Rose Kemp Interview

With her own solo work and latest album being ready for release and collaborating in two other projects, Rose Kemp is clearly a lady who keeps herself very busy. Thankfully she found the time to catch up with Room Thirteen where she gave us the lowdown on her latest record, her live shows and how the British record buying public were a whole lot better when they took drugs.

R13 Your new album 'Handfull of Hurricanes' is out now. How would you describe it?
RK: A mix of all the different types of music I do. Some of it's with the band, some of it's acappella, some of it's loops and noise and experimental. It's all me but all very different.

R13 You have a few side projects. Do you feel it's important to have different musical outlets?
RK:I do, it's very important. It takes a while to build up a profile and let people know that you do more than one thing because a lot of people don't do more than one thing. Some people have a fear of not being popular or confusing people and I give people more credit than that. I'm an audience member and an avid music fan and I like to be challenged and I'm not the only one. It's as much for my sanity.

R13 Does your record company help with this in that there isn't really any one person or segment you could specify as the stereotypical Rose Kemp fan?
RK:Definitely, I think they are the right record label as they got behind me and help me make records. I would be doing it if they weren't involved at all but it's nice that they want to release it and they left me to it. It's nice to work with people who like what I do.

R13 So it's much about confidence as opposed to any financial clout they could have?
RK: I haven't got a penny to my name, being with a record label doesn't guarantee you not having to work, not in this day and age. All of my friends who are signed are all struggling to afford to be a musician, in this country anyway. In Berlin people can afford to be creative. It's so difficult in England for everybody, it really isn't financial. So yes, I guess there is the confidence but you can't rely on that as they may not always support you. They might not want to release my next record; it's a funny old world the record business these days.

R13 Even though stylistically you are far apart from them, do you think the current acclaim for solo songwriters and individuals can be of benefit to you?
RK: It's a funny thing, most of the good ones I know don't want to be signed or be near the limelight, basically, I'm one of the few who has managed to persevere to get an album out. I'm in a whole breed of amazing musicians but you'll never hear of them because its difficult to get a record released. The ones in the fucking charts, what can you say? It makes me cry, it's that bad and why are people still putting up with it.
R13 It's always best to remember that a lot of the British record buying public are stupid.
RK:There's always been that element but at least some of them used to take drugs. Back in the day we had Hendrix and he would sell but we also had Cliff Richard but thankfully, real artists like Deep Purple who were amazing but I suppose there was the baby boom and different generations, now there's a lot of old people.
R13 The grey market and Radio 2 has a lot to answer for.
RK: Haha, I'm glad I don't listen to the radio any more, it must be awful!

R13 Your live show recently got a full marks review from Room Thirteen, how do you feel about press in general??
RK:Excellent, yes, I heard about that. It's like saying how do I feel about people in general. Luckily at the moment, I only got interviewed by people who like what I did and that'll probably change but it hasn't happened yet. There has been a few people who are neither here nor there but generally its been good. I'm terrified of people phoning me and saying you're a bit naff aren't you?

R13 For those unaware of your live show, how would that be described?
RK: One day I hope to have a live show that people don't really know what to expect and have the freedom to do anything. There's so many hundreds of things I would like to do...and one day I will.

R13 Depending on what songs you hear, there are things left to surprise. The first few tracks I heard had lots of vocal harmonies but then 'Violence' kicked in with the most amazing guitar squalor. Does this keep you interested?
RK: I love guitar squalor and I could revel in that all day but people have done that before so I try and limit it sometimes and not make a career out of it. I'm touring next week with 7 Hertz and it'll be mainly improvised and I'm really looking forward to it.

R13 To finish off, what are your hopes for the year ahead?
RK: Every record I make this year I would like it to be the best I do. I would like to work with the amazing people I work with at the moment and just be able to do what I want to do but I am going to get a job in a warehouse this week!

And with Rose being so busy it was decided not to take up any more of her time but with her UK tour continuing on into the future, there is every opportunity for everyone to spend some time with Rose Kemp in the near future.