This week I would like to humbly introduce you to myself - Annalise Spurr. However, I will let my ‘other self’ who lives in the dark recesses of my mind, take over this interview! ….
Annalise a founding member of Strange Folk since 2002 ish, is the bands singer and she has been howling away at the moon for many years. Annalise is a snaked haired songstress and it has been said that she was once seen singing edelweiss whist gargling barbicide and salt water. Ewwww!! When Annalise isn't singing, she likes nothing more than to read Stephen King’s ‘Misery’ in the dark whilst watching Colombo and wearing her ‘Hammer Horror’ PJ’s!! Sit back with some absinth and a 'French Fancy' and read all about Strange Folks singer - Drum roll please for the cave dwelling, earthquake inducing ‘Gorgon’ A N N A L I S E (said in an extended and drawn-out boxing ref voice lasting for at least a year)!!
Question 1 – When did you first realise that you could sing?
In the shower!! Seriously, I’m not too sure? I think it was during a school assembly. I probably thought ‘ooh this is fun I can sing 'Morning Has Broken' and ‘When I Needed a Neighbour.’ That was my big moment.
After that it was just something I just did and enjoyed, especially in front of the mirror with my hairbrush!!
Question 2 – Did you have any singing lessons?
I joined several school/youth group choirs and musical theatre groups where I experienced different vocal/music styles. I also developed my singing voice at Yeovil College – ‘Rock Workshop’ and at Music College in Hertfordshire!
Question 3 - Is your family musical/who are their influences?
My Dad plays the fiddle and sings. He was in a folk/folk ceilidh band called Gallion. He also plays Middle Eastern string instruments like the Oud and the Greek Bouzouki.
Some of his influences are Bob Dylan, The Stones, Dire Straits, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, T- Rex, The Animals, The Kinks, folk music.
Being a Geordie he woud sing and play traditional Geordie folk tunes - I found this very inspiring. I remember my Dads band Gallion rehearsing at our home and I would creep downstairs when I should have been tucked up in bed asleep. I would spy on the band through the kitchen hatch, it opened up into the living room. Then I would dance around the kitchen like a wild beast.
Sometimes My Mum would take my brother and I to watch Gallion and my Dad would get us up on stage and let us join in!
My Mum use to play the piano and she sings too. She likes The Stones, The Beatles, The Animals, classical music and traditional Greek/Armenian music to name but a few. My mother is an Armenian from Cyprus, so I was heavily exposed to this style of music. I especially love the Orthodox Church chanting and the atmosphere it creates.
I also remember when my brother and I were kids, my folks would tuck us up in bed and then come downstairs and purposely put a Blondie Tune on or other songs of the time like Fade to Grey by Visage, knowing full well that we would come down and jump on the sofa in excitement, which we did. Those were the days.
My folks bought me an amazing original old school Decca record player after I had finished my GCSE’s!! I started to hunt for old records, which I still love to do today. The Decca broke in the early 2000's, but Ian P & Dave S very kindly paid to get it fixed. This made me very happy and I have been blasting my vinyl’s ever since - I have 'More Than This' by Roxy Music on right now.
Question 4 - Do you play any instruments?
I have dabbled with a recorder and the clarinet. I had lessons, but I always found reading music hard and opted for playing by ear. I can play a few tunes on the piano/guitar however, it sounds very dodgy. I am learning to play the Kazoo and Stylophone in my spare time. Ok that was a lie!!
Question 5 - What mic do you like to use?
I use a Shure SM58 Mic!! It makes me sound better than I am.
Question 6 - Have you ever lost your voice during a gig?
I remember Strange Folk had a gig in a local venue. Lots of bands were due to play that night. I had a really bad cold and sore throat, but because we were only going to be performing for half an hour I thought I would just go for it. So I did, and it was a struggle, but I got through it. Some chap came up to me after and said that he loved my voice and that I reminded him of Rod Stewart. I admire Rod, but was that a compliment??
Question 7 – What was the first song that you learned to sing?
That frog song I think - Five little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log
eating some most delicious grubs (yum, yum!)
one jumped into the pool, where it was nice and cool
now there are four green speckled frogs.
I had to learn various songs when I was in the school choir/musicals. For example I was in Fiddler on the Roof and I had to learn the tunes for that (my favourite musical).
I also remember having to learn ‘But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for’ by U2 for a youth group summer performance and wore big Timmy Mallett shades to hide behind. That was scary!!
Question 8 - What are your influences?
I remember playing my Dad’s double album folk record over and over again - 40 Folk Favourites with Gerry Rafferty, Ralph Mctell, The Humblebums, Fairport and Pentangle. I think I wore it out!
I also used to listen to an old radio show called ‘Sunday Golden Oldies’ on the radio. I loved to hear the songs from the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.
Ok so here is a list off of the top of my head and not in order of importance - Marc Bolan/T Rex, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Blondie, The Beatles, Gerry Rafferty, Whitesnake, Guns & Roses, Barbara Streisand, Dire Straits, System of a Down, Fleetwood Mac, Alice In Chains and so on…
Question 9 - What is your singing style?
