Not content with snaring the 2013 Welsh Music Prize for her debut album Week of Pines, singer-songwriter Georgia Ruth is back with another corker.
Her latest instalment, Fossil Scale, out today on Navigator Records, picks up nicely where her last left off, but this time trades harp for piano.
Throughout, Georgia lets winsome melodies bounce off expansive keys and alt-pop spikes, delivering a mix of bucolic beauty and leftfield pop that clocks in somewhere between mid-career Everything But The Girl and Kate Bush.
The record is peppered with appearances from her pals Meilyr Jones and Suhail Yusuf Khan, with the former contributing backing vocals while the latter lends his virtuoso sarangi skills.
We caguth up with her to learn more about her musical past, present and future…
I first started making music because…
I wanted to see if I could. I studied the harp throughout school, and learned lots of classical pieces (which I loved) - but it often felt like there was something missing. I wanted to see whether I could write stuff for myself to play! I’d always wanted to write lyrics too. I remember the feeling of finishing a song for the first time, and thinking, ‘well that wasn’t so bad!’ It was a real turning point for me.
I have been making music since…
The summer before I left home for university. That’s the first time I started writing songs - I only wish I’d started sooner! I decided to take my harp with me when I left (although there was barely room for it in my student accommodation) and I found it so therapeutic having it there. I found myself playing more and more, and writing too; by the time I graduated three years later, I knew that’s what I wanted to do!
My music is…
Hard to describe!
My favourite venue is…
Impossible to narrow down to just one! But I’ll be launching the new album at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff (15 October) - it’s a great place. And I played at the Anthony Burgess Institute in Manchester last year, which stuck in my mind.
Music is important because…
It transcends so many obstacles.
My biggest inspiration is…
Anyone who’s ever refused to do what people expected of them. It’s not so much the rebellious aspect of that which appeals to me (I’m strangely adherent to rules!), but rather the bravery of people who push themselves beyond where feels comfortable.
My dream collaboration would be…
Anohni.
To try me out, listen to…
The Doldrums. It’s the opening song on my new album, Fossil Scale. My friend Suhail Yusuf Khan (Yorkston Thorne Khan) plays the sarangi on this song, and it was such a privilege to have him play on the record. The instrument has such an evocative sound. This song really set the tone for the rest of the album.
If I wasn’t making music I’d be…
Gutted!
In 10 years’ time I want to be…
Making music, in a yellow room surrounded by amazing dogs.
Georgia Ruth’s album Fossil Scale is out today (7 October), via Navigator Records.
Her latest instalment, Fossil Scale, out today on Navigator Records, picks up nicely where her last left off, but this time trades harp for piano.
Throughout, Georgia lets winsome melodies bounce off expansive keys and alt-pop spikes, delivering a mix of bucolic beauty and leftfield pop that clocks in somewhere between mid-career Everything But The Girl and Kate Bush.
The record is peppered with appearances from her pals Meilyr Jones and Suhail Yusuf Khan, with the former contributing backing vocals while the latter lends his virtuoso sarangi skills.
We caguth up with her to learn more about her musical past, present and future…
I first started making music because…
I wanted to see if I could. I studied the harp throughout school, and learned lots of classical pieces (which I loved) - but it often felt like there was something missing. I wanted to see whether I could write stuff for myself to play! I’d always wanted to write lyrics too. I remember the feeling of finishing a song for the first time, and thinking, ‘well that wasn’t so bad!’ It was a real turning point for me.
I have been making music since…
The summer before I left home for university. That’s the first time I started writing songs - I only wish I’d started sooner! I decided to take my harp with me when I left (although there was barely room for it in my student accommodation) and I found it so therapeutic having it there. I found myself playing more and more, and writing too; by the time I graduated three years later, I knew that’s what I wanted to do!
My music is…
Hard to describe!
My favourite venue is…
Impossible to narrow down to just one! But I’ll be launching the new album at Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff (15 October) - it’s a great place. And I played at the Anthony Burgess Institute in Manchester last year, which stuck in my mind.
Music is important because…
It transcends so many obstacles.
My biggest inspiration is…
Anyone who’s ever refused to do what people expected of them. It’s not so much the rebellious aspect of that which appeals to me (I’m strangely adherent to rules!), but rather the bravery of people who push themselves beyond where feels comfortable.
My dream collaboration would be…
Anohni.
To try me out, listen to…
The Doldrums. It’s the opening song on my new album, Fossil Scale. My friend Suhail Yusuf Khan (Yorkston Thorne Khan) plays the sarangi on this song, and it was such a privilege to have him play on the record. The instrument has such an evocative sound. This song really set the tone for the rest of the album.
If I wasn’t making music I’d be…
Gutted!
In 10 years’ time I want to be…
Making music, in a yellow room surrounded by amazing dogs.
Georgia Ruth’s album Fossil Scale is out today (7 October), via Navigator Records.
