The rain gods had departed and we were blessed with a few golden rays of sunshine and it was at the green hills of Eridge Park at Black Deer Festival that I caught up with Brennen Leigh the shining light of country music all the way from Texas.
Brennen started coming to these British Isles in 2012 with Noel McKay and played a whole lot of rooms, folk clubs and listeners. Brennen loves the audience in England and how they appreciate the poetry in her lyrics.
With Brennen Leigh at Black Deer Festival. Photo: Nick Barber
In Scandinavia and Europe artists are treated as exotic creatures because you really have to be an acclaimed performer to tour over this side of the world so that fans will take an interest in your music.
‘Carole with an E’ by Brennen Leigh
Brennen explains the genesis of Wonder Women of Country the supergroup with Kelly Willis and Melissa Carper. Kelly got in contact with Brennen and Melissa and asked if they would want to play together, they said yes of course and the group was born! One of my favourite tracks on their recently released EP is ‘Another Broken Heart’ a song by Kelly Willis, Bruce Robinson and Monty Warden years ago and brought the song to the the rest of the group. It’s a classic 1940’s and 1950’s.
Brennen Leigh on stage at Black Deer Festival. Photo: Nick Barber
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Brennen Leigh. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
On the Season 12 finale with Stine Andreasson and the story behind The Northern Belle’s fifth album, “Bats in the Attic,” is a compelling blend of personal experiences, historical inspiration, and musical creativity. The band’s evolution is evident in their ability to seamlessly weave together a diverse range of styles, from Cardigans-type pop to southern rock and delicate indie ballads, all executed with the finesse they are renowned for. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the band’s passion for live performance was a driving force during the album’s creation, with a focus on capturing the energy of their live shows in the studio.
Bandleader and songwriter Stine Andreassen’s inspiration for the album stemmed from 379 letters written by her grandfather while at sea and stationed abroad, which were sent to her grandmother in northern Norway. These letters, hidden in an attic for 30 years following her grandfather’s passing, provided the foundation for the album’s title and several of its songs. The album also delves into Andreassen’s experiences of motherhood, capturing the essence of creation and life, as well as the emotional weight of losing cherished friends. This depth of personal storytelling and emotional resonance infuses the album with profound meaning for both the band and their audience.
The Northern Belle
The Northern Belle’s musical journey has been marked by significant milestones, including the critical acclaim of their previous albums and their expanding international recognition. From their self-titled debut in 2015 to their well-received sophomore album “Blinding Blue Neon” and the international success of “We Wither, We Bloom,” the band has consistently captivated audiences and garnered praise from music industry heavyweights. Their collaboration with notable musicians and producers has enriched the depth and breadth of their musical expression, captivating listeners worldwide with their emotive and evocative sound.
The Northern Belle – Fresh Dew Drippin
The band’s lineup, featuring Stine Andreassen, Bjørnar Ekse Brandseth, Johanne Flottorp, Trym Gjermundbo, Ole-André Sjøgren, and Marie Tveiten, showcases their collective talent and vibrant energy. Their time in the studio, supported by guest musicians Snorre Kiil Saga and Solveig Wang, and guided by producer Marcus Forsgren, has resulted in an incomparable fusion of folk and Americana-inspired pop. With resonant harmonies, the enchanting sound of the hardanger fiddle, and the evocative presence of the pedal steel, The Northern Belle’s music continues to captivate audiences with its timeless allure and emotional depth.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Stine Andreassen. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
In this episode we get to chat with Christopher about his life, loves and music. He talks about building a community of like minded artists and how being a founding member of the Houston Honky Tonk Society is helping to bring this dream into reality.
Christopher talks about collaborating with artists such South Texas Tweek on songs such as ‘I Can Get off on You’ they first met at the Continental Club in Houston, and even tour managed Tweek while he was supporting Nick Shoulders. Christopher’s new release ‘Cheated On‘ the original song idea was Tweek’s when Christopher was over at his house for Thanksgiving and Tweek had the a killer line and then Christopher worked on the chorus and melody and after 6 or 7 months they had the final song.
“Everybody wants to be George Jones till there in the dark drinking alone”.
It’s fascinating how Christopher, as a songwriter, delves into the depths of human emotions to create compelling lyrics. His ability to tap into the essence of the human condition and express it through the power of music is truly remarkable. Through his songwriting, Christopher has the unique talent to capture the myriad of emotions that define our existence, from profound joy to deep sorrow, and everything in between. This remarkable skill enables him to connect with others on a deeply emotional level, resonating with the experiences and feelings of his audience. The art of songwriting is a profound and beautiful way for Christopher to channel and share the complexities of the human experience, touching the hearts and souls of those who listen to his music.
Old school Honkytonk and Hillbilly music is how Christopher describes his music. Over the course of twenty years Christopher has collected tattoos all over his body. His first was fromFamous Gabe from Pensacola Florida at a place called Through The Moon .
Christopher Seymore
Grew up singing in Church with his family and especially on his mothers side they are a musical family. His parents and his Aunts sang to him Old Country songs and hymns in Church. He always enjoyed singing and making up stories and wasn’t completely serious about a life of music until his late teens and early twenties. In Texas and the Two-Step culture is a whole another experience to connect with the audience. A true spiritual experience, as an artist he is developing himself and the challenge is to truly show himself. It’s all about trying to make a genuine connection between artist and the audience.
Dean Dillon, George Strait and Wayne Kemp are all musical heroes to Christopher and is part of his Country education. The development of a local music scene is directly connected to the availability of mid sized venues and the loss of these venues is felt to every independent artist. Stadium venues will always survive as they can bring in the top tier artists.
