By: Jessica Hatchett
Photo By Brennan Bucannan
Q) You started out as a drummer before picking up the guitar. How did that impact your relationship with and perception of music?
A) I definitely approach songwriting in a rhythmic way. The words have to sound phonetically pleasing as well as interesting in a lyrical sense. Also, even the sparse fingerpicked tracks need to have a sense of propulsion to them, so there’s that, too.
Q) Your parents are Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt from Everything But The Girl. What is your earliest musical memory?
A) I can picture the jukebox in our hallway playing something like “Everybody Dance” by CHIC. I still love that song and it’s very nostalgic to me.
Q) Was music always something you wanted to pursue professionally?
A) No! I studied drama at university and thought about becoming an actor or director. I was writing songs but not thinking too much about whether I wanted to be a musician. It was only really when I graduated and started working awful jobs that I decided I had to focus on making it work.
Q) How did your parents’ experiences shape your perception of the music industry?
A) Well, they would always say that their opinions are a bit outdated because the music industry has changed so much, but it made a career in music seem like something that was a possibility. They are aware of how lucky they are though! Not to detract from any of their talent though. [laughs] There is a lot of luck involved in the industry. It’s sadly not a meritocracy.
Q) How would you describe your sound to anyone listening for the first time?
A) Nostalgic, maybe a bit sad. But I like to think it’s hopeful as well. Musically, it can be earthy but also floaty – it depends on the song. I guess a bit retro sounding sometimes, like with the pianos and 70s snare sounds.
Q) When writing a song, do lyrics or melodies usually arrive first for you? How do you know when a song is finished?
A) Melody always comes first. I shape the lyrics around the melody and the sounds that are naturally coming out of my mouth. I know when a song is finished when it feels like I’ve done justice to a feeling. It doesn’t have to have a clear cut narrative.
Q) Let’s talk about the single “DLR.” What inspired it and what story did you want to tell through the song’s lyrics?
A) Well, it’s a very old song now, so I find it hard to cast my mind back. But I guess I was thinking about growing up and entering new phases of life and how that feels exciting but also terrifying.
Q) The music video shows the aftermath of you being kidnapped. How did that concept come about?
A) My friend Seb, who directed the video, came up with the concept for that. He wanted to encapsulate that feeling of being dragged into the present, whether you like it or not, and having to confront your past at the same time. The old man in the video is maybe meant to be an older version of me.
Q) The Thread is described as a record about distance and connection. What was the central concept that tied these songs together?
A) Well, I was in a long distance relationship at the time, so a lot of the lyrics came about in relation to that. So, maybe a sense of longing is what ties a lot of the songs together. Also, longing to feel connected to life, not just a partner.
Q) Was there a particular song that served as the starting point for the album?
A) Not really! I think “Silhouette on the Hill” was an early track that maybe pointed us in some sort of direction for the album, but it took shape on its own anyway.
Q) My favorite songs on the album are “Waiting on Nina” and “Three Moon Trail.” Which tracks on The Thread hold a special place in your heart and why?
A) That’s lovely to hear! I really like “Three Moon Trail” as well. It’s very sparse and it feels quite unfussy to me, which I like, and I am proud of the chorus melody. I am also very proud of “Collapsing” because musically it’s quite complex and we spent a long time making it.
Q) If listeners take away just one thing about Family Stereo after hearing The Thread, what would you want it to be?
A) That there’s more like this to come in like the next year. Literally, we have almost finished the second record.
Q) Who are some artists that you would love to collaborate with?
A)Adrianne Lenker would blow my little mind.
Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your music?
A) I am always kinda shocked that people have just discovered me, like my music is actually out there and people are stumbling across it and maybe liking it. So, to you I say “thanks!”