On a fresh and suprisingly sunny Feburary afternoon, York welcomed one of folk music's most influencial and inspiring singer-songwriters. Straight from a gig in Newcastle Seth Lakeman played a spectacular gig at local venue Fibbers, and your Folk Off! presenter caught up with the man for a couple questions about his new album 'Tales From The Barrel House'.
Casually chatting behind the neighbouring Duchess bar, I asked Seth about his new solo project and how he had found the experience. With much deserved pride, Seth described how the production of the album pleased him the most. Having taken the risk of leaving Virgin records, he described how this project was "completely and utterly exposed". Free to his own personal production, Seth described how he could now leave the 'pop' label and no longer "compromise to businesses", reverting back to his true style, embedded at the heart of earlier albums such 'Kitty Jay'.
"I was in the wrong camp."
'Tales From The Barrel House' was recorded experimentally from only one studio mic in various atmospheric settings. A quay, blacksmith's workshop, and outbuildings of a Barrel House, local to his home in Dartmouth, were all used for recordings. From a harsh anvil to summer birdsong, Seth cleverly combines the natural and industrial into an enrapting experience. This atmosphere transports the listener into the very histories, stories and emotions of the song's "talented people of the past". Seth told Folk Off! how the production was left intentionally rough for this very reason, to add this special atmosphere that a polished studio recording simply could not capture.
"If you listen to it at face value say, it's like not the greatest production or songs, but once you understand it, it becomes quite an interesting conceptual record."
We then moved onto collaborations. Seth has played with some of the biggest names in the folk genre, many of whom are regulars on Folk Off! Such as: Steve Knightley, Jenna Witts, Kathryn Roberts, Cara Dillon, and his two brothers. I enquired whether he had any more star studded collaborations lined up, and he expressed that he had considered working with a female voice next, as his recent songwriting is, "a bit more lady lead". Then I asked him who, if history were no barrier, would he love to work/have worked with, and he said he would love to collaborate with Anais Mitchell,"but she's far too big" .
Later that evening Seth and the band - Benji Kirkpatrick, Cormac Byrne, Ben Nicholls, and brother Sean Lakeman - spectacularly lead the crowd through what was truly one of the best folk gigs I have ever attended. The passion, drive, excitement and pure joy of the performers, and of Seth epecially, was as infectious as his cheeky smile. From foot stomping to lyric bellowing, Seth lead us through a fantastic mix of his recent work and old favourites. He also varied the performance composition from the full 5-piece band to a couple of crunchy violin solos, accompanied by skillful cross rhythym percussion from Cormac.
Seth is an exceptionally talented songwriter and performer, and his new album is a fantastic break away from his previous constraints. I would definitely recommend acquiring a copy upon its Easter re-release. If you are ever lucky enough to have the oppotunity to see him and his band live, go for it!
For my special Seth Lakeman interview show, including interviews and top tunes, listen in to the link below.
