. It is the land that I come from and its imagery tends to sink into my songs. I do miss it, but my hometown is the sort of place that will always welcome me back.
How long have you been singing with your backing vocalist Alina?. We loved you and her singing with just an acoustic guitar at the Brighton gig.
I met Alina Hardin when she was about 13. She’s the younger sister of my good friend Kate, who I went to school with. When she was about 18, she came up to my house and sang me a song she had written. I was so impressed by her song and her voice – and it was so unexpected. We became closer as she grew older and she toured America with me, singing in over 21 Bars when she was 19. She had to use her sister’s ID card to get into the gigs. It’s been a few years now since we’ve been singing & touring together. We actually have an EP coming out in September to be titled “Alela & Alina” that is just her & I with 2 acoustic guitars.
We’re big fans of your new short hair look…did it take a lot of guts to cut your hair short?
It was pretty terrifying! I’ve had short hair before, so I knew it could be done, but it wasn’t easy to actually do it. It was just time for a change and cutting off my hair was the only thing that could be done.
You’re booked to play the End of the Road Festival, our absolute favourite festival of the year. Are you looking forward to it?
I have heard only good things about the End of the Road Festival. I hear it is a good size and in a beautiful setting – so, I am looking forward to it!
How did you enjoy your stay in Brighton? Where did you have breakfast?
I think Brighton is lovely. I had a very satisfying breakfast of eggs on toast & a carrot, orange, ginger juice in one of those little brick lanes…
What’s it like touring with your dad?
It is very nice to tour with Dad. He is an extremely easy going guy & he keeps me grounded. He always has a positive outlook & that is a very good quality to have in the tour van. Also- he is a wonderful guitar player, and that doesn’t hurt!
