Hello everyone and welcome to the Misty Music Podcast with myself and David.But not only David, we have joining us today the fabulous Amelia Ray.
Hi.Hello.So yeah, this one's a wee bit special for us today.So we got in touch with Amelia because there was a
maybe a post on Instagram from herself about enjoying one of her podcasts, the Stevie Wonder one that we did where David suggested to me and saying that she enjoyed the album.
So we jumped right on her and invited her to come and speak about all her adventures and music and anything and everything.So hello, Amelia, would you like to But rather than me rambling on, would you like to give us a wee introduction to yourself?
All right.Well, my name is Amelia Ray and I thank you for having me.I am a singer-songwriter originally from San Francisco.I'm now a resident of Finland and I just travel the world playing music.My latest
iteration of a short version of my bio that I'm the world's first middle-aged black bisexual female rock and roll star.
Yeah, absolutely love that and I was hoping you were going to bring that up because that gives me questions already.We have been enjoying some of your work that you have been sending us and there's lots to talk about.
First question I've got, how do you end up, a San Francisco Bay resident, born, I take it you were born and raised there, how do you end up in Finland?
You made it sound so easy, but you've just, you've went from there to there, travelling, doing music.
Well, I've lived around Europe for the past 22 years, I guess.First stop was in France, I worked as an English language assistant for a year while I was in university.
And then I went to Amsterdam a few years after that to study Dutch, just a tourist visa, and ended up living in Madrid for almost nine years. I really enjoy the lifestyle, I guess, in Europe.
But I've also spent some time in Tel Aviv, and I worked on cruise ships for about three years.So I like traveling and always winding up in new places and learning new languages.Just what I do.Excellent.
So do you feel more European these days, or are you just a citizen of the world?
Yeah, it's more of a citizen of the world.I was heavily quarantined for the past three years.I turned into quite a hermit.
So now that I've been out since October traveling, it's been four months now around Europe, I don't feel as European as I did before. certain that that's a combination of the fact that I've changed and that Europe has changed quite a bit.
But I still feel very much a citizen of the world.I feel pretty much at home wherever I am.So as long as there's some good food, I'll be all right.
So are you playing shows just now?
I've mainly been bumping about to different music conferences and picking up the odd gig here and there.Nothing super formal, but just putting my toes in the water again after being hidden away for so long.
Getting used to living out of the suitcase and taking the trains and that sort of thing again. and visiting lots of friends and family.It's been nice.
Excellent, because we've been watching your Instagram clips, your diaries, and the places you're visiting look stunning.
And with playing the music, are you at the point where you're trying things out and just, I'll give this a shot tonight, or let's see how this one goes down, or is it pretty much music you've already written and you're comfortable with?
Yeah, most of the songs I perform live, I'm comfortable with.I don't do too much of, let's say, write a song.This is a song I wrote today.But now that I think about it, I mean, it has happened quite a bit in the past.
But now I try to present more of the vision of what I would like to be more than what I was doing before.I used to travel with an acoustic guitar.And of course, when people see a person with an acoustic guitar, then they think folk singer.Sure.
And so I'm not necessarily a folk singer.I might have some folk songs.But my dream has always been a rock guitarist and to play Wembley.So now I've got an electric
guitar that I travel with and so I try to think more about how that's perceived and what's kind of, because then there's also the danger of people thinking, oh, she's going to play jazz, which is not all true either.
But, you know, I'm figuring it out.It can change.It's all a little bit malleable at this point.
Yeah, well, it's interesting you're talking about, you know, maybe perceptions of, you know, when people maybe see you on stage, you know, is it folk with acoustic, maybe jazz, things like that.
But that's the thing about your music from what we've been hearing.There's a lot of diversity in what you do and, you know, there's rock in there, you know, there's jazz, there is folk, you know, like you say.
there's country in there, there's blues, there's everything, it's all there.And it was interesting because I was actually looking at your playlists that you put together on Spotify just to get an idea of what you were assembling.
And a lot of it I hadn't heard of, I'll be completely honest, but there was ones I had heard of and I was like, oh, King's X, for example, you know, and I was like, oh yeah, I'm a massive King's X fan.
So I was like, yeah, there's something, I found something.
So there's a few things, and you know, again, even your playlists, you know, playing through them, you know, there's a lot of diversity in your musical taste, you know, and I think that's shown through.
Well, this was actually a test, a homework assignment I started 10 years ago because I realized I was listening to pretty much Steely Dan only, which is my favorite band.But in 2014, I didn't know what was any of the new music.
It was very limited musical knowledge.So I said, okay, I'm going to make a playlist for myself every month and it's got to have 15 songs on it that I never heard before.I've just kept it up every month and I send it to friends and post it.
So a lot of the things, I mean, I've never heard of these bands either, but I find them and I, oh, this is really great. and I try to follow them and keep up with them.
It's a huge homework assignment, but I try to listen to as much new music as I possibly can of all kinds.Yeah, I like it.
You mentioned there, what about, you know, you're a rock god at heart.What other influences, what bands do you love?What do you enjoy?
Let's see.Well, I was just listening to your Black Sabbath podcast and I picked the Gibson over Fender when I was a kid and started playing guitar because of Tommy Isle.Yes.So certainly into Davis and Queen, Face No More.
The grunge was big, that whole period was really big.Before that, Rush, Jethro Tull. blood, sweat and tears.I like the big theatrical sounding rush, the rock rush.The period.Yeah, the who.
Yeah.Lizzie, Miss Lizzie's another one.
The Who, actually, you know, there was even in the album we're going to speak of, there was just certain little bits that reminded me of The Who, actually, you know, just really small bits that, you know, that I thought, ah, very Townsend, you know, certain parts of it, you know, so that's interesting.
Yeah.Oh, well, thank you.Thank you.Yeah, as a big rock fan, but also, you know, a lot of soul and pop growing up. in the 80s certainly have an appreciation for the Trevor Horn sound.
George Michael is one of my all-time favorites, and you can't go wrong with Bowie, and he was all over the place too.It's one of the things I love about him.
Yeah, well, we enjoy the theatrical sides up your street, David, isn't it?
Yeah, probably more than your street.
Yeah, the pop stuff and things may be a bit more mine, but yeah.And it's interesting that you like creating these playlists of music you've never heard to challenge yourself, I would imagine.And, you know, that is similar to what we try and do, eh?
Just smell something else out to us.
band our knowledge a bit because it's easy to get bogged down like you were saying about listening to the same stuff for, you know, which can be good and quite therapeutic I would imagine, but... It can be limiting at times I suppose as well, yeah.
Yeah, well it's just like there's always, you know, you haven't heard your favorite song yet.There's always a possibility and that's very exciting.
Yeah, I like that.When we knew that you were coming on the podcast, Amelia, I was looking at your website and went straight to your music bit and you've got a few albums, haven't you?
I went straight to the music for autistic people as my first album to go and dive in.And I love the clip of you playing the House of S Samba, you know, on your website at the bottom.So what was that?I mean, that album was 2005.Yeah.
Yeah, a wee while ago now, in the video clip, David, I don't know if you've managed to see it.I've not seen the video clip yet, no.You've not seen it yet?There's a good, good clip of Amelia playing the electric guitar and enjoying it there.
