'Straight Outta
Somerset' is a compilation CD of 20 different bands from or connected
to Somerset. It's the first eclectic album of it's kind from
Somerset. There have been albums before like Chard Busters 1982 but
nothing like this CD with it variety of music styles and genres, Folk, Pop, Ska, Jazz, Punk, Indie, Alternative and more.
How did you get the
idea ?
Well I did start
writing the music magazine The Outsider, a lot of blame for that is
due to Noah Burton ( from the band 51st State and Old Hat
promotions) and Jemma Miller in particular who inspired me to do it.
People like the poet and Space Tourettes frontman Simon Larcombe
encouraged me to write. Old Hat put on a load of great gigs and they
do a Punk Party in Buckland St.Mary every year, lots of really cool
bands and not just Punk either. Once I got into that scene I got to
meet Iain 'Sprog' Aird who had just restored the Chard Busters 1982
compilation. Sprog offered to make a few CD's available for issue 2
of The Outsider. Then I thought about time Somerset had a proper
compilation album so I set about making that happen.
How did you start the
project?
I had attended a lot of
alternative gigs due to Old Hat Promotions and also made a friend
locally Immy Done ( from The Incas and The Happy-Sads) who introduced
me to another music scene based in and around Taunton. So I had
already been to dozens of gigs locally and had some idea who I would
want to be on the new compilation. I started a facebook group to
garner interest and Immy was the first person on board and helped me
get the ball rolling with some of the younger bands from Richard Huish who I knew the
music of but not them personally so she was a big help in getting
them involved and eventually became my project assistant. Immy did give me a lot of input on the CD and on Issue 2 of The Outsider, her enthusiasm and advice is priceless.
Who are the bands on
the CD?
40p Per Play, Palooka 5, Darren Hodge, Chloë Warren, Matt Bond, 51st State, Space Tourettes, CODE, Po-Lice, Splink, Dane Howells, Red Room, Tribal Trout, Courteney Yeoell, Mitchell & Vincent, The Happy-Sads,
Carnivorrrr, Stevie Nicole Brown, The Incas, Virus. It really is a
real mix of styles, genres and ages.
So are you running this
as a business?
No, well a not for profit business at this stage. I am doing this
purely for love of the music and to spread the word about the local
music scene. I borrowed money to get the album made and I'm only
looking to cover my costs. I used to be a gardener so I am just
preparing the soil for a healthy plant to grow, it takes time to do
things like this so there is no quick buck to be made. Everyone who
is involved in helping me with this will get something positive out
of it, like my zine it's not for my profit. Any money made goes
straight back into another CD and zine. It's something I think needs
to happen so I'm doing it for the fun of it and because someone has
to do it. People that help me out will get paid which I put down as part of the costs, some people have helped me out for free as well because they support the project but I don't expect people to do work for free but if they insist I won't argue! I support so many musicians, poets, artists, photographers
etc because they should be supported, art is important, it's part of
what makes us human. Can you imagine a world without music, or art,
or film it would be god awful so support it at the grass roots to
keep it healthy besides music and the arts are good for the soul.
A charity is benefiting
too ?
Yes the Jemima Layzell Trust will get a pound from every CD sold. They have a gig this
Friday 25th of November with a lot of the bands on the CD like The Incas, Matt Bond, Stevie Nicole Brown, Courteney Yeoell's new band Fawner and the brilliant Becky Cockram too who
helped me out with the CD. Bust out your wallet and go along, the CD will be on
sale there too!
Music is a big thing to
you?
Yes music is a massive
obsession of mine and always has been but after I got multiple
injuries at work and was in intense pain I couldn't afford private
treatment, music was my therapist, my nurse and my pain killer, it
kept me going when I didn't really have anything else. That's why I
do these things, write reviews, promote bands, help people get gig's,
make magazine's and CD's, I certainly don't do it for money. I had a
job I worked my self into the ground for, it ruined my relationships,
broke my body and my bank balance in the end. I learnt the hard way,
pursuit of money will crush you, do what you love, yeah sure if you
can make a living doing it that's great. I think too many people try
to make money out of music without putting the work in. I have met a
few woeful managers who couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag!
Look to Old Hat or Fuelled By Cider and people like that who really
believe in the music and what they are doing, they are good examples
to follow because they are in it for the long term and the right
reasons.
What is next?
Well there should be a gig coming very soon to promote the CD and local music scene and if
enough people buy this CD that money will go into another one and
another issue of the fanzine. There has been a lot of good come out
of this already, people have been encouraged to record, connections
have been made with artists, producers like Matt Bond and studio's like Fuelled By Cider Studio, ( those who want to have vinyl product talk to Iain 'Sprog' Aird , need design work try Tim Baigent , need a website talk to Jacqui Yeoell ). Bands have had
bookings and new fans because of the compilation, radio air play and
more because of this project which was kind of the whole point of it. So if you really love music and support grassroots music buy the CD, go to gigs and spread the word.
Straight Outta Somerset
is currently available from Black Cat Records in Taunton , Bargain Box in
Ilminster and online at :-
