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Artist Interviews
Q&A: Claire Nicolson
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 1 March 2011
Singer-songwriter Claire Nicolson received classical training at the Royal Academy of Music before deciding aged fifteen to take the rock n roll route, going on to write and tour with bands like Kula Shaker, Mike Oldfield and sporty Spice Girl Mel C.
Having contributed backing vocals to Martina Topley Bird’s new album, Nicolson now takes the helm on her forthcoming solo LP ’52 Card Pickup’, which is due for a summer release through her own label, Canned Records. Before that, there’s new single ‘You And I’. Featuring a breezy, nostalgic hook, which was seized upon by laundry giants Surf to soundtrack a recent advert, the single is set for release on 28 Mar, also via Canned Records.
Claire took time out from a current UK tour, supporting Dodgy, to answer our Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
It was my mother who started me off playing the violin at five years old. She pushed me all the way. It took a long time for me to realise why she pushed quite so hard as I hated the violin! I’m really glad she did though. She also got me on to the piano, which I still play. Though I gave up the violin and took up guitar.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Mainly life’s crazy little happenings. I was lucky enough to go to a little barn in Tuscany to write most of it. It’s not in anyway a concept album, it’s just about things that have happened to me and feelings that need to be released. Though I’ve got an idea for the next record which will be about one particular subject.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
All sorts. Mostly I come up with a riff on the guitar first. Then a melody for the vocal, then the lyrics, but it can happen in so many ways. Lyrics come first sometimes too. Co-writing ‘Quiet Company’ with Leo Abrahams was a wonderful experience. It happened so quickly. When it happens like that it’s such a great feeling. I love writing in all ways. It’s bizarre how melodies just pop into one’s head out of nowhere.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
There are so many but I guess the deep seated artists are bands like The Velvet Underground, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, Janis Joplin, Karen Dalton, Led Zeppelin and Nick Drake. None of which are from my generation! I listened to a lot of what my three older brothers listened to when I was young, although I had no idea what or who it was at the time. It was anything from Frank Zappa to Joy Division to ELO, but it was only when I was older, when I started hearing it again, that I really began to appreciate it.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I hope you enjoy it! If not, never mind. Thank you very much for listening.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
I love to gig. I love to gig so much I get depressed if I’m not gigging. So, I’d like to gig this album lots. As for the future, I’ve already started the next album in my mind and so I’d like to be able to record that, release it and gig! As far as I’m concerned playing live is the pay off. It’s the cherry on top… it’s the best bit.
MORE>> www.clairenicolson.com
