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Interview - Alessi's Ark
With her lyrical whimsy and a knack for crafting the most delightful of melodies, young Alessi Laurent-Marke has already turned more than a few heads on the UK folk scene. West London born, and part of the burgeoning nu-folk movement currently taking over our capital city (alongside Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling), she represents the radio-friendly pop end of British folk music in 2009 and it's an utterly beguiling sound.
FDM.com recently spent an afternoon in the company of Alessi to get the inside line on the life of a breaking folk artist...
FDM: Tell us a little bit about Alessi's Ark. When did you start writing music and how did you find yourself in current position - signed to a major, one of the UK's most talked about new artists etc?
AA: I feel very lucky that I'm able to make music as freely as I have been and the people that are involved with my music live on this ark with me. At least in my mind anyway. I started writing a fanzine when I was fourteen called Brain Bulletin. It was filled with drawings, poems, submissions by readers and little pieces on the music I was listening to or going to hear at shows. It was my very favourite thing to do at the time aside from playing drums. I didn't think about singing or using the poems I was writing for any other outlet than the fanzine, but I started to play my sister's guitar around that time too, and all the things in my brain started to come together through music.
The first song I wrote and felt ready to share with other ears was a music G.C.S.E composition called 'Glendora'. When I finished the G.C.S.E's my parents gave me a year to devote time to music and playing shows. Without their ongoing support and love I don't think my answering these questions today would be possible. EMI came down to one of the first shows two winters ago and the day before I turned seventeen I signed with them.
I don't really hear people talk about the music but I'm very happy you found the songs and to be talking with you.
FDM: Your lyrics are full of magic and whimsy and it's hugely engaging. Why the decision to write in this way? Does it allow you do something different/ be someone different through your music?
AA: It's not really a decision but just what comes into my mind. I feel free in the songs and when I'm drawing. With a few tools, be it your instruments or a pen, you can travel with your feet firmly on the ground.
FDM: You've been mentioned as a central figure in London's nu-folk movement. Is it quite exhilarating to be part of a scene that is causing such a stir and so evidently rich in creative talent?
AA: There is quite a lot of lovely music being made in this town and it's outskirts. I'm not sure where my music belongs or whether it's part of a scene but if folks are for now placing it in the same box as these other lovely local musicians, that is a nice thing.
FDM: Are you a fan of the more traditional British folk sounds? Why do you think music fans have suddenly taken folk music to their collective hearts?
AA: I haven't listened to very much traditional British folk but what I've heard, like the other music I listen to, seeps under your skin and into songs eventually.
I think when folks find time to listen to music, especially right now, they need something quiet in sound but loud with thoughts/ideas.
FDM: Your current single 'The Horse' is without doubt the loveliest 1 minute 53 seconds of music I've heard in a long time. Can you tell us a little bit about the song and the inspiration behind it?
AA: The Horse is about falling in love with somebody who you can't keep up with. They are never far from your thoughts, are always in sight and you can't be together.
FDM: Finally, you've recently teamed up with Lomography.com to run a competition encouraging amateur photographers to re-interpret your music through their photos. The comments and submissions on the site seem fantastic - are you pleased with the response to your music from a non-music community?
AA: I am blown away by the submissions. Lomography is used by geniuses and run by geniuses and I'm very excited that the music has been given the chance to reach out to other creative realms, like photography.
Alessi's Ark debut EP 'The Horse' is released this week through Virgin Records.
You can read our review of the EP by clicking on this link: http://www.freshdeermeat.com/eatmore.php?id=48
The video for 'The Horse' - The EP's title track - can be seen here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_qoqmzvaSAI
FDM.com recently spent an afternoon in the company of Alessi to get the inside line on the life of a breaking folk artist...
FDM: Tell us a little bit about Alessi's Ark. When did you start writing music and how did you find yourself in current position - signed to a major, one of the UK's most talked about new artists etc?
AA: I feel very lucky that I'm able to make music as freely as I have been and the people that are involved with my music live on this ark with me. At least in my mind anyway. I started writing a fanzine when I was fourteen called Brain Bulletin. It was filled with drawings, poems, submissions by readers and little pieces on the music I was listening to or going to hear at shows. It was my very favourite thing to do at the time aside from playing drums. I didn't think about singing or using the poems I was writing for any other outlet than the fanzine, but I started to play my sister's guitar around that time too, and all the things in my brain started to come together through music.
The first song I wrote and felt ready to share with other ears was a music G.C.S.E composition called 'Glendora'. When I finished the G.C.S.E's my parents gave me a year to devote time to music and playing shows. Without their ongoing support and love I don't think my answering these questions today would be possible. EMI came down to one of the first shows two winters ago and the day before I turned seventeen I signed with them.
I don't really hear people talk about the music but I'm very happy you found the songs and to be talking with you.
FDM: Your lyrics are full of magic and whimsy and it's hugely engaging. Why the decision to write in this way? Does it allow you do something different/ be someone different through your music?
AA: It's not really a decision but just what comes into my mind. I feel free in the songs and when I'm drawing. With a few tools, be it your instruments or a pen, you can travel with your feet firmly on the ground.
FDM: You've been mentioned as a central figure in London's nu-folk movement. Is it quite exhilarating to be part of a scene that is causing such a stir and so evidently rich in creative talent?
AA: There is quite a lot of lovely music being made in this town and it's outskirts. I'm not sure where my music belongs or whether it's part of a scene but if folks are for now placing it in the same box as these other lovely local musicians, that is a nice thing.
FDM: Are you a fan of the more traditional British folk sounds? Why do you think music fans have suddenly taken folk music to their collective hearts?
AA: I haven't listened to very much traditional British folk but what I've heard, like the other music I listen to, seeps under your skin and into songs eventually.
I think when folks find time to listen to music, especially right now, they need something quiet in sound but loud with thoughts/ideas.
FDM: Your current single 'The Horse' is without doubt the loveliest 1 minute 53 seconds of music I've heard in a long time. Can you tell us a little bit about the song and the inspiration behind it?
AA: The Horse is about falling in love with somebody who you can't keep up with. They are never far from your thoughts, are always in sight and you can't be together.
FDM: Finally, you've recently teamed up with Lomography.com to run a competition encouraging amateur photographers to re-interpret your music through their photos. The comments and submissions on the site seem fantastic - are you pleased with the response to your music from a non-music community?
AA: I am blown away by the submissions. Lomography is used by geniuses and run by geniuses and I'm very excited that the music has been given the chance to reach out to other creative realms, like photography.
Alessi's Ark debut EP 'The Horse' is released this week through Virgin Records.
You can read our review of the EP by clicking on this link: http://www.freshdeermeat.com/eatmore.php?id=48
The video for 'The Horse' - The EP's title track - can be seen here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_qoqmzvaSAI
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