So yeah, I don't know if it's a really on-the-nose, kind of obvious question, but where did that title come from?Because, you know, I'm straight into that.
Oh, let's see.There's another one on that. House Arrest Blues, I think it's before that song, that track on the same album.But anyway, yeah, it's before.So that one came first.It was just an instrumental.
And maybe I don't remember why I picked that title.Maybe I was sick or something, couldn't leave the house.And I just came up with this instrumental song.It was playing over and over.And I said, OK, that's good, House Arrest Blues.
For the Samba one, I was thinking about sitting alone in a house after the relationship's over and your ex is gone, and you're just kind of sitting with the emptiness, the void, and the memories.
And so I thought, oh, well, that's a different kind of house we're at. And then I had that rhythm going, which is not a samba at all, by the way.It just sounded good.I said, OK, we've got a house arrest blues, and now we've got a house arrest samba.
So that's where that came from.I like that.Oh, it was good.Maybe in the live version, we managed to pull off a samba.I don't remember.
Your song that's out just now, is it Dream that's out just now?Is that what you've been?Yes.
Yeah, Dream, been promoting, which is not rock at all, maybe pop, but it's inspired by musicals and show tunes.So I tried to, well, it came to me, I shouldn't say tried to, the melody and the arrangement came to me and it sounded like a musical.
So I just went with that.
I wanted to write a song about dreams that we forget or things that we want to do at a certain point in our lives, and then when we get older, we just think other things are more important, so we push our dreams aside and imagine what it would be like if
we didn't do that, or if it, you know, later in our lives, we could rediscover our dreams.And that is something that happened to me last year.
Actually, speaking of David Bowie and George Michael, I watched both of those documentaries last year, the Wham documentary and Moon Age Daydream, and was really re-inspired by their stories.
I remembered how much I wanted to be like them when I was a kid.And I thought, oh, this is so cool.That's what I want to do with my life.I want to do music.I want to be a star.And I've certainly kept up with the music throughout the years.
But at some point, I guess the level of ambition It doesn't wane, but it gets replaced by other feelings or maybe the practicalities of becoming a rock star.
And certainly, as a small business owner, you've got a lot of other things to think about than your childhood dreams.You've got to do accounting and social media marketing.
So I just wanted to get back to that feeling, what it felt like to be excited all the time about this. a dream.Then I remembered when I was at university, there was a musical theater major who only ever sang.
She wouldn't speak if you asked her a question.Her response was always in song.It was very frustrating at the time because you'd want to know where the beer was at the party.You had to wait for the song response,
And then at some point last summer, I went to the grocery store and I was walking home and I was singing to the trees and cats.And I realized that I'd been singing my entire trip.I had been singing to the rolls of toilet paper in the aisles.
And I thought, oh my goodness, I've turned into this woman. And I said, well, that's beautiful.
That's really wonderful.That's what you're supposed to do.
So Dream is a combination of those two stories.And I wanted to write sort of an homage to this woman and also re-inspire myself to chase my childhood dreams.So that's what I attempted to do. every line in the song references a different musical.
So that was another fun part of putting together that puzzle.
I didn't think I was until I wrote this song.I mean, I have had my favourite, you know, top three or five, Little Shop, Jesus Christ, Superstar, Evita, Company, um, uh, you know, maybe five or seven pop musicals into the woods.
That's the other one I was trying to think of for years, but I, I wouldn't, you know, I've never seen cats or phantom.I'm not a, you know, a Broadway junkie or anything like that.But when I was writing this song and,
finding all of these references and say, oh, man, that's a great, oh, that's a great music, oh, man, I need to watch that.
I certainly am more now than I was a couple of months ago.
Excellent.Because yeah, your voice on the song is very, we've talked about theatre, it very much feels like that, the way you sing the song.It's not really theatrical kind of style, like you are on a stage in a musical, you know?
Yeah, I tried to do it and then I thought, well, I'm not trained in any way to sing like that.And then I thought, well, that's kind of the point, you know, the lyrics is that you're not,
It's not supposed to be perfect, it's just supposed to be that everyone needs to be fulfilling their dreams and singing their hearts out, whatever that means for them.
So then once I got to that, which may just sound like an excuse, excusing myself for not being a good enough singer, but it really was a strategy meal. But then I could have so much more fun and play and sing in different voices.
This isn't my real voice, so it doesn't matter, and now we can just play and have fun and take on all these different kinds of voices.So yeah, it was a lot of fun recording that.
Yeah, because I think it's also talking about Dream and you've just won the award for Hambone Says as well, you know, you've got that award.So congratulations, you know, on that.Thank you.Superb.
you know even talking about vocal style before you even talk about the song it's I mean such a contrast you know if you if you said that this is the same artist you know uh diversity you know I keep using that word but then it really is um you you would there's no way you would say that's the same same same song oh that that makes me happy because of course you know I can only ever hear my voice sure yeah it's my voice you know it's like when I
you hear a recording of yourself in the answering machine.I always sound like a 12-year-old.That's the only voice that my ears can hear, so it gives me great pleasure to know that you said that.You wouldn't have thought it was the same artist.
Yeah, and I think it's that.I mean, you've got Dream, which is obviously quite know, it's very light-hearted and, you know, it's basically about dreams and Hambone Says is completely, you know, different from that, you know.
You correct me if I'm wrong here, Amelia, but it's your reaction to what you were seeing back in 2020, I guess, and what was going on around about then.
I mean, I remember that time even from over here in Scotland looking at what was happening, certainly over in the States, and it was a for want of a better word, a really, really strange time for the States over there.
You said you got a call from someone, didn't you?Was it a collaborator talked about?
Yeah, Jake Wood, who's a drummer and percussionist I've worked with a lot over the last 20 years more, had a
It is right at the beginning of the pandemic and he had a rooftop and he Some friends or someone he knew and let him use their rooftop To record a video with another friend of his and he said all we gotta use this rooftop.
We got to do something I got a rift Okay, well I guess we have to make a video what's it gonna be about you know, and I'm
I think he wanted to do something political or with a social message.I think that was his original idea.And I said, okay, well, let me think about it.
And then I think the next day I texted him and I said, I got an idea and it involves me being, what do you call them now?An overseer.
and you being a field hand and you can't wear shoes and you have to be appear only in the background behind me and you must always be smaller than me or short because he's quite tall and you have to be shorter than I am.
I think that was the direction that I gave. even before we, you know, I'd written the lyrics to the song.
And he said, okay, great.Let's do it.Whatever you're thinking, let's do it.
And, and so, um, it was really, I mean, it was heartbreaking in any,
any case what was happening in 2020 in the States, well, what's still happening.
But because I had been not living in the States for a while and then to kind of be stuck there at the beginning of the pandemic, I felt like I was on another planet and I couldn't believe what I was seeing or hearing.It was just
It was a real shock, you know, and it was something that was so out of a different era and a different time.
And so I just thought what would, the things that are coming out of people's mouths are so preposterous, but what would it sound like if these words were coming out of my mouth?
Like would people be shocked, as shocked as I am, you know, on the other side?And so that's kind of what it, prompted me then to write this song as an overseer, I guess, is the safest way to put it.
