Artist Interviews

Q&A: The Memory Band

By | Published on Wednesday 26 January 2011

The Memory Band

Formed in 2003 by Stephen Cracknell, folk-collective The Memory Band, whose revolving line-up has included Simon Lord from Black Ghosts and Hot Chip’s Al Doyle, released their eponymous debut in 2004, while stunning crowds with improvisational festival sets. LP ‘Apron Strings’ followed in 2006, as did a renowned run of performances of ‘The Wicker Man’ soundtrack.

Their third album ‘Oh My Days’, due for release via Hungry Hill on 7 Feb, harks back subtly to the folk-jazz echoes of its predecessors whilst also absorbing blues, soul and rock influences. Meanwhile an all-new vocal vanguard adds a fleshed-out warmth to this collection of original songs and novel cover versions.

Ahead of the release, and further ‘Wicker Man’ live dates starting at the Glasgow Film Festival on 24 Feb, Stephen Cracknell took a few minutes to respond to our Same Six.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
As a teenager in bands with my friends, mostly playing the same thing over and over again for hours. Then we discovered machines. It was quite a while before we got any good.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
The thrills, spills and bellyaches of life. Being outdoors and also being happy.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
With The Memory Band I deliberately try different ways of creating music. From picking a guitar, messing around with loops on a computer or just trying out a different instrument. There are also lots of different collaborators chipping in here and there.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Always the hardest question because the list is so long and because I believe that if someone inspires you the last thing you should do is just repeat what they did. John Cale was a big influence on this album. I love the way he was always changing, taking risks and his vocal style made a big impression upon me.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
It will be different the next time you hear it.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
For the album, to enjoy the process of playing it and sharing it with people. In general, just to carry on being lucky enough to make music and work with as many amazing people as I do. The longer I do music, the more I realise just how lucky I’ve been.

MORE>>www.thememoryband.com



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