www.myspace.com/alimurraymusic
http://www.somojo.net/alimurray/
Ali Murray on Facebook
Discography
An Endless Lullaby 2010
Hi, how are you?
Not bad. Thank you for asking.
Which instruments do you play?
I sing and I play the guitar. I can also play bits and pieces of some other instruments.
How would you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard you?
I'm not the best person at describing my own music but I guess it's kind of experimental acoustic music with some dark atmospheres and a dreamlike quality to the sound.
What made you decide to be a solo artist and not want to be in a band?
After my last band fell apart, I felt emotionally drained. I wanted a long break away from being in a band with other people, yet I wanted to carry on writing music. I eventually decided to concentrate on writing solo material. When I was growing up I played in punk bands and various rock bands which was good in some ways but not so good in others. There's good and bad things about being a solo musician as opposed to being part of a band. In some ways it's very liberating and in other ways it can be restrictive. I do prefer being a solo musician though. You have complete control over your music, you don't have to consult with others to make the decisions you want and there's no drama involved. I love being independent. I also knew that I wanted ''An Endless Lullaby'' to be a melancholy solo acoustic album. It was a very personal album to me.
Do you work with the same musicians when recording as you do when performing live?
No. When I perform live it's just me on my own for the most part. Now and again I'll get another musician to accompany me onstage but no, I don't want to replicate my album when I play live. I like my live performances to have an identity of their own.
What have you been up to recently?
Well I'm doing my first ever Scottish mainland tour on the 22nd of November. It'll be the first time I've ever performed outside the island (the Isle Of Lewis in the north of Scotland) so it's quite a big deal for me. Other than that I've been chipping away at new song ideas, reading books, walking the dog and thinking about my life.
What can your fans look forward to in the next 12 months?
Absolutely nothing. Haha, no.. I've always got something in the works. I should hopefully be playing some live shows and writing some new material. I tend to under promise and over deliver when it comes to my music. I don't want to be one of these people who talk all the time but do nothing about it.
Did you always want to be in a musician/singer when younger?
From as far back as I can remember, I always wanted music to be a part of my life. To what extent I'm not really sure. I've been playing and writing music since my early teens. 'An Endless Lullaby' is the first musical accomplishment I've been truly proud of though.
What music did you listen to while growing up?
I was exposed to lots of different kinds of music growing up through my mother and my brother but it was punk rock that changed my life. I got into punk music when I was about 12 or 13. From my late teens I started broadening my music taste and getting into lots of different kinds of music. To this day my music taste is extremely eclectic and all over the place.
What was your first music making experience?
When I was a young boy I wrote an angry punk song about my cousin. The weird thing is that to this day I've never heard that same chord progression used in any song I've ever heard.
What is your current equipment?
A black Bruce Springsteen Takamine acoustic guitar, a black Yamaha acoustic guitar, a black Gibson Les Paul Studio electric guitar and a black Fender amp.
Are you self-taught or did you have lessons?
Completely self-taught. I had one singing lesson ever but I hated it.
Do you have a set routine when writing and recording or does it depend on each track and the inspiration?
I wish I had a set routine but I don't. I suffer a lot of creative blocks which is one of the things that prevent me from being a prolific artist. I can never force my inspiration. When I'm going through a dry spell (like I am at the moment) I tend to occupy my time and energy with different things. When I'm inspired it all comes pouring out at once. Songwriting isn't a joy for me. I find it very theraputic though, so I tend to get depressed when I'm not inspired.
Would you sign with a major record company?
I would consider it if the right deal came along but I would never compromise my art just to be on a major record label.
How much involvement do you have with the arranging and production of the songs when recording?
I create all the song arrangements myself and I co-produce my music.
Do you find the process of recording enjoyable and does it get easier the more you do?
I would say it's hit or miss, depending on how smooth the process is going. Recording my album was painful yet strangely enjoyable. I have good and bad memories of recording these songs. Some of the most ambitious songs on the album were a breeze to record, whilst I had a miserable time recording a couple of the dead simple songs. It's very unpredictable. Hit or miss as I said.
Do you try to capture your ‘live’ sound on recordings or do you think that the ‘live’ sound and recorded sound should be different experiences for your fans?
I definitely think they should be different experiences. I have no interest in replicating my album live and I have no interest in seeing any of my favourite artists replicating their albums live. That would be boring and unimaginative.
Do you have any favourite tracks on your album?
My personal favourite tracks are 'The Epiphany', 'Behind Me Now', 'Fragile Bones (Feels Like Home)' and 'The Days Left To Come'.
Is there anyone who you would like to collaborate with on writing songs or performing?
Yes, there are lots. Most of them are just pipe dreams though. I'd love to do guest vocals on a Massive Attack song.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Everything. Punk. Folk. Old Jazz. Dark Electronica. Experimental Rock. Hardcore. Nostalgic Soundtracks. Classical. 80's Pop. Ambient. Shoegaze. World Music. Anything. Everything. I hate radio chart music though, and all that X-Factor nonsense.
What are you listening to at the moment?
The Pet Shop Boys.
Which countries have you gigged in?
Only Scotland at this point.
Which countries would be at the top of your list to tour?
Probably Japan and France. Scandinavia and Ireland would also be amazing.
How do you promote your music and get your music out to new fans?
Word of mouth, E-mails, live shows, Myspace, Facebook...
Which music promotion websites do you use and do you have a favourite?
Myspace is the home of my main music page and it's my favourite music site for several reasons even though it's not as popular as it used to be. I also like Bandcamp. I hate Somojo though. Haha, nah I'm kidding.
Do you think such sites and the internet are good tools for independent and unsigned artists?
Absolutely.
How do you relax?
On a big pile of money surrounded by many beautiful ladies...alternatively, a comfortable chair and a good book.
What's your best/worst experience at a gig?
My best experience at a gig was probably my album launch. It was a great venue, great turnout and a great audience. I was nervous as hell but I really enjoyed it. I've had a few miserable experiences at gigs which is always inevitable. I would probably say the worst experience at a gig was one I did down in Uist, which is a small island to the south of the island I live in. The venue was a smelly dungeon and the audience were like animals. They were loud, rude, drunk and obnoxious and they kept wanting me to play 'The Gambler' and 'Sweet Child Of Mine'. It was awful.
Do you get nervous before a gig- how do you calm down?
I'm always nervous before gigs. I still don't know how to calm down. There's the usual advice people give such as breathing exercises and drinking lots of water but it doesn't really work for me. I hope that someday I can perform live without being nervous.
What else do you do apart from being a singer/songwriter?
I spend a lot of time in nature. I go for walks to the most isolated places I can think of just to get some headspace and do some thinking. It's also a good way to listen to music. I love reading books and watching movies. I also love cooking. There's definitely more to my life than being a singer/songwriter.
Would you like to be a full time working musician or are you happy with things as they are?
I would love to be a full-time working musician but it's just not realistic. I'm sure that even if I was a full-time musician there would be things I'd be unhappy about. Life is very complex in that way...
Has your music been used on any film soundtracks?
I wish...
Is composing for film & tv something you’d like to get involved in if the opportunity came along?
Yes, definitely. It'd be a dream of mine to have one of my songs featured on the soundtrack of a good movie. I'd also love to compose music for a movie. I actually think I'd be pretty good at it.
Is there anything you'd like to add?
Thank you for the interview, Somojo. If anyone wants to listen to my music, or follow my blogs, or check out what live shows I'm playing, please visit : www.myspace.com/alimurraymusic.