Not safest, but the most accurate way to put it is someone who has control over a group of people and who doesn't see them as people at all. and using all sorts of horrible language to describe them.
And so then I thought, okay, well now you got that, you got your character, but what's the song going to be about?And as we've just discovered, I really love intricate puzzles.
So I thought, well, we have to film this thing live on a rooftop and we don't have any, um, It had to be acoustic.So Jake and I thought of this like a chain gang sound.He could just play a simple rhythm.
From there, I'm going to write a song in the chain gang except the lyrics are going to be totally messed up.Nothing that a black chain gang would ever sing.
And then I thought, OK, what's it going to be about?What are they singing?And so I was like, well, they have to be singing about this violence that's inflicted upon this group of people.
And then I thought, well, why don't we just go through history and figure out key moments of violence now? think about what words were used to refer to black people at those times.
So they have, uh, coon and jigaboo, you know, very outdated words up until, uh, recent words.And of course I had to do it without using the, the word because it's a word I don't say.
And, um, and then I thought, okay, well, so I documented, you know, I went and looked up the the history of usage of these words and when they were current.And then I placed them alongside events that happened in those times.
So there's the Rosewood Massacre in the 20s, Detroit in the 60s, all these sorts of things.And then I thought, okay, now it would be really fun to have some element of fun in this thing is to
sing it in the musical styles that were popular of those times.So as we go throughout history, then we've got the language that is evolving and then also the musical styles that are evolving.That's why we ended up with my
probably my first, my rap debut.
Do you know what?That didn't actually even occur to me.That's, that's what you would do.
But having you say that, that it just, it's actually taken on a whole other level now, you know, when I think about the, the, the lyrics, um, cause I know you, you'd refer to like, you know, um,
you know Dylan Roof and Zimmerman and Soon Jadoo you know and things like that and so they're all over the last 20-30 years you know and you're doing the rap at that point so yeah yeah wow I didn't I didn't realize yeah that's really really interesting wow but what I like about it is I like I like
you there was such conviction in your performance and anger and I think you know and you know you're playing this you know you're flipping the you know flipping the you know and I think it just comes across so it's probably a word that you've probably heard about the video before but it is powerful really powerful it was when I first watched it I was thinking
I didn't get all the references right away.I was thinking, okay, and it wasn't until, you know, second, third, fourth, fifth lesson and watch of the video.I was like, yeah, right.It's starting to make sense now.
And you know, and some of the references that some of the names I was like, I'm sure these are familiar, but I haven't Googled them.You're like, oh yeah, that was that instant, you know, even with the.
you know, the Sunjado incident with Latasha Harlins and things like that, you know, that thing.So it was really interesting because it forced me to go and remind myself of some of the things that you were singing about in the song, you know.
It's certainly a work of which we can all be very proud and especially
Jake Wood managing to change the rhythm and really reflect the change in the musical styles with just the pandeiro that's playing, you know, this one instrument that was very impressive.
Well, the vocal performance is extremely impressive as well, you know, so a great collaboration.
Yeah, it is something special and like you say, David, it took me a few
few times to, you know, there's something every time I listen to it, there's a wee bit something more that I'm picking up on and I never realised as well that you change the styles for the different verses or the different times.
That does make it more special, eh?And I had to Google a lot of the words, the language that you used, you know, because you're saying they're so thankfully outdated, you know.But it's just, even still, that's still quite shocking.It's still
that, you know, you're googling, a lot of the words that you used almost sound like they could be nice words as well.It almost sounds like it could be a term of endearment or something.It's ridiculous.But the video itself, it's...
What I loved as well in your performance is that, I mean, you're a striking image anyway, you know, with the clothes that you're wearing.The lederhosen type thing.Yeah, your hair, the lederhosen, the socks.So straight away I'm interested.
And then you've obviously got the lyrics in the video as well. The way your face changes because it's so serious at some points and then there's slight breaks where it's… If you were watching the video without the music,
it's almost completely different, but how it all marries up with the lyrics that you're singing, the beat that's being made, the rooftop, the imagery and everything, it is quite special.Is it something you're really proud of?Oh yeah, oh definitely.
I was going to say, do you feel this is going to be one of these things in 10 years?People say, so hand bone surgery.I've written so much since that.Come on, could we talk about something else?
No, I don't think I'll ever get tired of it.I mean, it really is beautiful.
Peggy Perelton did a wonderful job shooting it.And I I'm never going to perform it live.So, you know, we might as well talk.
Is that a song?I'm not going to come out in an encore and play that song.So it's just it only exists, you know, just in that form.Yeah.
Yeah.I like that.Well, I think the video, you know, I mean, you can listen, you can stream just the audio, but really, It is the video that tells the other half of the story.So, yeah.
Special, really, really special.
Maybe if I get like a Janet Jackson Rhythm Nation kind of choreography, I could do that.I'll never say never.
Only if I can be a part of it.You get it.
It makes me, you know, a lot of your video, I've been enjoying watching a lot of your videos and you were speaking before about Dream and the video, you know, how important is the, how much do you enjoy the kind of video process?
Is that, does it, I mean it blows my mind that you thought of the kind of concept and the rooftop and everything like that before the even song was made with Hambone.So how does, how do the videos fit in it for you?
I wish I had a budget to make an amazing video to go with every song I release.I really love making music videos.I don't like appearing in them, but I love the art of film and storytelling.And I sort of
Video wasn't as accessible, let's say, at the beginning of this century, millennium, as it is now.So music for autistic people, it really wasn't feasible to make a video unless you had a huge budget.But now it's a lot easier.
I mean, that video for Dream I made in a day or two by myself using Canva footage, but I came up with something that I really liked.Last year, I made Delegate with the help of some friends.It's a very low-budget remote thing.
But if I could do a hand-blown test for everything, you bet, I've got loads of ideas for them.Yeah, I really, really enjoy that.
It's like you get to tell the story twice, or you get to tell a completely different story visually than the one that you did with the audio, the lyrics, and the music.
The last podcast that we recorded between ourselves was on David's suggestion of Bjork's Homogenic.
And when I was doing a lot of the watching and reading for that one, she talked a lot about the visuals and obviously her videos and everything, how they kind of marry up.So I don't really know where I was going with that.
But what's interesting is the album we're going to talk about. you know, it's set in Iceland, so it's quite interesting, you know.
Thanks for saving me there, David, because I did have a thread, but I lost it somewhere in between.
Lucy's been working extremely hard, she's got a full-time job and she's at uni as well at the same time and she's just, I don't know how she finds the time.
I'm not trying to make you feel sorry, I've just been running about like a bit of a dafty for the last few days.Thanks David.So yeah, this new album, you're in the process of trying to record, can you tell us a wee bit about that?
Oh no, well it's a long story, this album. If Hambone Says was my masterpiece to date, then this album is the magnum opus.It's now a little over 15 years in the making.And the title, I would say working title in case
I don't know, I get a record contract between now and the time that I release it, and I'm forced to change the title, but is seen from an Icelandic novel.
And in December of 2008, I was at an artist residency in Eastern Iceland at the former home of Gunnar Gunnarsson, who is a famous Icelandic author who wrote in Danish a lot of the time.But I decided that I was going to read a book while I was there.
