Rosie Abbott
Rosie Abbott is a solo artist from Chesterfield who plays multiple instruments aswell as being a singer songwriter and producer. She's released two albums: Rosie Abbott and After Image (both available on Spotify) and she took the time to talk more about her music.
Where did your musical journey begin?
"It began with my dad’s Casio keyboard back when I was about 11 years old. My dad is very creative and composes his own music. He also has a great ability to work out songs by ear. I thought that’s just what everybody’s dad did, so it seemed very natural when I had a go at it myself. I then progressed onto a bigger keyboard that had a multitrack function. I began layering up arrangements and recording the results onto cassette using a microphone placed between the headphones."
What is your process for songwriting?
"I don’t really stick to one fixed process. I like to catch myself off guard and experiment with different techniques. It’s all about capturing that flash of inspiration before self-criticism sets in. One of my favourite techniques is what I call my 'Spontaneous Combustion' sessions. I set myself the challenge to write and record 20 songs in a day. No edits, first takes only. Just see what comes out. 99% of it is garbage, but there is usually a gem hidden in there somewhere.
Many of the songs on my albums originated this way e.g Hard To Sleep, All Skies Are Blue, Golden Cloud. Another technique I like to use is to sit on ideas for literally years. If I can’t immediately come up with a good enough chorus for a verse, I’ll just wait until I stumble across one in the future. I like things to happen organically and always know when I hit on the missing piece.
Lyrically I tend to look for inspiration from things around me that have resonated with me emotionally for one reason or another. For example, 'Magnified' was inspired by a microscope that I was messing around with last year. I became obsessed looking at everyday things and seeing what they looked like when magnified. It was like I was discovering the world for the first time again."
A lot of your songs are layered with various instruments, harmonies and even tempo changes, how do you prioritise all these elements in the recording of your music?
"I generally have an idea before I start recording about what sort of sound I’m looking for. Since I started using Logic Pro I have the luxury of infinite tracks. This can also be a challenge because sometimes less is more. I will sometimes build up the layers and then make edits later on and take stuff out where I feel it doesn’t work or that it sounds better stripped back.
I love to sing harmonies and these just sort of happen naturally. I just sing whatever I think sounds good. There’s never any music theory involved! A few times people have pointed out unusual time signatures to me, or weird shifts in the key. I don’t really notice them, it’s just how the song came out at the time so I can’t imagine it doing anything different (see 'Spontaneous Combustions')."
What type of equipment do you use on stage and in the studio?
"On stage I am limited to just me and an acoustic guitar. I’d love to be able to perform the songs the way they sound on the recordings, but it would be quite a challenge to do by myself. The plus side of stripping things back to just a guitar and vocals is that the songs take on a more intimate vibe and can allow people to notice things that maybe they missed on the recording.
In the studio I record onto my iMac with Logic Pro X. When I say 'studio', that actually means the spare bedroom in my house! All my gear is in there – acoustic guitar, keyboard, bass, electric drum kit, violin, various random items of percussion. I use a Rode microphone for everything."
A lot of your songs have interesting progressions along with compelling lyrics, who is your inspiration for songwriting?
"Good question. There are a lot of songwriters that I really look up to. I don’t necessarily try to sound like any of them - it’s more that I’m inspired by their creativity and originality. These would include The Beatles, David Bowie, The Kinks and Brian Wilson. Modern songwriters that have inspired me include Elliott Smith, Marika Hackman, Du Blonde, Laura Marling, Tame Impala and Fruit Bats."
With current circumstances (COVID-19), do you ever worry about how it's affecting the live scene for you?
"It is something I worry about, yes. Personally, I’ve always struggled a bit with my confidence when it comes to performing live so it’s not something I’ve done much of in recent years. As soon as we went into lockdown and there was no longer even an option to play a gig, it suddenly really made me want to play a gig!
So I recorded some unplugged performances for YouTube to share with my fans - a gig from the safety of my own home. I’m hoping to play live again when it’s safe to do so."
What advice would you give aspiring solo artists who want to get themselves out there?
"We live in an age where anyone can record a song on a phone, in your bedroom etc. There is nothing to stop you from putting your music out there and sharing it with the world. The difficult bit is getting people to listen. Time is precious and there is too much music out there to possibly listen to it all in one lifetime.
You need to try and reach out to the right people, the ones who will appreciate your style of music and hopefully share it with other like-minded people. You should never give up on your dream, but you might have to learn how to adapt it a bit!"
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
"I hope to still be writing and recording music. I’m always reaching to the next song or the next album and I hope I’m still as excited about music in 5, 10, 30 years time. I would love for my music to reach a wider audience, but equally I am very grateful to those fans who have been with me on my musical journey since the beginning and I hope they’ll stick around!"
If you could collaborate with any other artists dead or alive, who would it be and why?
"John Lennon. Out of all the songwriters who ever lived, he is the ultimate in my opinion. I’d love to bounce ideas off him. Nothing was too “out there” for him and he had an instinctive and highly original ear for melody. I imagine he’d be pretty funny to work with too."
Final Word: Rosie Abbott takes the mic
"I’d like to thank Take The Mic for this opportunity and for taking the time to find out more about me and my music.
My albums are available to buy via my Bandcamp page : https://rosieabbott.bandcamp.com or stream via Spotify etc.
My new album “Magnified” will be released later in 2020.
You can subscribe to my YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/rosieJabbott
Follow me on
Twitter:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rosieabbottmusic
Facebook:
to keep up to date with new releases and music news."
It was great having such an insightful chat with Rosie Abbott, wishing her all the best for her new album "Magnified".
If you want an opportunity to take the mic, drop me an email at stewjones22@gmail.com
Cheers!
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