Issue 94 / November 2018

SARA WOLFF
We challenge you not to be smitten by the storytelling nous of
this Norwegian artist, whose fireside tales are brought alive with
inventive lyricism.
If you had to describe your music/style in a sentence, what
would you say?
I usually describe it as lyrically-focused jazz pop.
How did you get into music?
I started out playing the violin and singing in a church choir when
I was young, so the first music I learnt was classical. When I
was 12 my mom bought my brother a guitar hoping he would
start playing it, but I was the one picking it up instead. It was a
summer when I was very bored and I started teaching myself
the chords of cheesy songs online. It was around that time that I
started writing my own songs.
Can you pinpoint a live gig or a piece of music that initially
inspired you?
It’s hard to pinpoint one thing really, when the things I take
inspiration from are always very different. I grew up listening to
the Norwegian band Kings Of Convenience, and I think they’ve
influenced the way I write a lot. The way they play with space in
their song My Ship Isn’t Pretty really inspires me.
Do you have a favourite song or piece of music to perform?
What does it say about you?
I have a song called The Hanging Man, which is a song about a
man who’s struggling with depression. I think this song says a lot
about my love for writing stories; the songs I write don’t always
come from personal experiences. I mostly enjoy performing this
song because, as it is a story, I feel a more intimate connection
with the people listening to it. And I also love creeping people out.
What do you think is the overriding influence on your
songwriting: other art, emotions, current affairs – or a mixture
of all of these?
A mix, definitely! A new song usually starts with me remembering
a feeling I had years ago, a friend telling me something or just
a nice sentence I’ve written down. Sometimes even interesting
words can inspire me to build around them. Even though they
seem very personal, my songs aren’t always about my own
emotions; I see my process as taking tiny feelings, mine or yours,
and magnifying them.
Do you have a favourite venue you’ve performed in? If so, what
makes it special?
My favourite venue so far must be in the Walker Art Gallery! I
played an acoustic gig during LightNight in the room with all the
beautiful stone statues. Biggest crowd of stoners I’ve ever played
to.
Photography: John Davies
sarawolff.tumblr.com
Scarf Song is released on 30th November. Sara Wolff supports
Nicolai Hardman at Jacaranda Records Phase One on 16th
November.
“I see my process as
taking tiny feelings,
mine or yours, and
magnifying them”
STRAWBERRY
GUY
Bask in the sweet and calming
waters of chill-out lounge pop with
this synth whizzkid.
“Classic instruments
mixed with synths,
sweetness with a
touch of heartache”
If you had to describe your style in a sentence, what would you say?
Classic instruments mixed with synths, sweetness with a touch
of heartache.
Have you always wanted to create music?
Yeh, pretty much! I started piano lessons when I was four as my
Mum wanted one of her children to be musical, so I guess she got
her dream! I wrote my first full song when I was about 14, and it
started from there.
Can you pinpoint a live gig or a piece of music that initially
inspired you?
Hmm, I was very young when I started learning… but I remember
that my Dad used to play a lot of The Beach Boys when I was a
kid, which I loved. It made me want to make music that makes
people feel happy but emotional at the same time. I guess that
thought process still falls through today.
What does your new single F Song say about you and the way
you perform?
I’m yet to play a gig as Strawberry Guy! However, when I play
keyboard in my room I play chord progressions and sing melodies
over them. Sometimes I’ll think in my head when I’m away from
a keyboard what a chord progression might sound like and
then I test it when I can play a keyboard to see if I was right
in how it sounded… I guess this says that I’m quite a free but
unintentionally methodical writer, ha!
If you could support any artist in the future, who would it be?
Hmm, so many to choose from! I’m really digging Andy Shauf
right now so that’d be up there, but an all-time favourite would
be Michael Franks.
Do you have a favourite venue you’ve performed in? If so, what
makes it special?
I played Piece Hall in Halifax playing keys for The Orielles in May.
It just really stood out to me, it was such a tremendous place to
play and I’ve not really had any other gigs quite like it. Fun fact:
it’s called Piece Hall cos they used to make pieces of cloth there!
Why is music important to you?
I think music is important in many ways... Writing a song is an
emotional release, it makes me feel incredibly happy. It gives me
such an insane buzz, something I don’t get from anything else. I
think it’s important because it can evoke so many emotions, it can
make me dance, make me cry and flip your mood whatever mood
you were in before. It’s powerful stuff, mayn.
soundcloud.com/strawberryguy
F Song is out now, and brand new track What Would I Do is
available on the cassette The Music Will Save Us Vol. 2 from Sad
Club Records.
SPOTLIGHT 29