I'd picked out the book of his I wanted to read, and that I was going to make a musical piece after I finished it, whatever inspired me.And I started reading this book.I don't remember which one it was.
It was the one about his childhood, but I'm not blanking on the title now.And it was a fine read. But it wasn't really moving me.And so one day I picked up a shorter book, a thinner book, and it's called The Black Cliffs Notes.No, that's my song.
Man, just gave away the punchline.The Black Cliffs. I read it in one day.It was just a really captivating story.The morning after, I woke up with the entire first song of the album in my head.
I mean, arrangements and the melody, not all of the lyrics, but the general idea and the feel of the song.I thought, oh, wow, that's great.I knew what it referenced in the novel.I said, well, I'm just going to write
I'm going to write the whole novel in song form.
And so I did.And then in 2010, we went to record it again with Jake Wood and the bassist is Mari Jose Estivarez, just the power trio.And I was living in Spain at the time, so we went down. and recorded with Paco Loco in his studio near Cadiz.
And you said that, was it Paranoid?Was it Black Sabbath?Yeah.Was that the album title?Yeah.It was recorded in three days.We recorded this in two days.
It was a wonderful, I mean, it was just, it was a beautiful experience and really, really, Loved making the album.And then I got back to Madrid, and I didn't have all the track.I don't remember what happened.Anyway, some of the tracks had been lost.
So that was a bummer.And it wasn't for another couple of years, I guess, that I could afford to have them re-recorded.So then I did that. Then something else went wrong.
It was just every couple of years, something seemed to be preventing the completion of this album.
So I started thinking, well, maybe the spirits of this story don't want me to make this album because the book is a fictionalized account of true crimes of passion that happened at the turn of 18 and 18-2. in Iceland.
And these neighboring farms, two farms, and the husband from one farm and the wife from another farm had an affair and killed their spouses so they could be together.And this happened in a rather small religious community.
And the story is told from the point of view of a young minister who's new to this area.
And he has to kind of bring these people to justice and also has to make the rest of the parishioners own up to the fact that they've been turning a blind eye to this.But it's a really beautifully written story about how we decide
what's right and what's wrong, how we make our choices and our own morality, in addition to being a gripping murder mystery.It's not so much mystery, I guess.
And so I really wanted to get, that's what really, you know, just this poor guy, he's agonizing, you know, and if he's questioning his faith and, you know, humanity, And so I really wanted that to come across in the music.And I hope it does.
It's a soul rock opera.And I explained that to somebody, or I mentioned that to someone recently.And they said, what's a soul rock opera?And I said, well, you've heard of a rock opera, haven't you?And they said, yeah.
And I said, well, it's soul rock, so it's a soul rock opera. Absolutely, yeah, makes sense.
I've had the sweet release stuck in my head all day.That is catchy, man.
I've got that down in my notes quite a lot, just the earworms that are all the way through the album, you know.
Yeah, because I had a laugh in the car when I was driving to work this morning where I was like, God, this is an earworm.And then I'm thinking there's got to be a better term for earworm.
We call it an earworm, but it's such a strange thing to call it, isn't it?I was just like, it's catchy.
Well, if you have a worm in your ear, imagine you'd want to get it out, but I guess it's stuck in there.
But that's funny because I often think that's a weaker track on the album.And I don't know why I think it. I think the guitar part, the riff, is maybe derivative.But it was just so much fun.I just kept playing it anyway.
It's tuned down to D, so maybe that has something.I don't know why.I feel like it needs cred.It's just hanging out with the cool song.Yeah. But I do like it.Yeah, I am glad. All right, I won't mention it anymore.We'll speak on it no more.
It's an earworm.No, it's a single.It's a hit, honestly.Because if you're looking for the opera, like the rock opera you're seeing, the first track on it, the John... Is it John... Is it Evens or... Evens?Evens.John Evens' score.John Evens' score.
Oh, yeah, that makes more sense.John Evens' score.That's an opera.That's a... Yeah.
Yeah, I'm glad you said that because that would be my choice for a single.But you're right, it would never get played on the radio, it's too long.Sweet release would be the single.
That's like standing on an Icelandic volcano playing a guitar, isn't it?
Yeah, I already have the video for that all mapped out.It's gorgeous.And as soon as I get 20 grand,
man you're going for it yeah i like that excellent um because you've gotten you've got nine um obviously this this this music's not available um you know you've you've you've still got it in demo form as you said uh amelia so there's nine nine tracks here is it going to be these nine tracks or are you are you can are you going to add to it or is that the album
I've thought about that throughout the years because it's rather short for an album, just nine tracks.The songs aren't particularly long, not all of them.But I don't think I can.
I mean, if someone were to, a producer or something said, we need a 10th song, I really don't know where I would pull it from because I've really told the story from each character, each main character has a song.
And I still think it manages to weave the entire story and tell it in a pretty chronological order.I wouldn't feel right to just stick something.I also don't know if I could write in that way.I mean, I wrote this 15 years ago.
So if I tried to add something to it now, it wouldn't.It's not the same.I'm not the same person.It wouldn't sound the same.Yeah.And the bulk of the recording, I still have.So I'm not interested in rerecording all of the guitars and the drums.
I mean, that part, most of it's been saved.It's just been a matter of things that were lost or some overdubs that needed to be done. I am considering re-recording my vocals because I don't sound like that anymore.
I think my voice is much more confident now, a little fuller.But again, I don't know if that's going to work with the music.I might need to leave it that way. So these are the things that I'm hoping to work on in the next couple months.
Again, it's always a war of funding, but I'm trying to finish that up.
And you're looking to get this album out this year, Amelia?Yeah.
Ideally, yeah.September, October would be great, but I mean, you know, I've waited this long, another few months.
But that is the goal, yeah.
So, well, before, I mean, we would probably normally save this to the end, but while we're on the subject, how can people that are listening, if they want to support you, how can they do that?
How can they contribute to, you know, you helping you get this out?
Well, the best way is to join the fan club at patreon.com slash Amelia Rae.Do you have to say, you have to forward slash stand back slash Amelia Rae.
That's the best way, not just for financial, I mean certainly that's great, but you can subscribe for a month, you can subscribe for a year, whatever you're willing or able to do, but also That's where the unreleased things go.
Certainly, if you want to hear this album, that's the only place you can get it now.So if you join the fan club, then you can listen to the album in its entirety.But also, we have discussions about it.I get a lot of input from people there.
And it's really quite helpful.So it's helpful financially, but also Emotionally at times, certainly, you know, the encouragement.
Yeah, kind of validation of your talents as well.
Yeah.Yeah.Yeah.After 30 years of banging your head against the wall, it's nice to see some pom-poms every now and then.But yeah, but it's nice to be able to chat with people about the work, you know, and get feedback.
So that's a really great place for it.And if not, You know, there's always band camp if people want to buy some music there.And also on my website, ameliorade.net, people can download albums there, too.
And buy a Dream t-shirt.Oh, yeah.It's musical theater.
T-shirts and cups.I like some of your mugs.
That's right.Get a mug, get a cup, get a drink.
So, you know, all those are ways.
Excellent, well we'll make sure we put the links in the description for the podcast so if anyone's listening they don't need to remember.So are we going to talk about these songs because I'm quite looking forward to talking about them.
