Quoting Caroline's offical press release Caroline is a young singer songwriter who was orginally born in Bristol in 1972 . At the age of 15 she moved to a remote part of S.Wales with her parents and a couple of years later began writing.
At aged 20 she lived alone for 5 years -This isolation is where the majority of her lyrics stem from. After sending a demo to John Peel (At Radio One, England) that was immediately played on his show Caroline released the Young Tender Rabbit Meat - ltd. edition EP, 500 copies made, 5 tracks all of which where played on Peel's show between 1999 and 2000.
"It's the simplicity I strive for - I write because I want to tell a story, the music is an honest representation of who I am - slightly hesitant guitar picking and a vocal that has finally settled and is no longer afraid of better comparisons"
Caroline writes dark, disturbing, haunting music with a beautiful, expressive voice and a rare lightness of touch" - Choke Magazine
I first became aware of Caroline through John Peel and the 3 sessions that she has broadcast for her between 2000 to 2003. I got the link off Peel himself and then contacted Caroline direct for a interview and the rest is history as they say.
Check out the following websites for more information...
Setting Sun: How are things - what's happening at the moment?
Caroline:
Things are really good, just done my first support for Nina Nastasia at The Purcell room in London. I have to say it was my most enjoyable gig to
date.
Setting Sun: Now although I have been speaking to you for a
little while, and have known through your music for a little longer -
I know there will be people who won't have heard off you -
so can you introduce yourself, fill us in on your
general bio, what started you off and so on etc?
Caroline:
I was born in Yate Nr Bristol in 1972. Starting playing guitar and
songwriting soon after the family moved to South Wales when I was 15. I
think I starting writing because I had a lot to say but was a very shy
person - it was a private thing at first. My parents moved to the
States when I was 20 and I continued to live in Wales with just my dog for the
next 5 or 6 years. Most of my stuff steams from this loneliness, lack of
things to do, remote and slow lifestyle etc.
Setting Sun: Can you also tell us what you have also released to
date and where can people get your releases from?
CarolineI released an EP in 1998 on my own label - Smalldog Records. It's very very different to what I do now. I only had 500 made and I have
about 50 left. I don't shout about it because it's not a current thing but
if people want a copy then I will sell them one... I'm not daft! They can contact me via e-mail - [email protected]
Setting Sun: I became familar with you both through all of your
John Peel Sessions (Really good too!). How does the forthcoming album
compare to this?
Caroline:
Quite similarly I hope - I may even release a couple of the tracks from
the BBC and add them to the album. It's gonna be sparse and gutsy I hope.
Setting Sun: Now I have been reading a little bit about you,
which I found interesting reading that nowadays you generally just play
solo? How would you say your concerts go in contrast to your recorded
material? say in the studio or for the radio!
Caroline:
Well I'm really starting to strip stuff down now - recorded material
has just a little extra added so that's it is different from me live
otherwise it seams a little pointless, plus there are some fellow
recording artist that I just have to have on my album coz they are so beautifully brilliant (Nick - Gravenhurst and Jesse - Morningstar to
name a couple)
Setting Sun: What are your plans next? Do you have any releases
in mind or major tours etc? How do you see future recordings developing?
Do you have any more gigs planned etc, etc?
Caroline:
Album due out later this year and a UK tour to coincide with it's
release. Gigs I have booked at the moment are:-
Bristol uncovered Live session 107.3fm (sorry, Bristol area only!)
Nina Nastasia Support @ Seymours - Bristol 25th June
The Cavern, Exeter 29th June
Lakota - Bristol 18th July
Ashton Court Festival - Classical tent! 19th July
Green Man Festival - Brecon, S.Wales 25th August
Playhouse Theatre - Cheltenham 31st August
Setting Sun:I am sure I have read hints about who your
influences are,but again for those who don't know - can you tell us
your influences and what have you been listening to recently?
Major influences:-
Leonard Cohen
Bonnie Prince Billy
Jane Sibbery
PJ Harvey
John Lennon
Tom Waits
more recently:-
Nina Nastasia
Cat Power
Jane Weaver
Listening to recently:-
White Stipes
Gravenhurst
Morningstar
Nina Nastasia
Bonnie Prince Billie
Cat Power
Setting Sun: When you living the lifestyle of a rock n roll
star, what do you do?
Caroline:
I so don't live the rock n roll life style... I walk my dog, I
illustrate books and I eat nice stuff!
Setting Sun: One of your starkest songs so far that really hit
me was off your third John Peel session. "I die". Without going into
too much doubt, what was your inspiration for that song? Do you find
yourself having a favourite set pattern with songs when you compose
new material?
Caroline: Musically I think it was listening to Nina Nastasia's Blackened Air Album, lyrically... well I have an obsessive nature... and it was about some one I didn't really know but desperately wanted to if y'know what I mean!
I don't have a set pattern but I do have certain mellow dark chords
that I like to use a lot.
Setting Sun: What's the live scene like in your area? Have you
seen any good gigs recently?
Caroline: Really really good. The Morningstar trio are excellent saw them last
week.
Setting Sun: Lastly, hacking a question one of my friends used
to use in her magazine, if you were stranded on a desert island with
a record player (although I could be tempted to let you upgrade it to a
CD Player if I was feeling nice), what 5 records what you choose to
have with you?
Caroline
Jesus... how did I know this was coming... I take these things far too
seriously - you have no idea how long this will take me!
OK:-
Mcartney by Paul Mcartney (his first solo album)
The Blackened Air by Nina Nastasia (though may replace with her new
album when I hear it!)
The White Album by the Beatles
It's gonna have to be Leonard Cohen's greatest hits coz I can't pick
one album or James Taylor's Classic Songs
And finally if you could find me a country and western compilation that
included:-
9 t o 5 by Dolly Parton
Ode to Billy Joe by Bobby Gentry
Harper Valley P.T.A by Jeannie C. Riley
and
A horse with no name by America
I'm sure there are dozens!
Setting Sun: Thanks for everything, Caroline. Do you have any
plans for playing Manchester? Have fun either way and thanks again!
