Laura Catlow wants a baby blue Vespa
Last Updated on Tuesday, 27 October 2009 18:27 Written by Ken Foster
Blackpool- yes the tower, seaside, pleasure beach and (yes it has to be said) new musical breeding ground. Following on from the likes of Karima Francis, Little Boots, Steph Fraser and Joni Fuller - new kid on the block is Laura Catlow. Described in turn as a female Alex Turner and northern Lily Allen, Catlow has recently featured on BBC Radio 6Music and received warm praise from the evergreen Janice Long.
We caught up with her to find out if it was something in the water. Judge for yourself by watching the video for her latest single here or read on to learn more.
Strummer:
You were previously in the all girl punk band Pink Hearse. What happened to them and why the total change of style?
LC:
I loved being in Pink Hearse and had a wonderful four years with them as lead guitarist. I love all kinds of music, including punk, and I'm a big fan of bands like The Clash and The Buzzcocks, so I loved being a punk for a few years. We always had a great time, and I still miss the mischief you can get up to in a band, that you can't get away with on your own. But the time came when our musical interests differed and we wanted to go in different directions. I decided to concentrate on my solo stuff and had to call it a day with the band. They're still together though and have a new lead guitarist.
Strummer:
This magazine reviewed the gig you did with the legendary Section 25 at Beat. What are your recollections of the night? I seem to remember the rain coming through onto the stage.
LC:
Oh yeah I'd forgotten about that! Yes I remember wandering around backstage looking for a bucket, and worrying I might get electrocuted with the various wires and amps covered in rain water. I also tend to jump around a lot when I have an electric guitar in my hands, and I nearly slipped a few times. There was always something like that with Pink Hearse, which made it such an amazing and unusual experience!
Oh yeah I'd forgotten about that! Yes I remember wandering around backstage looking for a bucket, and worrying I might get electrocuted with the various wires and amps covered in rain water. I also tend to jump around a lot when I have an electric guitar in my hands, and I nearly slipped a few times. There was always something like that with Pink Hearse, which made it such an amazing and unusual experience!
Laura worked on the Ghost Train at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
Strummer:
Blackpool is getting quite a name for emerging talent but Karima Francis and Vicky Hesketh have both gone on record to say that their break came when they had moved away from the town. Do you see a connection between success and location?
LC:
I think it's true that London is the place to get noticed, but at the moment I'm concentrating on building up a fan base. I've been gigging all over the north, and London when I can, just wherever the gigs are. I think eventually I'll need to move away from Blackpool, but I haven't go any plans to as yet. Before I venture down south I want to get a strong northern fan base together, following me down the M55 with pitchforks, eating black pudding.
Strummer:
Do you have plans to tour or are you going to concentrate on recording?
LC:
I love playing live more than anything, but I'm not such a fan of recording. Though I know it has to be done of course! I find it hard to create the energy and atmosphere in the studio that you get at a live gig. So that's something I should work on I guess. I'm currently trying to get as many gigs in as possible, so I think a tour may in the pipe line for next year.
Strummer:
Who are you listening to at the moment and who are your influences?
LC:
I've been listening to the album Johnny Cash made live at Folsom Prison a lot lately. It's currently my 'getting ready to go out' album, which may seem a strange choice. But I love the atmosphere and mood he creates, and that's something I aim for when playing live. He's a huge inspiration to me, as is Bob Dylan. I keep discovering new songs by Bob Dylan and if I could listen to one artist forever, it would be him. I'm sure it would send some people crazy, but I love virtually everything I've ever heard by him. I'm also a big Pete Doherty fan. I went to see him live last week and it was amazing. I have his solo album which I like a lot, but seeing him live was on a completely different level. I think that's how it should be.
Strummer:
Lily Allen has written a blog saying she is going to quit recording because of illegal downloading. Are you in agreement that freeloaders are destroying the industry or would you be happy to give your music away for free?
LC:
It's hard to expect people to pay for something if they can get it for free, but if there's a band I really like, I'd always rather have the album or single on cd than download it. I like having the album sleeve to read though, I'm a bit sad like that. And if it's a less well known artist, I think it's only right to pay the music and feel like you've contributed to getting them into the top 40! I think it is slowly destroying the industry and something really needs to be done about it. I don't know what though! Of course I'd rather people pay for my music, as I don't have any money myself! But at the moment I'd be happy for people to be discovering my music whether I get any money for it or not, I'm not really in the position to choose right now!
Strummer:
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
LC:
I'd love to get my music heard by more people and be successful in the music industry, whatever than means. I want to be doing this as a career, still writing music and performing. And I'd quite like a baby blue Vespa with matching helmet.
To find out more about Laura Catlow visit www.myspace.com/lauracatlow
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