09.14.08
It’s not for the cock, it’s for coming up roses.
Rose Kemp is a powerfully voiced singer/songwriter currently based Bristol whose latest release ‘Unholy Magesty’ hit It’s Not For The Cock’s ears recently courtesy of One Little Indian. Big riffs, delicate yet striking keys and an almost unimaginably unique vocal performance make both the album and artist enticingly curios concepts. Luckily we were able to somewhat satisfy this curiosity by posing some of our questions to the artist herself.
Can you tell us anything about the artwork for ‘Unholy Majesty’?
I have always thought magpies to be special beings. If I see one I can’t stop looking at it. I decided on a title for the album and suggested to Glyn at Scrawled Design, who did the artwork, that we use the Magpie as a central theme and so he spent weeks reading about their various mythologies and history. Magpies were often seen as a harbinger of ill fortune and associations with witchcraft and the devil (in Western mythology at least) and it is apparently considered an omen of doom to encounter a magpie en route to a church (the magpie is also said to have mocked the dying Christ). Magpies are renowned for a for a fondness for stealing bright or glittering objects. In Scottish folklore, the magpie is said to hold a drop of the devil’s blood under its tongue.
We have an owl on the back cover and Gaelic folklore an owl flying before you in darkness is an omen of death (shades of the magpie symbolism), and that the way to ward off the evil eye, or death, is to nail a barn owl to your property (notice the seven nails around the owl on the back cover). The foliage is Rue (sacred pagan herb thought to aid artists and poets) and it’s flower, the vervain blossom (at foot of composition)-again from Cimaruta symbology. Moon and crown imagery fairly obvious, with ornamentation rendered in the style of of old English heraldic crests.
The inside cover alludes to a myth connected to the deluge which has the Magpie as the offspring of the crow and the dove, who were sent from the ark in search of land. Another variation has the Magpie “unbaptized’ by the holy deluge as it refused to enter the ark. I’m sure these are derived from earlier myths that predate mainstream christianity, and again they suggest the “unholy” aspect. Bodies of water, and the ocean in general is often used in magical symbolism to reference the feminine. And there you have it, it’s all there for a reason!
You’re touring extensively in support of ‘Unholy Majesty’. Will you be touring solo or with a band? Do you have a preference?
We will be touring as a three piece this time. Me, plus bass and drums. This is the line-up I’ve usually be taking on tours in the last couple of years. I often do one off gigs solo. I love both. Band has more power but solo has more freedom. You need more focus for band gigs but you need more creativity and grit for solo gigs.
What is your take on the song writing process? Do you have a particular routine or is each song created more organically?
Its is completely different every time. Sometimes I will think of a beat in my head and play it and improvise, sometimes a guitar riff will just start it all and sometimes it will just be an outpouring of vocal arrangements. Sometimes they all happen together. Sometimes there is a tightly structured and scanned poem and sometimes there is a free flowing stream of consciousness that I will throw music around loosely. It all depends on the day. Sometimes watching the dead eyed acceptance on our nation’s face will prompt me to write but sometimes just banging bits of sheet metal with a hammer will do the trick, it all depends really!
Which artists were you exposed to growing up and how much would you say they’ve influenced your style? Who else are you influenced by?
Strangely my parents listened to a lot of country rock while I was growing up, mainly because my Dad admired the production values. My brother listened to a lot of 90’s hip hop. To be honest I would say that I’ve been influenced by literally every sound I have ever heard. I am of the school of thought that believes that a person can’t block out the MTV screen blaring in the corner and unfortunately therefore you will be influenced by absolutely everything you hear at some level.
You’re toured with quite a diverse range of artists. Do you have any personal favourites? Are there any artists whose live shows you especially admire?
There are many, Humanfly, spring to mind instantly. I love what Manatees are doing and I’m glad I’m not the only Carlisle getting out and about nowadays, they are flying the flag for the forgotten parts of the North good and proper. Locally, Team Brick and Sj Esau have always been massive inspirations to me. Globally, I would say Earth, Om, Cardiacs and High On Fire. I went to see Tom Waits recently and he was just as I suspected he’d be, out of this world!
You’ve been singed to One Little Indian for a few years now. What made you decide to sign with them? What do you think about the work they do as a label?
Basically the main gaffer just knows about raw talent and he nurtures it, but not by throwing money at it or telling you you’re amazing all the time, just by being fair and telling you like it is and by giving you the bare bones of what you need to make it work and he understands longevity. There is mutual respect and understanding there still. I really admire what they have built over the years and they are still an independent which is a rare thing these days.
Unholy Majesty is out now and you can find details of Rose’s tour on her myspace.