Wailing Banshee! I think perhaps bluesy rock with a fine serving of folk!
Question 10 - What was your first band called?
Before Medusa/Strange Folk, I had been in a few covers bands and duo acts, but I truly can’t remember their names. I would have named one ‘Willo The Wisp.’ – Cool name!!
When I was at Yeovil College, Somerset in the 90's (aged around 17). Students were offered to do an extracurricular activity outside of their usual course. So, I joined the 'Rock Workshop, run then by PJ Harvey's guitarist - John Parish. I got involved with writing, recording and performing songs! It was great fun, but daunting when it came to the end of term gig where we had to perform in front of the college!! I remember wearing striped tights, DM's, black cycling shorts and a faux leather jacket! I thought I was the bee’s knees!!
I was in a duo act called Community Musicians from 2000 – 2012 with a piano player I know called Dave H. We would sing and play music for the elderly and adults with learning difficulties. We also ran music workshops for the elderly with dementia.
Question 11 - Have there been any gigs that stood out for good/bad reasons?
I have seen quite a few bands over the years but this gig really stood out. Years ago I went to a Ralph Mctell gig and after the performance the audience were allowed to get Ralph’s signature from the man himself. I got my signature and then Ralph told me that he liked my name. Afterwards I couldn’t breathe and then I had to go and have a good lie down!!
Question 12 - Do you have any writing tips?
Always carry a note pad and pen with you and some way of recording yourself. Your phone will do. I’m so old fashioned, that I like a nice soft pencil and a piece of paper to write on! You never know when a jet of inspiration will come your way. For example, the other day I was putting the laundry out and I saw an amazing cloud transformation. It looked like there was a giant shoe just floating in the sky and that was enough to get the creative juices activated. I went in, grabbed my pencil and pad and wrote a song about a shoe that had wings etc. Hee hee!
I was just glad that I had my writing tools close by. Don’t get caught short is my advice, always carry your writing gear with you. Oooh you can also use your phone to record a melody line. I use my phone, but I am partial to my retro dictaphone.
Question 13 - What is your favourite song?
Who wrote these questions? Oh I did. Ummmmm, today my favourite song is by Whitesnake - ‘Love Aint No Stranger.’ I have played it 20 times today already.
Question 14 - What is your favourite album?
Oh no you can’t ask me that, or I can’t ask me that. Goodness, I have lots of favourites depending on my state of mind at the time. So now I am really enjoying listening to The Bee Gees! They are such amazing singers and song writers. I made a veg curry the other night whilst listening to You ‘Should Be Dancing’ and ended getting all the ingredients on the floor, because I was grooving around the kitchen like a crazed swamp creature.
Question 15 - What advice would you give beginners who are nervous about performing?
Pretend you are someone or something else and that what is happening isn’t real! Somehow you will lose yourself. Go with the moment. It is like being in a dream …
Question 16 - How do you/band handle mistakes during a performance?
I run off stage and hide and leave the boys to sort the mess out. Well, we just carry on and somehow get back on track. We have each other’s backs and most hiccups end up being a cool addition for next time. Sometimes I forget the lyrics during a song and I have to add extra oohs. It’s not so bad if the song is one of your own, but if I am singing a cover and get the lyrics wrong, I do feel like a right plonker.
Question 17 – Do you have any warm up techniques?
I gargle with red wine and chew on copiate amounts of Hall’s Menthols in a steam infused room, whilst mediating to whale noises! I am really naughty and I don’t warm up. Does singing to Whitesnake on the way to gigs count?
Question 18 - What does your band name mean?
Strange band members perhaps and some reference to our bands early folk roots - when we were purely an acoustic set up with bongos, tambourines, Woodstock vibes and an air of Bolan’s Tyrannosaurus Rex! (In my dreams)
Question 19 - How did your band meet?
I met Dave the guitarist at Music College and we started up a band called Medusa. Then Medusa dissolved and we both went on our merry way. Then one day whilst I was doing a spot of house cleaning, I got a call from Dave saying that he was back from uni and did I want to start up a band. So we did and Strange Folk was born, but under various other names until later. Ian Prangnell the Viking bassist joined and then Slayer Stevie Birkett the drummer jumped on the SF wagon around 2006.
Various other musicians have also been a part of the SF history, but we have remained a quadrant of four for a good many years.
Question 20 - What does your band sound like?
A mystical candle lit castle on top of a hill with interesting noises coming out from an attic window. Or more sensibly strange rock, with a gothic folksy element to tease.
Silly final question - If you were lost at sea on your own for a bit and you had a record player and an album on board ship, what would the album be?
Fishermen’s Sea Shanties!
At the moment I think it would have to be Gerry Rafferty’s album – Night Owl 1979. His voice is like velvet and full of melody. His lyrics come from a man who must have lived for a century or so.
Thanks Annalise for your answers, it's been…well it’s just been! We have come to the end of our band question time. Next time it’s your turn to fire questions at the four Strange Folkers!! If you have any burning questions you would like to ask the band/individual for the next blog, please send them to strangefolk@hotmail.co.uk
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