Do you want to give the tracklist?Have you got them all there or I can do that for you?
Yeah, scenes from the Icelandic novel.
That's good, isn't it?So we've got Joe evens the score.John.John evens the score.John evens the score.The Thing, Sweet Release, Ordinary Crime, For the Birds, Real Estate, Orderville, Eleven Hours and Black Cliff Notes.That's what we've got.Yeah.
Well, it's starting off with John Evans's score.I mean, that guitar lick. is that, you know, Lucy was talking about, you know, Sweet Release and the chorus been in her head, but that guitar lick's been in my head for days.
I thought you would like that.Since she shared the link, it's been, it's just been sticking in my head, you know.And, you know, and then with the drums and the rhythm guitar kicking, it just, it's just a perfect marriage.
And before, in case I forget to say it, The mix and the production on this whole thing sounds brilliant.It's so crisp, so clear, you know, it just sounds amazing and but at the same time sounds organic.
It doesn't sound like it's been overly produced, it's just a good feel, you know, the whole album.
your voice is great, I mean you're talking about re-recording, I mean that would be obviously a personal choice and it would make sense to you but your voice in this entire album is superb, it really really is.Oh thank you.
And I like, I love the way you've got a floaty chorus, you've got quite a kind of rhythmical kind of verse and then you've got the chorus is really floaty.I like that, that kind of that contrast.And the guitar solo was excellent.
I knew you would love the guitar, David.Really?
Yeah, honestly, I love it.Thank you.I love it.
Oh man, you guys really are a focus group.
So where does this sit for you?You were talking about possibly this would be your single, possibly this one, would it be?But you're thinking it's maybe too long, possibly, you know?
Well, Yeah, I think it's too long for the 2024 radio.It might have worked in, you know, 1979 when Styx was on the radio.It might have been able to pull it off at Kansas or something.And it doesn't work if it's short.
Of course, you're not going to do anything that's over a length of a year.
But I really just like, it's kind of, you know, it starts off the story.It tells you where all the tension is.This dead man is coming back and he's saying, hey, not only did you cuckold me, you killed me.
You've got some bad karma coming your way, buddy.And just, you know, kind of tension that sets it off. But I also, it could be like Superunknown.Is it Superunknown?That's the first song on Soundgarden, Superunknown.
Yeah, the first song on Superunknown.Let Me Drown?Yeah, it could be like that.
It's not the single, you're not expecting it and you put it on and it's the first track of the album and you're like, oh my goodness, this isn't even the song I bought the album for and we're starting like this.So it could have that impact.
Yeah, I could see that totally.Yeah.
But I want to make a video for it.
Yeah, well, Lizzie's got the concept, you know, I might use music on top of that.
How is writing this, like, I mean, this was obviously written like 15 years ago, like you were saying this has been a real kind of Project Depassion over the last few years.Has your writing process completely changed or was it just that?
I mean, you said that you had this idea straight away.You woke up and this was almost formed in your head how it was going to be.Is that normal for you or is that special to this album?
It's pretty normal, yeah.This album is special, I think, because It sounds like one genre.I'm not certain what that genre is, but it sounds like it goes together.And my previous albums are just a mix of anything that I like.
One song was a blues, one was a samba, one was funk or whatever.And this one really sounds like a cohesive product, you know, an organism that's meant to go together.I imagine that's because of the story, you know, that inspired it.
But it wasn't a conscious decision.It's only something years later that I heard and realized.When I was writing it, it was just this person needs a song, this person needs a song, this song is going to be about that.
Yeah, I didn't think too much about how they would all sound set next to each other.Since then, I've only released singles, so I haven't had to worry about that.But it's fairly often that I'll wake up with a fully formed song.
the music anyway, the lyrics still come later generally.
Yeah, so then it goes on to the thing.The thing, yeah.
The thing, the thing, the thing.The thing is, the thing.The thing that was in my head.The thing is.About the thing.It was with, you know, obviously like this is just me and my, because I'm fairly stupid.
But obviously I was just thinking of like Iceland and I was thinking Arctic Circle and I thought The Thing.Oh, The Thing, the movie, you know, just like ice.And then it's really not about that.
You know, but why would you just put a song about The Thing in the middle of a concept album, basically, you know?That's how stupid I am, you know.
Oh, no.Anything's possible.
But yeah, this one I had to imagine what, not imagine, but these characters are so alive to me.And so I imagine this farm man, like he must have been really, really passionate about this woman to kill her husband and then just
go on farming as if nothing happened and kill his own wife.But then you imagine if a farmer in 1802, how hot and sexy could this guy be?
I mean, trying to think of what does passion look like in a person of this time.
So I wanted to give him a super, super sexy song because normally, Farmers in 1802 in Eastern Iceland probably aren't allowed many chances to be sensual.So I wanted to do that.So that's his song.
And then just sort of understanding how driven he must have been.I won't say in love. maybe they were in love.I don't really get that from the novel.It was just more about, you know, it was more passion than I would say, you know.
So I really wanted to do that for that guy.
just Mr. Murderer.It's got a pretty chilled out groove, I think, the song itself, but it's equally got that stuttery rhythm, which I like.It goes in and out of a few different time signatures as well, and that just keeps it so interesting as well.
Again, the voice is great on it. I mean when you sing you've got that thing I want, your voice is excellent at that but you know I love that about when you go kind of higher you know.That's the heat of it.
You've got the same thing written down David.
That's the heat of it coming out again.But yeah, classy.Wow, yeah, thank you.
And then we go into my single, Sweet Release.
Yeah.You say a bit of an oddball, maybe, a wee bit different on the album for you.
Yeah.I really think it's because I felt like I was trying to write a rock song for some reason.And I really think it's just that riff.You know, when you play a guitar riff, you're always thinking, where have I heard this before?This isn't mine.
I didn't write this.This has got to be Steppenwolf played in reverse.So I think maybe I discredited it because of that.But it's just such a fun song.It's got the tambourines in it.
I just kind of went with it.
But it also could be because it's sung in the voice of this sexy farmer man's wife, who is very unsure of herself.She's a paranoid hypochondriac.And she, you know, she kind of cries wool.
So when she tries to tell people that her husband and his mistress are trying to kill her, they're like, oh, Bless your heart.You come to us once a week with some problem.You got TB.You got rheumatoid something, and now they're trying to kill you.
So maybe it was the character's uncertainty that shadows the way I feel like this is an insubordinate song, or insufficient song. But no, no, now that Lucy said it's a single, it's going on.
It's got to be.No, I like it a lot as well.I mean, I even like just the simple thing, just at the tail of every kind of verse line or every second line, maybe, in the verse, you just get the chord that rings out.I just like that.
Just these little things, I think, are really make it.And even when you sing this poison burns, just wait your turn. you know, the bass run, the wee do do do do, just the simple wee bits, you know, just again, all in the right place.
And, you know, I really like that song.Yeah, yeah.It's really catchy.
Thank you.Thank you.Absolutely.Oh, this is really, this is really great. Yeah, information.I mean, as an arranger and, you know, producer, this is helpful, but not just as a songwriter.Ah, good.As a singer, yeah.It gives me good input.
