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One of the most pleasurable artists I've come across in 2009 is South London based Acoustic-Pop artist Ellie Lawson. Not only is this woman good looking but she can also write a a great tune and has a wicked voice. After hearing Ellie's second album 'Lost Songs' I just had to feature her in Street Voice. I wrote to Ellie and you can read here what she has to say for herself.
Street Voice: First off can you introduce yourself to our readers?
I'm Ellie Lawson, I'm a singer songwriter from South London in the United Kingdom. I'd describe my music as acoustic pop with a message!
Street Voice: I've just listened to your second album 'Lost Songs' and it was brilliant but how did you feel aboit the finished product?
Im really proud of my new album 'Lost Songs' as I put it out myself, against the odds and it has 18 really diverse tracks that I love!
Street Voice: How long did 'Lost Songs' take to write?
Lost Songs is a collection of old and new songs. Some of the songs are from the early days and some I wrote over the last 2 years. I have many songs, so these are just the ones that I thought fit this particular album!
Street Voice: How come you released the album yourself instead of using a label?
I was with a major label, Atlantic records for my first album, but it didn't work out, like with a lot of artists! Now I am sponsored by Quiksilver, who are supporting independent creative women, so it felt like a great time to release an album on my own label 'create your own reality'. These days there is so much scope on the internet to contact fans direct, it is a really inspiring and fun process releasing my album independently!
Street Voice: So where do you get your inspiration for the lyrics?
I get my inspiration for writing lyrics from reading books, watching documentaries, over hearing conversations, writing down passing thoughts, writing down my problems that I need to work out, browsing through newspapers. Any thing that I hear, read, watch or think that causes an emotional reaction in me, will usually be remembered for a song. I usually write or collaborate the music first and then write what feels right over the top from my written ideas. I use songwriting as a way of working out my problems and what I think are the problems of the world, as I believe that we all have the answers within us, its all about asking the right questions!
Street Voice: You were signed to Atlantic for a while and you did one album for them so is this still available?
Yes, my first album 'The Philosophy Tree' was on Atlantic and was released by Barnes and Noble as an exclusive for the first 6 months. Barnes and Noble were really supportive of this album and came to my rescue. It is still available in all of their stores in the USA that sell CDs. It is now also available on itunes and so is my new CD 'Lost Songs'.
Street Voice: I noticed you're an ambassador dor Quicksilver so what does that entail?
Yes, I'm an ambassador for Quiksilver Woman! They are supporting me in my career and giving me lots of support and encouragement and they have tons of fun and creative events for us to get involved in. We have made quite a few videos, had photoshoots, stayed in Hossegor in France and performed at their surf festival, Pro France, performed in their stores and they have given me lots of amazing clothes. Quiksilver put my music in their promotional videos and they approached me originally because my music, story and attitude fits with what they are about as well. Its nice that it works so well and Quiksilver really are like a big family.
Street Voice: How did you get involved with Quicksilver in the first place?
I was approached on Myspace by the lady who came up with the idea, she was looking for the ambassadors there. Luckily I had just changed my profile to 'acoustic', from 'other', as she was looking though all the acoustic artists. My music is acoustic, but it isn't straight up acoustic. Marta was looking for artists that weren't too pop, or too country, but had the right blend. There are 2 other female singer songwriters that were chosen, Anna and Charlotte and the 3 of us are very different but complement each other as well.
Street Voice: Apart from music and the Quicksilver what else do you get up to?
Well I just made a 'day in the life video' and you will see what I get up to! Running around London, trying to eat healthily-but failing with chocolate cake, I do Yoga and meditation, read self help books and enjoy being really organised in business, so I'm always writing lists with pages of tasks to be done and emails to send. I love being pro active. On a day to day basis I am always writing -creative and planning, and I'm always looking for new people to meet and new innovative ideas to chat about.
Street Voice: I was reading one of your blogs about not eating meat but you still eat fish. Is that more down to you not thinking meat is healthy and not the way that it is killed?
Both. I could never eat meat again. I always admired vegetarians and wanted to become one and as soon as I made the leap, I found it the easiest thing in the world. I know that still eating fish made it easier. I enjoy not eating meat as animals are sentient and eating lamb to me is as wierd as eating a dog. If people were reminded on a daily basis of the way the animals are treated and kept I think a lot of people would be put off meat. I know a lot of people are getting pro active about climate change and those people still eat meat. Apparently, cattle farming is one of the biggest contributors to CO2 emissions! Healthwise it is not good to eat beef because of all the hormone injections the cattle get. Not to mention the millions of tons of grain that cattle eat just to get fattened up and killed. Seems a big waste to me. So there's a lot of reasons! I would like to give up fish as the rising levels of mercury in the sea make it not as healthy a choice as it should be and Im sure if I really looked into it there are other reasons about the way they are killed. That and then dairy is next on my list! It just takes taking one thing at a time and really thinking about it.
Street Voice: So what's the best way to approach you in a bar to chat you up?
Well I'm in a relationship, but if I wasnt...don't be corney for a start. Be natural and ask me if I'm having a good day and see where it leads. Be nice, and dont be drunk! Let me know why you are at the bar or tell me something about your self. I'm sure to join in and ask you questions! If it's meant to be it will happen and we will bump in to each other again and build a friendship that way! If you are looking for a quick fix date, forget it and don't even bother.
Street Voice: I see you no longer drink so do you feel more healthier to have taken that step?
I recently gave up alcohol and I feel great. It's one of the best things I have done. Again, its something I have always wanted to do. I felt that I would be perceived as boring for not drinking. Now I don't care what anyone thinks, and it is so easy that its not something I think about when Im out. I read a book called 'no more hangovers' by Allen Carr. The same author as the book I read which helped me give up smoking and this pointed out loads of really good points like: alcohol is basically poison and thats why your body rejects it when you drink too much. The times when you drink are the times when you are naturally high anyway, so who needs it and there's loads of points which when put together remind you that drinking is a mugs game!! It's an interesting experiment not drinking as well, because things I am doing sober, like going out for meals while other people are drinking and doing gigs, feel exactly the same! I even feel drunk around drunk people! The benifits are that I don't get hang overs anymore and I save loads of money!
Street Voice: What plans have you for the rest of 2009?
I will be touring with Quiksilver in the autumn, a gallary tour with photos taken by the amazing photographer Bara Prasilova and we will be at Pro France, the annual surfing event in Hossegor. I'm recording acoustic versions of my songs and making a music video for my song One Another. I'm also making a 10 minute video about my career so far with lots of NYC footage that I have on my hard drive and there are some other really exciting proposals that I cant talk about yet in case I jinx them!
Street Voice: Anything you'd like to add?
Thanks for this interview, good luck Street Voice!!!
Thank you to the wonderful Ellie Lawson for making this a wicked interview. If you haven't heard of Ellie Lawson then I recommend you check out the album below as it really is something that deserves to be supported. I love 'Lost Songs' and so will you!
Click On Image To View Album Review
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