Turn Me On Again (GaydarRadio Secret Sundays Session)
Nerina’s new single, Turn Me On Again, is available from iTunes - NOW! Click on the title to download.
Tracklisting:
1. Turn Me On Again
2. Life After 25
3. Forever Young (Bob Dylan Cover)
Since her debut release in 2001, ivory tinkling songstress Nerina Pallot seems to have been perpetually pedaling her wares, piano and legion of loyal fans in tow. Combining poignance and unabashed, well-crafted pop, the thirty-something chanteuse has just released her fourth studio album.
As she prepares (albeit two minutes beforehand) to take to the main stage as part of this year’s Tramlines festival, we talk to the Jersey born singer-songwriter about her tendency for touring, the influence the arrival of her son Wolfgang has had on her sound and how she’s much more comfortable on the stage.
Early on in your career you opened for established acts such as Suzanne Vega and Sheryl Crow, in many cases stealing the show and gaining many new fans. How does it feel to now yourself have be a successful, established artist?
I don’t really think of myself like that. I’m not very good at taking stock of where I am and where I have come from to get to where I am, I’m always looking to the next thing.
How do you measure your success?
Whether I am happy and enjoying what I am doing. And if I can pay my bills AND buy myself stupidly expensive shoes.
It’s clear you have a loyal fan base, how did you manage to build and maintain that over the years?
Gigging, gigging, gigging, online networking and messaging, gigging, gigging, gigging and more gigging. I truly believe that a fan you win from a gig will stay with you for life. I think it’s my strength - it’s definitely where I feel the most comfortable as a musician, and probably as a human being in general. The moment I get on stage, I am funnier, more outgoing, more myself than I could ever hope to be off stage. That’s why it’s so addictive. I have so much fun onstage, and I think people respond to that. I like my gigs to feel like a party where everybody’s involved - that it’s not just about a huge ego bawling at you from the stage.
How has your fan interaction through YouTube and Facebook influenced your work?
It’s of paramount importance. It’s so important to know, really know, your fanbase, not to imagine who might be into what you do but to find out who those people are individually and strike up a musical and non musical dialogue with them. My fanbase is modest but incredibly loyal, and the online support I have received from them has kept me making music at times when I have wanted to stop it all. For me, my relationship with my audience is integral to what I do - I am acutely aware that their loyalty is what allows me to get up every day and do the thing I love and make a living from it - so it’s a two way street, really.
Can you describe the sound of your new album…
Cohesive, epic and intimate, lush. (I hope!)
Specifically, how has being a mother influenced the sound of your new album?
Well, I think it’s made me a thousand times more vulnerable as a human being, because when you love so unconditionally and the centre of your universe is this tiny little thing, the thought of anything happening to that little person just doesn’t bear thinking about. So I look at the world differently now, and as a result have written songs like ‘History Boys’ and ‘If I Lost You Now’, which I would never have done before.
Especially as you work closely with your husband, how do you balance your work and home life?
We’re both obsessed with our son, our dogs, music and food so we don’t really try to make a distinction. We have no home/work life balance, which is probably really unhealthy, but it works for us!!
You clearly have proclivity towards touring. What attracts you so much to being on the road?
It’s like a school trip with your best mates, except loads of booze, fags, other things if you like them and no set bed time. What’s not to like??!
What are your plans for the Sheffield Tramlines set this July?
I have no idea. I usually write the set list about two minutes before going on stage.
Do you plan to see any other acts whilst you’re there?
I would like to catch the Guillemots. They’d better play ‘Get Over It’ or I’ll cry.
What current music is on the Pallot playlist?
The new Jill Scott album, ‘The Light of the Sun’, ‘Pala’ by Friendly Fires.
After investing your life into your music, how do you feel about the media’s influence over instant fame?
The instant fame thing has always existed, but unfortunately it has bred a certain type of vacuous, can’t be arsed halfwits like Cher Lloyd who are legends in their own lunchtimes but have about as much emotional weight as a toddler. I don’t have a problem with X Factor - it’s just that it’s encouraging some very mediocre individuals to ‘live their dream’ when really they should be going to college and hoping for
a career in event planning. This is not to say that there aren’t some really talented people coming through - Leona Lewis is undoubtedly an amazing singer, and JLS are a great boy band, so it can definitely be a good thing. Oops - rant over.
As part of the ‘I Don’t Want To Go Out’ sessions, you’ve done many collaborations and covers, are there any you would consider releasing?
I really like the cover of ‘When Doves Cry’ that I did with Bright Light Bright Light - that may well see the light of day in recorded form.
What’s next for Nerina Pallot?
A cup of tea and a Kit-Kat, I feel.
Nerina makes a much welcome return to Sheffield as she takes to the main stage at this year’s Sheffield Tramlines festival. Saturday 23rd July 12pm-3pm
Nerina Pallot ‘Year Of The Wolf’ available now
a career in event planning. This is not to say that there aren’t some really talented people coming through - Leona Lewis is undoubtedly an amazing singer, and JLS are a great boy band, so it can definitely be a good thing. Oops - rant over.
