Interview by Emily, We7 PR Guru
I managed to catch up with Lou on the phone briefly when she stepped out of rehearsals for a quick chat about the possibility of Lamb reforming, fishing her children out of the number 1 mud festival "Glastonbury" and of cause what her thoughts are on the digital music download world!

Originally from Manchester, England, Lou provided vocals and lyrics for the trip-hop band 'Lamb'. She went solo in 2006 releasing her debut solo album 'Beloved One' and has just released her 2nd solo album 'Bloom'.

"It feels good to have such amazing feed back about the second album, 'Bloom', when you produce an album it feels like you're in a vacuum, completely concealed in the songs and thinking only of how they are coming together. The next step is the feed back; I can't wait to see what response we get to the album, getting to the other side, receiving the feed back and reviews is always an interesting stage."

Interview

How is 'Bloom' different to your first album 'Beloved one'?
"I haven't made a conscious decision to make the second album different; the way it has been recorded is the same as Beloved one. All recordings are raw, natural, not messed with, no edits have been made, I feel that first takes are always the best way for me to make albums"

What do you think to digital downloads, how have they affected you as an artist?
"The whole industry has changed; as an artist I need to think on my feet, it's not as straight forward as making a record and selling it. I have made a living out of what I do for 12 years, but now any artist would be feeling unstable with the way things work. So many things in the UK are based on radio and one type of sound and if you're not in that sound you struggle as an artist. It's not so straight forward as it used to be any more."

Do all of your songs resemble a chapter in your life?
"It's normally a grain of what's happening in my life, I then add to that small grain other elements, so that listeners can relate to it too. If I was to open my diary and sing it word for word not everyone would be able to relate to it, but starting with that small grain of emotion that I have felt from something or someone and evolve it from there, it can create amazing songs that can reach out to a number of walks of life."

You were nominated for a Mercury award for your album 'Beloved One'- were you surprised?
"Yes, very, it was a very surreal moment for me; it certainly felt like quite an acknowledgement for my record. I suppose after being a part of a relatively successful (cult status at least) band (Lamb), I had some fears about how my solo debut would be received."

Does it take long to produce a track?
"No it's quite quick, I believe in going with my gut instinct, don't make it too complicated, it's acoustic/ live. I think if you keep practicing it gives the track a completely different feel"

Are there any plans for Lamb to reform?
"I'll never say never, I've had some amazing times with Lamb, touring was a fantastic experience".

How different is working solo to working with Andy?
"Completely different, Lamb was really dynamic; it took 2 years for us to produce an album because of all of the programming, compared to how tracks and albums are produced in my solo career. It would be quite mad to do a one of gig… maybe"

How do you feel about where you are now? Is there anything you have done that you regret?
"No never, I feel I'm where I am for a reason, I have been through some hard times over the past year but I have learned from that whatever happens it's relevant to me."

Do you have plans for touring in Europe and the US?
"I'm dying to return to US, I toured there with Lamb, it's totally different to the way UK music scene is though. UK has crap morels, again if you're not playing the sound that the majority of the people are into then your have no hope. The US has a verity of different radio station all catering different genres, Country radio, college radio. They do it so differently over there.

Bloom was also released in Oz at the same time as the UK, they are really thrilled to have music over there from the UK because they are so far away, we had a great response to what we do they've really warmed to us!"

You played at Glastonbury, how was that for you?
"The audience was amazing- Glastonbury has changed so much, one point in the weekend I did think to myself 'what am I doing?' I was fishing my children out of the mud, it was quite a crazy experience, but as soon as I went on stage I knew why I was there. Playing in the Green fields was just magical"

Do you have any advice that you would give to artists that are just starting out?
"If nothing else do what you do from the heart, it's a really hard industry but if you do what you do and touch people with your work then you're doing something right."

 

Read Lou Rhodes. Bloomsbury Theatre review