Then we go on to ordinary crime.Oh, yeah.
And I like that, I don't think everyone can see this, but on the link that you've sent us, you've given us a wee blurb of what part of the novel, just what you're doing for us just now, just telling us a wee bit what's inspired each of the songs.
So I don't want to try and say this name.Is it Stein Nun?
Sure, your guess is as good as mine.I've been instructed on how to pronounce it quite a few times, but I say Steinen.
Right, so this is around her character.
Yes, this is the, well, I call him, this is farmer murder's mistress, who's mistress murder.So there's farmer murder and mistress murder.And she, She plays a little coy, like, oh, I didn't know.But she's just as much of a murderer as he is.
And so I thought, OK, well, her story is that she is pretending to be innocent.And the passion just, she couldn't control her passion.And now she's just ended up in this place that's called jail. How did this happen to me kind of thing.
And falling in love is just an ordinary crime.So that's the line I took with her.But the rhythm, this is a completely George Michael inspired song, which you wouldn't think would work on a soul rock opera, but it does.
I don't think it goes too far away from the rock, the three rock bangers we've had before.But yeah, this is definitely the dance club number.
I love the lyrics, some of the lyrics in this one and maybe it's just this woman's position but I love some of the without judging jury I wouldn't feel ashamed.That's awesome, you know. just another victim of Love's Confusing Game.
I mean, yeah, I mean, I haven't read this book, but already I'm with her on this.I think, I don't know what it is.I'm going to have to read the book.
You've inspired me to read the book, actually, to see how it ties up, because I get quite fascinated by these kind of concept, concept.
I had a feeling, Lucy, this story was going to resonate with you.I just had a feeling, you know?
Yeah, you've got the musical theatre of the dramatics and all that, whereas I'm getting right into the, I'm wanting to know the story of this and what's happened in the dark.So there is a bit there for both of us.
Definitely. I mean, even the start of the song, the rhythm... It's great, the drums and the bass come in, and then you've got those big piano chords.I think that's great.I wasn't necessarily expecting to hear a piano come in at that point.
And it comes in, it's got that reverb on it and that big sound, but it just fits so well.And what I've found is quite interesting is, whether you were or not, I'm not sure, but it feels really close-mic'd when you were singing.
You know, you're really close, and that's a really, really nice effect.
hear your voice in that way but um and when you kind of double track your voice rather than harmonize i think that sounds great as well you know yeah when you're singing can i unison just double track it yeah it's another another really really great song you know
And then we go in for the birds, which is an instrumental on the... And it's a nice wee break, isn't it?With all that's going on, it's a nice wee change up that comes on it.So it's birds, isn't it?
Well, the original title of the book is... I don't even... I'm not even going to say that again.Which means blackbird. So these blackbirds that are common, and then these cliffs where this story takes place.
And the birds are, they're mentioned in the book, but in the preface that Gunnarsson wrote, it really talks about the significance of the birds.And they're black and white, so, you know, they've got all our are good and evil and right and wrong.
And I felt that they needed their own song, too, because they really represent what the story is about these issues of morality.And I thought it was instrumental.It made for a nice kind of transition, which I didn't realize this.
But Before the Birds begins in a minor chord and then moves to a major chord.
And it's the fourth, no, fifth song on the album.So it's in the middle of the album.All the songs that come before it are in minor chords, and all the songs that come after are in major chords.Interesting.And that was not planned.
So yeah, so that was a gift that the universe gave us.
Yeah, it's like a guitar instrumental, isn't it?It's kind of like, you know, it's because you've got the acoustic and the electric and it's almost like it's those two and you've even got the bit of whistling at the end.
Is the whistling, is that more like birds whistling or is that just, I just thought I'd do some whistling and
I thought it needed something, and my buddy Patrick was at my house, and I was like, this song, it needs something, it needs something, and I don't know what it is, and I don't want to put I don't want drums or anything, I just need something.
And he said, whistle.Oh yeah, whistling, that's great, it's a great idea.So that's where it came from.And then, you know, whistling sounds like birds, sure.
But it was just this sort of, yeah, thing it needed.
Yeah, and you've got the poet, and now I'm going to butcher the pronunciation here, so Berglind Gunnarsdottir.I wasn't sure if it was actually you that was, when I first heard it, I thought it was maybe you that was speaking in Icelandic over it.
No, well now you know that wasn't the case.
But yeah, no, I think it's a nice little interlude and I think it plays really well into the
whole kind of concept album thing because you always get sort of things like this segues and things like that and you know the concept album so it makes a lot of sense to me but yeah.
Yeah yeah I really love that that Birgland read her poem Snow there it just it really I don't know how it's something kind of chilling or it adds some suspense
It's like, okay, all of these things have happened.Now we're at this place that's kind of quiet and there's this, yeah, what's going to happen now?Yeah.
And then we move on to real estate.
Yeah.This is our poor, our poor young minister is just, he's going through it.He's also recently married, you know, he's just trying to start his life and here he's got to deal with this.
double homicide in this tiny town with his boss, who's the old, the elder minister.He doesn't really want to do anything about it.You know, we don't have, this is a quiet place.We don't have trouble, you know.
Yeah.Yeah.And this poor young guy is like, not only is it the right thing to do because They murdered people, but it's his job to shepherd his flock.
So he has to, if he doesn't confront these crimes, then he can't offer spiritual or salvation or the path to salvation to the wrongdoers.So he's really torn up about this.
He's walking to the first day of the trial, you know, he wants to save everybody.
And I just imagine him walking with his thoughts and being afraid and it's cold and he's in the snow and he, you know, what do we do when we're walking to do things that we don't want to do?We try to bargain, you know, and say, well,
I'll be really good if I don't have to, you know.
I'll eat all my peas, you know.
So he's kind of doing that, and he's just bartering with his God, making negotiations over real estate.So that's where that one came from.
My favourite line in this is, clutching to reason but longing for vice.
Oh yeah.I mean it's true.I wrote this so long ago.I'm like, hmm, that does sound good.I don't remember that.I'm like, oh, I already wrote it.Clutching to reason, but yeah.
Yeah, you're getting the visuals, Lucy.Yeah, I have.
I've got the visuals.Yeah, I'm there.
I love the bass sound at the start of the song, it is just so full and dirty and just for a guy that's into metal and heavy rock it's just great to hear.What I liked about your voice on this is that you kind of tease the
You sort of tease a bit of your higher range, then you pull back from it.I think it's just that control.That, I think that is really, really clever.It's kind of just, just go a wee bit then pull it back and just, oh, it's just, you do it so well.
And then we go into Orderville.My favourite.That's your favourite, yeah.Why is this one so special?
It's so weird.It's just proggy, but then there's, But it's poppy, and it's funky, and dare I say, there's a little bit of Stevie Wonder.That just might be the clavier sound.But it's in seven, so that's always good.I do like bright again.
But it doesn't feel like it's in seven.I don't know. It also has a World War II reference, which are always nice to throw around.Um, at Arlie Burke is a reference.I don't know if anybody's got that.But doesn't it?Yeah.Yeah.Yeah.
Yeah.I, it was, it was so much fun to write too, because this is to the,
the elder minister who's trying to ignore everything and just keep his quiet little community, and he doesn't want this young guy stirring up the drama, these issues.I don't know.