“Texas is the epicentre for HonkyTonk music”.
Nowhere else does anybody play a shuffle except a Texas drummer, there’s something in the air and water that makes Texas music awesome and is an alternative to what passes for county music these days . David Miner, Nicky Diamonds, Sam Turnerand the Cactus Cats, South Texas Tweek, Patrick B Ray, Nick Garza’s Get Along and Chasen Wayne are all making music there own way in Texas and it’s totally different from that polished Nashville sound. Tim Bolo, Hannah Juanita, Summer Dean, Brennen Leigh and Sterling Drake are exceptions to the this more commercialised music.
Christopher Seymore
Christopher is working on a new album and has enough material for two albums. He will be back in the studio recording albums, one album is more outlaw and darker and another album has a seventies dancehall honkytonk feel.
So listen into this fascinating podcast with Christopher Seymore and CloudwatcherUno by clicking the link below or streaming on Apple Music, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Dani-Rae Clark and CloudwatcherUno talk together on S12 Ep 8 of the podcast. Speaking from their home in Nashville. We talk about their EP ‘Notes on A Crisis’ and especially their videos ‘Ain’t It Convenient’ with their friend Producer and Videographer Max Harms in Arizona. Originally from Vancouver, Canada they would go on tour once a year and would pass through Nashville, Tennessee and fell in love with it and they would always say they were going to move to Nashville.
During the pandemic the Canadian/American border was closed but because they have a dual citizenship, they were able to cross the border with their dog. It was a liberating moment as they packed everything they could into their very old pickup truck and just drove very slowly from North Idaho. The whole road journey took a month as they drove all the back roads.
They listen to a lot of old country, gospel and soul music and doesn’t listen that much to contemporary artists and their music. When it comes to writing a song, they aren’t sure how it happens, it’s a language that she has learnt how to use without being conscious of it. They feel strongly that songs should not have filler lyrics, each song needs to be crafted in a way that says what they feel needs to be said.
They are on tour and will be travelling to Arizona to record a new album later this month at Max Harm’s studio ‘The Garage’ and you can support them through their Kickstarter. They move around a lot as an artist so will have a band/bandmates all over the place and an absolutely fabulous performance from them and ‘The Let Downs‘ can be seen in ‘Make Me a Sinner’ filmed in Vancouver. A lot of these artists will be playing on the new album including their partner who is from Nova Scotia. The song is a Queer love song and one that challenges the hypocrisy about how women’s sexuality is demonised outside a very ladylike stereotype of marriage.
To afford to go on tour and produce the new album they have five jobs to make ends meet and make the music that brings them and us joy. When writing music, it takes them a lot of solitude so that they can give it their full attention. Lately they have been writing a lot of cheesy country duets, this included Christmas songs which they hate. Despite this they wrote a song for their favourite band ‘Big Fancy & The Shiddy Cowboys’.
They take a lot of inspiration from Tammy Wynette and George Jones and especially the classic track ‘Stand By Your Man‘. They really want to have similar solid duets in the future. Tammy and George made the saddest music of all time especially in country music. Sad music has such an important part in our lives and helps us access emotions that we aren’t able to access. Music lives in a different part of our brain than other information and the way a song can instigate a feeling that we weren’t even expecting.
To hear more from Dani-Rae Clark’s conversation with CloudwatcherUno click the audio below or listen to it on Apple Music, Spotify Music or wherever you get your podcasts from.
CloudwatcherUno speaks with the Danish singer songwriter Sasha Adrian about Sasha’s EP ’Token’, her use of the ‘fictionalised truth’ in her songs, wanting to be the lead singer of a band rather than being in the background, her experiences of the Danish mental health system and surrounding herself with other artists who shared her vision for her music.
Sasha Adrian’s ability to blend raw, emotive storytelling with captivating melodies and intense instrumentals creates a captivating sonic landscape that draws listeners into her world. Her fearless approach to embracing imperfections and vulnerabilities within her music fosters an authentic connection, allowing her audience to resonate deeply with the emotional core of her compositions. This unique interplay between raw, unfiltered expression and melodic allure establishes Sasha Adrian as a compelling and unapologetically genuine artist, capable of evoking a wide range of emotions through her music.
Drawing from the influences of acclaimed artists such as Julia Jacklin, Phoebe Bridgers, and Louien, the music resonates with a profound depth, encapsulating a narrative that delves into the complexities of human emotions and experiences.
Sasha Adrian, an emerging talent in the music industry, is captivating audiences with the release of her debut EP ‘Token‘ in 2023. The EP embodies the poignant exploration of love, the sting of betrayal, the emotional bruises left behind, and the resilient pursuit of healing and self-restoration after one’s personal boundaries have been transgressed. This evocative blend of sound and lyrical artistry reflects the raw, unfiltered essence of the human spirit, creating a compelling resonance that speaks to the shared struggles and triumphs of the human condition.
Listeners can enter the world of Sasha’s music with the recent release of her captivating new single, “IMDB‘. This track has been resonating with fans and critics alike, further solidifying Sasha Adrian as a rising star to watch in the music scene.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Sasha Adrian. You’ll get to hear ‘Exorcism’ and ‘Token‘ and on the podcast. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
On February 15th 2024 Sasha will be headlining her first show with her full band at the Ideal Bar which is a small, integrated part of the venue VEGA, located in Vesterbro, Copenhagen.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Sasha Adrian. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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