Q&a WITH HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS CARDS.

What genre would you say best describes your music?

“I the best description is lo-fi, alternative, emotive music. Some of the new stuff I’ve been recording is going in a heavier direction, a bit noisier and a bit more rebellious and defiant I think”.

Did you see yourself always becoming an artist or did it happen naturally?

“Yes I think so, I’ve always written poetry, words and lyrics since as far as I can remember and I’ve been writing and recording songs for a good few years, it’s just recently that I’ve taken the leap to actually release some of the music I make”.

Who were your earliest musical influences?

“T.Rex, R.E.M, Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Marc Bolan of T.Rex made me want to write poetry, the Manics made me want to pick up a guitar”.

What was the biggest challenge you faced when you started out?

“Self-doubt / self criticism. I love writing and creating music but quiet often I feel like it’s not good enough or could be better. I am very lucky to have some great friends who have encouraged me to do this”.

How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?

“Heartfelt, emotional, lovelorn. A friend of mine and a musician I truly admire, Pisgah, described my music as ‘like listening to someone play late at night’ and that always stuck with me - a very cool description”.

What is one song (that isn’t yours) that you wish you could say you have written?

“Diamonds and Rust by Joan Baez. It’s fiercely intelligent, poetic, emotional, moving, and sung so honestly and beautifully. Definitely one of my favourite songs of all time”.

Which song of yours feels the most personal and why?

“Hmm, good question. All of my songs come from a personal place, I’m not very good at writing in a sort of storytelling or fictional way. I’m going to be crafty here and name two songs… I think one of the most personal song I’ve written is Above the Outside from my first EP, which came from a place of wishing I’d have done things differently when I had the chance, and the other song I’d choose is Better by Christmas from the Christmas EP I released last year. The songs on that EP were probably the most emotionally upfront and direct songs I’ve written, and that one really stands out to me”.

What keeps you motivated to keep writing?

“I write poetry / lyrics as a way to try and process or utilise what’s going on around me and in my life, and there’s always something going on. Also, the fantastic artists and musicians I know are always inspiring me. Plus it’s kinda like the more I write and the more I play guitar etc the more I want to do, it’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy I guess!”.

What message do you hope listeners take from your music?

“That’s a nice thought, I just hope listeners find something in my music that resonates with them and that whatever they may find can have a positive impact or give them hope in some way. I tend to listen to a lot of the music I listen to so that I can find another perspective or insight into many different things, hopefully that can also be provided by my music”.

Do you have any dream collaborations? This can be realistic or on a broader spectrum.

“Hmm, I do think it would be cool to collaborate with a female artist, I think my style would work well in contrast with a female vocal and a more feminine approach to songwriting. I have also had a few conversations with an amazing musician who records under the name After Rain about the possibility of collaborating, he’s making some really incredible and interesting ambient music with a touch of classical”.