Maybe it was kind of getting out my feelings about the hypocrisy of organized religion.But it feels good to sing.I really like the lyrics.It's super fun.
um yeah and the and the time signature thing just yeah i really like it makes it i i think see the bit when you when you sing um so you don't want to hear the choir sing and then you've got the choir answer thing the the that doesn't mean it isn't happening see even see that the oh that just sounds amazing you know that you know that yeah i love that but really love that but um
And even, you know, you're talking about, you know, Lucy's talking about lyrics here, the lyric I really like, and that says, locked away inside the house of prayer, green lighting the whole affair.
You know, I think that's just, that's superb, really, really superb.
Yeah, whose crimes are it?That's the thing when you're saying about organized religion, and then it makes me wonder how much is it religion and how much is it just
people, and rights and wrongs, and people, and amongst guys and religion and all this sort of stuff.Yeah, yeah, yeah.Yeah, it's true.
Yeah, I like all these kind of concepts, these ideas and the morality of it and then the fact that they're religious and then they're maybe not whiter than white, you know?Right up my street.
And a lot of the spots are really banging drums on this as well.Really good hits and things like that, you know, as well.
And the way the guitar actually plays along with it, it's almost like a musical box sound at the end, and it plays along with that.That's a lovely outro, you know, I really like that so much.
Yeah, originally I played the, I think it was a glockenspiel originally, yeah.
But I'm not certain on this what you've heard.This might be the original.
It might be the Glockenspiel actually.That probably makes more sense.
We lost the Glockenspiel back in 2011 or something.But I think it then replaced it with a xylophone.I'm pretty sure it was that way.
And then we go Where did I get to?I was on 11 hours, yeah.
11 hours, yeah.This is the epic, yeah.Our farmer murderer has decided that he's come to terms with his fate and he just wants to He just needs enough time to show God that he has repented.
And it's just sort of sinking in on his way to be executed and finally taking responsibility for his actions.
Yeah. Meeting his maker.How much time do you need to show you've repented?
How long is this song?Six minutes?
Because the line, confession doesn't always lie down with peace.Sometimes it takes hatred for a bride.I mean, that's that's that's poetic.That's really that.
And again, your voice, these kind of really kind of almost thundery kind of toms, you know, playing on the toms, and then your voice is just really sweet over the top.
Again, it's the contrast I think you're creating in these songs that are really interesting.
It's not, you're not doing the obvious thing all the time, you know, whether that's with your instruments or whether that's with your voice, you know, so, yeah.
Oh wow, I'm glad you like the confession line too.I was, I always, I always wonder if that wasn't a little, too much when I sing it.Sometimes I'm like, no.But anyway, again, focus group noted.
You've kind of answered what I was going to ask there, because, you know, I love picking out different lines and things that I think, wow, that's incredible.And David's picked that one out there.It was exactly the same for me.I wondered how it feels.
Does it feel like, God, I've wrote something I've been so clever here.If I wrote something like that, I would be all proud of myself and thinking, oh, this is fab.Does it ever feel like that, or does it just... Or are you always kind of critical?
You were saying that you've been kind of critical, or it sounds too much or too not, or what, but... I've learned that most of the things that I think are really cool, nobody else notices.So I just kind of... learn to live with, you know.
So I just write them for myself and they make me happy.But yeah, this one I don't know why it doesn't feel... I think it's because I wrote, confession doesn't always lie down with peace, as if that were a thing that we said.
You know, nobody says that, I just made it up.But I think that's why, that it seems sort of... Not quite right, but if it's poetic to you, then it works.I'm going to remove the asterisk from it.We're not changing that line.
No, no, no.Please keep it.Yeah, yeah.Because I think it's, you know, you can interpret it in any way you really want that line, you know?Context out of context, you know?So, yeah, I really like it.
This is great.The oohs are good in this one as well.Oh, the oohs are good.The oohs are good in this.
Oh, yeah, the oohs.Yeah, they just soften it.Yeah.
Yeah.I say this is the, the oohs are, I have to remember when I'm singing it live, you know, it's like, oh, they're coming.It makes me take a deep breath because it's beautiful.But it's also, I call it the most arthritic song I've ever written.
Because the whole guitar, the whole... My hand remains in the same position and it's just a matter of moving one finger at a time to get the different chord changes.I'm just moving one finger.
So my hand is like this until after the second... And then, man, when it comes time to do the... Oh, won't you lend me some time?I have to... stake my hand out like that and then quickly go back to make the D quarter.
But I bet you that looks cool though.But when you do that, you see, that'll look like some serious stagecraft there, you know, that'll look... That'll look like a rock out.
It's like, wow, my joints are frozen.
Yeah, and then we finish up with Blackcliffe's notes.
Which is a country song.It's my country song.I'm a little bit country.But yeah, for...
for those of us who, not those of us, those of the rest of them who didn't read signed reading at school, you know, you could buy the clip notes which were bridged versions of
Steinbeck or whatever your homework assignment was, it was called Cliffs Notes.
I am so dumb, I just got that Cliffs Notes.
So this is about the novel The Black Cliffs, and this is The Black Cliffs Notes.
If you don't want to listen to the whole album, but you want to know what it's about, then you just listen to the last track, and I tell you the whole story, what happened in country form.
It's great.I mean, it's like, you know, what do you have?We talk about countries and a particular influence on country that you have, or is it just like you went for an obvious style or was there anyone you had in mind?Any country artist?
No, there is no artist.I just had that line.I just got the well, the Einstein and I got to kiss and that's when the bodies turned up.You know, I guess it was.It's not.It's not Jerry Reid, but just sort of this. classic country storytelling.
I'm like, this happened and this happened and that's how we got here.
I love that you've got a steel guitar in there obviously as well, you know, and spoons in there as well.Yeah, over the top, why not, go for it.
Yeah, go all in, absolutely.
You mentioned about some of the earlier ones just being fun to play.Is this one fun to play, is this?
I never played this one.Well, not never.Let me think though, when was the last time I would have played this live?
Or fun to record, or was it?
Oh yeah, certainly.I mean, it was all fun to record.The recording was really... I'd never recorded
At the same time, which is simultaneous tracking or anything, but most of my recordings, if I didn't play the instruments myself, then I would have a drummer might come in one day and then a bass player another day.
But for the three of us to be there and to be able to see each other, that's obviously going to change the way it sounds and feels. So that was really, really fun.
And then to be in a place called the Locos Studios, where he had all of these amps and all of these guitars.Oh, play this guitar.And he knows which sound.Say this and put this in there.So that was really great.
This one was probably the most difficult song, actually, to track, because of the pickup. It doesn't start at a ding, ding, ding, ding.I remember it took us a while to get that.And I'm not a picker player.
I'm not very skilled at this style of playing.So it was a lot of just wishing and hoping. It helped that the guitars were dirty, so they kind of cover up as many flubs as possible with the distortion.I try to remember.
I remember that Ordinary Crime was a lot of fun recording, and then Ordeville, because I got to play the glockenspiel.And I just loved playing that guitar riff.But yeah, it was all. A lot of fun, yeah.
Yeah.Well, I think you should be very proud of it and I really hope that... It does come across.
