In Conversation with
Elizabeth Harper:
A little background:
Salutations
to my friend and sometimes publisher, Crazyman of “Angry Left
Wing
Mofo” for this interview.
As some of you know, I am a regular contributor to Conor’s always
interesting
fanzine, and it is through one of his reviews – I first
discovered
Elizabeth Harper.
Interested,
I decided to check her out and was really impressed, almost if
anything
she reminded me of a female Elliott Smith in places (which she
lists in
this interview as a influence oddly enough) with some particular in-
sightful
and thought-ful singer songwriting for example “Low Tide” to name
but one
song.
Impressed
enough, I dropped her a e mail direct and the rest as I always is
history.
Elizabeth
as is stated in the interview does currently have a album out.
Contact
her directly for more information through her website:
www.elizabethharper.com
Thanks
again for everything, Elizabeth.
Andy N
xxx
Setting
Sun: How's
tricks and what's happening at the moment?
Elizabeth:
Just
getting ready for the upcoming tour, we'll be playing in England
from Sept
17-Oct 3. I was in New York watching old episodes of Little
House on
the Prairie on DVD. Now I'm in California making apple
sauce.
Seriously.
Setting
Sun: Tell us a
lil bit about us, what started you off with music,
what
fired the starting pistol, etc., etc.?
Elizabeth:
Elliott
Smith. I really fell for his music and taught myself guitar using
his
tabulator that I got off the Internet. my dad was in a garage rock
band in
the 60s and he played guitar, wrote songs, and sang.
So maybe
its genetic. But I've always just been really into music.
A big
fan.
Setting
Sun:
What
are your influences and what are you listening to at the
moment?
Elizabeth:
The
Smiths. I am listening to the little house theme because its stuck
in my
head. The Shins, and the new Angular Compilation: Rip Off Your
Labels
Setting
Sun: I think
my favorite song of yours has been "Low
Tide."
What
is the story behind that song?
Elizabeth:
Joe m
from Angular made me a compilation CD called Stranded at
low tide
with a song called stranded at Low tide by the go between's
and I was
just missing London, and it spilled out. But its about being
terribly
needy and always wanting your lovers full attention to ward
off the
demons of facing yourself and being alone.
Setting
Sun: Seems
to have a few different layers for me...
Elizabeth:
Me Too.
Setting
Sun: Do you
do gigs? If so, how do they compare to
your
studio recordings?
Elizabeth:
Yes, I
play out quite often. If I play with the band it sounds similar to
the
record but slightly more aggressive. When I play solo its more
intimate.
Setting
Sun: If my
memory is correct, ain't you currently based
in London but aren’t you also based in New York also. How do both
cities
compare to you for their live scenes? Have you seen any good
gigs
yourself recently?
Elizabeth:
I am based in New York but love playing in the UK. The live scene in NY
is really intense because there are so many bands, so every night you can go
to a great show and hopefully see a great a band. And as for London I don't
know enough to really have a good idea. The best show I saw recently was
Morrisey!
He was amazing, It was my first time seeing him and when he closed with
there is alight it was the closest thing to seeing the Smiths I can imagine.
He is so funny and charming and real and charismatic. How
does one man do it?
Setting
Sun: What's
next for yourself -- music wise? I seem to recall
don't
you have an album on the way?
Elizabeth:
Yes, it's
out Sept 20th and will be at a store near you.
Setting
Sun: What
has been your best / worst experiences of been
a singer, etc.? Been in a band myself I've had some fun to tell
certainly
so I could guess you are the same...
Elizabeth:
The best
was opening up for Johnny Marr & the Healers.
The worst was well...I don't want to say anything bad about anyone or
place,
but there have definitely been a few shows/situations where I would
have
liked to have said some awful things
Setting
Sun: Anyway,
a few slightly more light heartened questions to start
winding
down with... firstly, what would you like to be doing when you are 60?
Setting
Sun: What will you be doing when you are 60?
Elizabeth:
What I
would like to be doing and what I will be doing in my naive
imagination
will hopefully be the same thing.
Living in
a mansion on the beach. Yachting around, living on the
royalties
of all my hits, perhaps having a long career like Joni Mitchell, or
Caetano
Veloso. And maybe running an organic farm, but I like to travel too
much to
stay in one place so I would have to have some one who could
water
because I can barely keep my house plants alive.
Setting
Sun: If you
were not a rock and roll star, what would
be your dream job (s)?
Elizabeth:
A
novelist, actress, professional traveler, a rich easy living organic
"oppie"
as they are called, (people that grown there own food but drive
expensive
hybrid cars)or a rock stars girlfriend.
Setting
Sun: Lastly,
to finish off with (Borrowed from a pal's Zine
almost)
"Imagine you were ship wrecked on a desert Island and
could
have (clearly have second sight here - lol) the choice of
having
5 records or CDs with you with a stereo of course –
what
would be your desert Island Discs?
Elizabeth:
Getz and
Gilberto or any Jobim record (might go well with the
Tropical
theme)
Anything
by the Smiths
Anything
from the Beatles
Pet
Sounds by The Beach Boys
Either/Or by Elliott Smith