Changing Horses release new EP and answer some Q&A
Changing Horses – ‘The Nashville Sessions’ released on Frairgate Records – June 11th
Changing Horses are British Indie-Folk duo Richard Birtill (vocals and guitar) and Francesca Cullen (vocals, violin, mandolin and melodeon). Stylistically taking influence from the psychedelic likes of The Incredible String Band, and the experimental art-punk of The Fall, theirs is a patchwork of off-kilter folk that has drawn in the plaudits from numerous sources. After holing up in a Nashville studio with session musician / producer Chris Donohue (Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris) the track ‘Cut All Strings’ featured on an HBO documentary and went on to pick up multiple plays on both the Steve Lamacq and Bob Harris BBC radio shows. Last year’s festival season also saw the band grace stages at Kendal Calling, Solfest,Brampton, Crawley Folk Festival and SO festival.
It’s on the live circuit the Changing Horses’ reputation has been built. The last few months have seen them perform as main support to the likes of Jeffrey Lewis, Pat Sansone (Wilco), Ade Edmondson and Adam Green. Captured here on The Nashville Sessions however, is a band vying for the unconventional, yet still maintaining core melodies. Flitting between the wistful (Cut All Strings), the fragile (One Million Screaming Angels) and the macabre (‘Till Death), when things do take a more popular twist, Birtill’s wrought vocals still punctuate Cullen’s neat string play. In turn, I Don’t Need It’s discordant opening phrasing soon makes way for a wave of anthemic guitars.
Deeply personal songwriting, tongue-in-cheek moments, macabre themes and innovative string playing make up Changing Horses’ The Nashville Sessions; a strong debut from a band that lives to draw the listener into their own lovesick universe.
Changing Horse Ric aka Richard and Chzz aka Francesca took time out to answer some questions:
1. How did the two of you come together?
We met in Preston and started jamming together. After a while we began working on a short set to take out on the local circuit and it evolved from there.
2. Where do you get your inspiration for your songs ?
Ric- It could be everything and anything from the most ignorable, drab routine to a conversation between two people I don’t know on the back of a bus. Even the sound of the bus itself could inspire a melody or a rhythm. Everything in my life filters into my writting, I analyse everthing maticulously.
3. You’ve supported quite a few artists now such as Jeffery Lewis and Ade Edmondson but to name a few, which has been your most memorable gig and why?
We have had a few great gigs so it’s hard to decide. We definately enjoy the smaller, more intimate gigs. We played a house concert in York last year to about 30 people which was really good fun. Another memorable gigs was when we played a folk festival and an audience member ran out because she was scared.
4. You are playing a few folk festivals this year, is there a festival you would really like to headline?
We’d love to headline Glastonbury.
5. Who is your Favourite Artist? And who would you love to work with?
Ric- Maralyn Manson
Chezz- Brian Eno
6. What do you think you’d be doing if you were not in your band?
Exactly what we are doing now. Working day jobs except we’d just be doing the day job.
7. What are some of your musical influences? Right now and growing up?
Musical influences growing up would be The Incredible String band, Kate Bush and bands like Slayer. Right now our influences are not necessarily new artists but we are listening to Crass- ‘Christ the Album’ and White Noise ‘Electrical Storm’ at the moment.
Thank Guys x
