CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY INTERVIEW

By Stuart Williams 23/04/2007  Photos by: Marius Hansen

Music4m's Stuart Williams talks to the 'Kate Winslet of Rock' Charlotte Hatherley about working on her new album,  her love for photography and taking up residency in Albert Square?!

Your eagerly-awaited new album, The Deep Blue, comes out on the 5th of March. What can your fans expect from this new release?

 The musical influences and ambitions on 'The Deep Blue' are a lot  broader. Grey Will Fade was recorded in two weeks, jammed between  sessions recording the Ash album Meltdown. I thrashed it out, had lots of fun with it and didn't really give much thought to any ideas of having a 'solo career'...I was just having a good time. The new album was recorded under much different circumstances. I left the band and spent the best part of a year working on the songs, and recorded the whole album in Italy over three months. I was feeling the pressure! I knew this album had to surpass all expectations. I didn't want to make another pop-punk, XTC inspired record, I wanted to embrace my other influences and make it more expansive and dense. I think fans can expect to get a record that sounds like a lot of love and care has gone into it's creation.

How did the experience of working on The Deep Blue compare to  working on your last album, Grey Will Fade? Do you think your approach to songwriting is changing over time? If so, in what way?

Well the biggest difference was being able to spend as much time as liked on it. I would never have been able to make this record if I had been dividing my time between me and Ash. Most of the songs on Grey Will Fade I'd written when I was 18, so I think (I hope!) my songwriting has got better, and lyrically I have much more to say. 3 months in Italy with my producers Eric Feldman and Rob Ellis was just a dream, the best time of my life. I feel much more fulfilled by the new record then I did with the first, it's much more honest, much more me.
 

What was it like to collaborate with XTC's Andy Partridge?

My publishers set me up with Andy. They sent him Grey Will Fade and he loved it, and so I was instructed to call him...I was so nervous, he's such a huge influence on my songwriting. I got invited up to Swindon to write with him in his legendary shed and we bashed out some songs, one of which turned into 'Dawn Treader'.
Andy wrote the verse and chorus, and i added the middle 8 and arranged it at home....pretty damn cool. Andy's a true English eccentric, full of amazing stories. He played me some rare tapes of The Beatles recording xmas messages to radio stations, and introduced me to Judie Sill and Syd Barret. I love the guy, he's been a great help to me. I have about 4 more songs left over from our session that I'll get round to recording soon.
 

Is there anyone else you would really like to collaborate with?

Not really. I'd say Bowie and Kate Bush, but I'd be terrified. I did record a duet of 'kids In America' with Kim Wilde, that was cool.

The Deep Blue is due to be released on Little Sister Records (the label set up by yourself and your manager, Ann Marie-  Shields). This must give you a lot of artistic control. How  important is artistic control to you and your work?

Very important, I'm sure any artist in my position would do it the same way. I was tempted to sign to a label because I had paid for the recording of the album myself, and I was struggling to get the final stages paid for. I wanted the security of a big label. BUT I came to realise that although I'd get money upfront, it's most likely that I'd never be able to repay it, and your future as an artist on a major label is always uncertain. Most bands these days don't get past a second album, and longevity and development is very important to me. My manager suggested we set up our own label, and although at times it has been a struggle it's been incredibly fulfilling and the rewards are so much more. I'm lucky that i have 10 years of being in a band behind me, I have some amazing people to work with, and i have complete control over my music. I'm  certain that the future does not lie with majors, they are all dying out.

Do you have a favourite track on The Deep Blue?

I love Behave and Dawn Treader, and Roll Over (let It Go) is pretty special to me

You cite (among others) David Bowie as one of your influences. He has a career that spans music, graphic art and  acting. Do you have any artistic interests outside of music?  Could you see yourself combining being a rockstar and an actor in the future, for example?

 I would never be an actress! Acting in videos is hard enough for a shy girl! I love making videos, most of mine have been very graphic and animated. It's important to me that every aspect of the artwork is as good as the music. It's difficult when you are working with low budgets, but I've been lucky enough to work with some really talented and dedicated artists who'll work their arses off for not very much. I'm a pretty big film geek, especially science fiction and i love photography as well. I'll be taking my Nikon on tour and putting up photos on my website. Touring is so great for travelling the world and taking pictures. But, i can't really see me venturing too far away from music.

Has working on The Deep Blue changed you as a person?

It's made me a lot more confident, definitely. I was never very sure of myself when I was with Ash, and working with different musicians after 9 years does wonders for your personal development! I think I'm a better guitar player and a better musician. Working with Eric Drew Feldman and Rob Ellis was amazing, they taught me a lot about taking risks and recording music. When a man was in Captain Beefheart's Magic Band you listen to what he has to say!

If you could be any other person in music history for one day,
 who would you choose to be and why?

I would be Kate Bush when she was making 'The Hounds Of Love', just  to see how she worked in the studio....now there was a woman who  knew exactly what she wanted. My favourite album ever. OR Marianne  Faithful in the 60s, what a laugh she must have had, I'd be after  Paul McCartney like a shot.

Your favourite thing about being a rockstar?
 Going to Japan

 You will be touring again soon (starting in February). What are your favourite and least favourite things about being on  tour..And have you ever personally thrown a TV out of a hotel  window?!

I have never personally done such a thing! Least favourite thing  would be the endless touring in a van in the states being the only  girl.....hopefully those days are gone! Most favourite is the gang  mentality and the fun.....endless fun is to be had on tour.  Especially in Japan.

And last but not least...what exciting things can we expect from Charlotte Hatherley  in the future?

I shall be living up to my title as 'the Kate Winslet of rock' and taking up residency in Albert Square. Fuck this music shit.
 

CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY SPACE:
http://www.myspace.com/charlottehatherley

CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY SITE:
http://www.charlottehatherley.com