I really hope it comes together and you get out this year.
Thank you.Thank you so much, yeah.And thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts and taking notes.That's a huge encouragement, for sure.
No, it's been very enjoyable.And thank you as well for putting out about us.That's how we got a great audience.Oh yeah.Yeah, that was a real thrill for us, honestly.We were like a couple of schoolgirls, weren't we?
Oh, did you see this?Oh, I don't even remember how I found your podcast, but I was so glad I did.I said, this is so much fun.
And I've listened to a lot of the Black Sabbath one. And Carole King, that was a lot of fun.I hadn't listened to Tapestry in ages, so that was a delight.And what was the one?
Oh, I started to listen to the Marianne Faithfull and PJ Harvey album before I listened to your episode. The two artists I really, really, really, really, really love.But I couldn't get into that album for some reason.
I just like, I don't know, I'm going to have to listen to it later.So I decided I'm going to listen to your episode first and then go back and listen to the album because then I'll have maybe more idea of what to pay attention to.
I have been enjoying your shows.Excellent, thank you.Well, you mentioned when we were speaking that you're a fan of Still Game as well.Oh yeah.How?
I dated a Scottish woman for a while and she turned me on.
I am a huge jerk.And eyes, I can't forget eyes on them.Yeah, those are my buddies.
I won't even, I won't, I won't do it.You won't offend us, you know. Bobby.No, I can't.I can hear it.It's one of those things you can do fine or eyes.I wish I could do really good.I think I ran into Peggy McLaren.So, you know, it's funny, though.
I was in Iceland in November.
I went to the Iceland Airwaves Conference and I think it was the second day. I was at this bar waiting, listening to a band, and this man came up to me.I had a show there that week, so I'd left my flyers about the place.
I'm pretty sure that this man saw my flyer, but he didn't remember that he'd seen my flyer.In any event, he came up to me, he's like, you're Amelia Ray.I said, yes. Oh my God, can I believe it's you?And now I'm doing it.
I'm trying to, it was Chris, Chris from Glasgow.Oh, I watch you on YouTube, but he's just going on and on.And I can't figure out who this man thinks I am.You know why he would, this man from Glasgow watching me on YouTube.
I mean, he buys me a beer, he takes a selfie. All this stuff, he tells me I've got to come to Glasgow.I've got to, yeah, yeah, yeah.Okay, okay.So, and he was there to see Gallus, which is who is performing at this bar.
So he was telling me, oh, you got to come get a drink.And I said, yeah, I'll be here, Chris.I'll be here.So he was just so excited.And he said he was going to text this selfie to his son that he'd met me.And he knew my name.
He just kept saying my name. And there were people next to us.He was like, do you know who this is?And I was like, oh, you're trying to keep a low profile.Yeah.And he just, he made my night.
And so the next day I was telling this to a friend and I said, he probably woke up this morning and saw a photo of Alicia Keys and went, oh, that's not her.But in any event, I said it was really good practice.And my friend said, practice for what?
And I said, well, for when I'm famous and people really do recognize me and come up to me and she said, what do you mean?He said, it just happened.And I was like, oh, I guess so.She's like, in his mind, you're the famous Amelia Ray.
It just happened to you.That's what it's like.And I was like, oh, all right, I can get down with that.
So thank you to Chris in Glasgow who bought me a beer in Reykjavik because
I'm the famous Amelia Ray.
Oh that's lovely, I like that.And the fact that you're saying Glesga right as well, I love that because there's so many people that get that pronunciation wrong you've got it bang on so I love that.
Well if there's one thing I can pronounce, two things I can pronounce, Glesga and Craig Lang.
Oh, I love it.It's an absolute pleasure speaking to you.Thank you so much for joining us.
Thank you all so much.And good luck with everything and maybe further down the line if you get the album out, you know, and we can maybe meet up again and see how things are going.
Oh, definitely.Yeah, definitely.It's going to be a CD.So, you know, we're going to go old school and vinyl.So I'll definitely send you a copy.Yeah.
Thank you.Thanks, Amelia.
Yes.So that was the lovely Amelia LeRae.Thank you very much for coming on to the Misty Music Podcast.
I thoroughly enjoyed that.Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Yeah, it was interesting.I wanted to go off on tangents left, right and centre about stories and stuff.To leave some for next time.I will.And I wanted her to like me.
I think she did like you, Lucy.You're a very likeable person.
I hope so.So yeah, after this one, it's back to my choice to suggest one to David.And I'm going for an easy one that I've thought back and forth to suggest to you.But this, I just want an easy, fun album for us.
It comes with stuff and I'll put you on a very good documentary on it.But for the music itself, I'm going to go for X-Ray Specs, Gems Free Adolescence. Yes.Am I predictable?
Back to punk.I need something a bit upbeat for the... Not the Iggy and Bjork and the last few bits that we've been listening to.Yeah, no, I know, I know.
But something a bit just like primal and kind of... yeah.
Fucking in your face, I thought, eh?
A bit... You know what?I've got two pens here and none of them are working.X-ray specs, right?
X-ray specs.Germ-free adolescence.
Germ-free... Germ-free adolescence.Adolescent.
So what is on this that I would know because I know a couple I actually expect were just probably singles and things like that.
I mean Identity was big, Gen 3 Adolescence is a tune on it.
It's maybe one of the ones I'll know knows the titles but maybe where I hear it I might be familiar with one or two.
I think you'll know it more once you listen to the album itself.I think you'll probably be aware of a few of them.But yeah, I mean it will bondage up yours was after that.Back to the fabulous Paulista Irene.
Yeah, yeah.I caught they actually talking about that.It's the documentary one about Palestine.
I'm not a full one, but I think it was one of those come in for the pub, Sky Arts type things and you're half cut and you're like, oh, this looks interesting.I caught maybe the last 20 minutes, maybe half an hour.And I was enjoying it.
Yeah, I think I said to you, see, even if you've not, I think I said to you and another friend, even if you're not into the kind of music, the story in the documentary is really good.It's from, it's our daughter that's done it.
uh you know from uh that's kind of looked at it now and you know polystyrene had her things going on and what so how that fits into the music and i mean a lot of a lot of people would consider a you know kind of
punk icon and all the great things that we can adore people like that for, but had stuff going on, great tunes, you know?So, good story, good story.
Very moving, the documentary is very moving, so I would recommend you watch that and check out the album as well.
No, no, I'm definitely looking forward to this because my head's in kind of, the interesting thing is my head is kind of in the punk world right now, you know, just in my rotation now, so this is going to be a good wee addition.
This is going to be fucking cool then.Yes, it's got to, it's got to just... I'm getting so pumped up already for it.Yeah.
Good.No, no, no.Nice choice.Something we're just gonna both get into.
And just don't be disappointed.I don't like it though.
Yeah, if you don't like it, that's fine.I'll get the rock out for a wee bit, eh?
You can punch me square in the face if I don't like it, right?Just because I've got your hopes up already, you know?
No, no, I don't think so.I'm just thinking, yeah, you can hear it.I'll be rocking it anyway.I'll be getting my punk rock on.So yeah, join us for that one next time.
Yeah.Thanks.Respects, germ-free adolescent.Nice one.
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