In
Conversation with
November
2007
A
little background:
Project Lumino is Holly who currently lives in
Burgess Hill, which is near Brighton (UK).
Holly advises her main aim ‘is to create music that brings
a smile and tries to tell a story of some sort.’ She also
advises all of her music is created in her room on lots of
little instruments and a laptop. She adds to conclude
she loves to make songs on a spur of the moment,
the planned songs never work out
an cheekiness and a fun with her experiments that although
does show the influence of all of the above, I think it goes
beyond that.
I discovered Holly’s music through a trawl through-out
Myspace.com through my friend Ant aka July Skies’s page
And was so impressed by what I saw and read – it made perfect
Sense for ‘Setting Sun’ to approach her for a interview,
Which Holly of course said yes to in response.
Holly advises she has an album out shortly, more details
Of which can be found on her myspace.com page which
Is http://www.myspace.com/projectlumino
Thanks to Holly for the interview.
Regards
Andy N
Setting Sun:
How are things and what’s happening at the moment?
Project Lumino:
Everything is really good right now! I am currently putting as much
time as I can into promoting the album which will be out on 4th
December on iTunes and Amazon mp3.
Setting Sun:
First up, is a little bit of background. Can you tell us a little
Bit about the history of ‘Project Luminio’ – what started you
Off or as I like to say sometimes – who fired the starting pistol?
Project Lumino:
I studied music tech for a year which opened my eyes to the
production of electronic music. For a year I saved up to buy a
mac with a midi controller and then in April 07 I wrote my first
song which subsequently turned out to be "Waking
Up".
Setting Sun:
Music wise, what are your influences and what are you
listening to at the moment?
Project Lumino:
When I first started Lemon Jelly and ...music video? were a
main influence. As Project Lumino went on I got more
recommendations to listen to different artists and my music began
developing. Now my influences include Dntel, Goddamn
Electric Bill, Zero 7, Múm, Bonobo... the list goes on! Right
now I've been listening to a lot of Bright Eyes, Paper Route,
William Fitzsimmons and José Gonzalez.
Setting Sun:
I can see also reference in your blog to you doing concerts /
gigs – how Do they compare to your studio sound? Is their
one you prefer over the other?
Project Lumino:
Right now I only get to perform gigs with my band
Stowaway.
I started out as a bass player where I've gone from playing
punk to acoustic and then to indie. I love the adrenaline
rush I get from playing live but haven't had the chance to do
so as PL due to current equipment constraints but hopefully
that will change soon.
Setting Sun:
I have being really enjoying a number of songs on
your myspace.com page but currently I think my favourite
songs are ‘Wires’ and ‘Waking Up’ – can you tell us
a little bit about both of these songs?
Project Lumino:
Waking Up was my first song, my mind was a
blank canvas and I wasn't too influenced by any other
artists. I just experimented with sounds I liked and
didn't hold any expectations from it.
Always my favorite song even now. Wires
was the first song I wrote using my Microkorg Vocoder.
I looked at my floor for inspiration as out of frustration
no matter how tidy I tried to be all I could see were
tangled cables all over the place.
Setting Sun:
What’s the inspiration behind your name
‘Project Lumino’ out of interest too?
Project Lumino:
In 2005 I was in a band with my friend Peppi Knott.
We couldn't think of a name and her Dad suggested
"Luminoso" as it was far too much like a Harry Potter
spell we settled on "Lumino" which also means
illuminating light in Italian. The band didn't work out in the
end so I thought I would carry on the name, but make it my
own project.
Setting Sun:
I seem to recall you have a album out at the start of
December, but do you have any more music plans
besides that lined up? Perhaps another gig or two?
Project Lumino:
Right now I am working on some songs with Neil
Haviland who does the vocals on "Sun". We are
aiming to create a set of electro/acoustic songs that
can be performed minimally at an open mic night
using looping pedals and beats through my laptop.
Stowaway are also quite busy right now with recording
and upcoming gigs in Brighton.
Setting Sun:
I normally ask people next, where they are from
etc, but I already know you from Burgess Hill down
Brighton way and then ask how good is the music scene
down there nowadays, but I know how good the scene is down
there, so instead I’ll ask you what concerts have you seen
recently? Is their any you could recommend in
particular?
Project Lumino:
The last gig I went to was Tunng in Brighton,
which was I've ever seen a band experiment so much with
so many instruments, it was all so inventive too. In
December I'm going to see Efterklang, Múm and
The Chemical Brothers. I'm really excited as I'm so keen to
pick up ideas for performing live.
Setting Sun:
What would you be your dream job if you were not
an musician?
Project Lumino:
Tough one, as a kid I really wanted to be a vet. Now
however I'm really into psychology and if I had the patience
would go to uni and study it. I also would love to go into
promoting and publicity so hopefully that can still be done
someday.
Setting Sun:
What would you like to be doing when you are 60?
Project Lumino:
Settled in a nice bungalow? Grandchildren? A cat? I would
like to relaxing knowing I'd completed the goals I'd set in life.
Also nice to pass down my interest of music to the younger
generations of the family too.
Setting Sun:
Lastly, what will you be doing when you are 60?
Project Lumino:
Hopefully what's above :-) Who knows? I don't know
what I'll be doing next month let alone in 60 years!