Hi, how’s it going? Could you tell us a bit about Brother Sea, your story?
Dave – We have always been a huge fan of Kris’ songwriting. He used to be the frontman in a great live band
called ‘The Grenaways’, we were forever trying to catch them live. We ended up supporting them in Bristol
and from there a friendship was born. We came to discover that we were on the same page musically and
spiritually and started to develop a strong bond. We love crafting arrangements around Kris’ delicately
written poetry.
Freya – We went on to open up for Kris many times in beautiful spots dotted all around Cornwall, usually
followed by a wild swim. When ‘The Grenaways’ disbanded it made sense for us to connect and make music
together.
Who inspired you to get on stage and perform?
Rich – Probably the single most important factor was growing up in a family where music was such a big part
of everyone’s life. I grew up following my Dad and his group’s performances across Cornwall, often in rural
chapels but also seeing my Dad perform in Opera’s and concerts on larger stages too.
Annie – My dad was a bass player in a ska band called Skarred for Life. When I was growing up, he used to
come back from touring Europe and I would be so excited to see him and hear his stories from being on the
road and on stage. It just sounded magical. It’s always connected us and that’s where the inspiration to get
on stage and perform came from.
Dave – Thin Lizzy! I’ve always been a bit of a rocker. Phil Lynott was my hero growing up. As I got older the
words became more important and that lends itself really well to the folk music genre.
Freya – Where do I begin? Joni Mitchell, Nina Simone, Carole King… I’ve always loved soul music. There is a
strong musical current running through my family, in particular my mum and grandmother.
Kris – The Tragically Hip were the first band I ever saw live as I spent my teen years growing up in Canada. For
me lyrics are so important, I love the poetry within songs and the dynamic of bringing words to the band
table to create a harmonious arrangement, it’s magic!
Are there any particular artists or albums that have stuck with you?
Kris – The Pixies, REM, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice In Chains, The Screaming Trees, Sugar, Soundgarden, Fleet
Foxes, Band Of Horses, Lau, The Gloaming and so many more.
Rich – The voice and songs of Sandy Denny are timeless and something I always come back to. They are so
authentic and natural with nothing put on.
Dave – Damien Rice ‘O’. His approach on this album towards the songwriting and recording just blows me
away every time I listen to it.
Freya – Joni Mitchell, as my dad recommended I listen to Blue when I was early teens and it’s fair to say it
literally changed my life.
Annie – Del Amitri, as my mum listened to them the whole time she was pregnant with me having discovered
them when she first met my dad and went on a road trip together after first meeting.
Where do you draw inspiration from when writing songs?
Rich – For me it is always hearing incredible stories from Cornwall’s past that would be very at home on the
big screen even. This inspires me to write songs protecting and sharing these stories.
Dave – For the moment, I would have to say nature and in the surroundings of where we (me and Freya) live.
We live in a very beautiful and wild place in Devon called South Brent. There’s nothing quite like being
immersed in the wind and storms!!
Freya – Similar to Dave – the surroundings that we live in are beautiful and inspirational and we feel very
blessed to have the Moors, rivers and forests on our doorstep. All of it inspires me, along with human
interactions and connections that are made on the way – we’re fascinating creatures!
Annie – emotions every time!
Kris – Definitely nature, the land and seascapes of Cornwall are deeply inspiring and they seem to lead me
into my own landscape, that of soul, I’m so interested in then interconnectedness of life, all life and how
nature is innately poetic.
Could you tell us about the writing/recording of the ReverbNation winning track “September?
Rich – I have always loved how intimate this song is and how the words offer something really heartfelt and
fragile to the listener. It is always incredibly moving performing this song. I really hoped that when we
recorded it this intimacy would remain even though the song grew much bigger than it was usually
performed – I wasn’t disappointed!
Kris – It’s hard not to feel a deep resonance with nature and the seasons in Cornwall, yet with our modern
ways and the exponential rise in tourism this land is understandably bustling during the summer months,
which can feel disorientating and like we may have wandered from her ancient and less trodden path.
But September’s restorative caress always comes around and is a month many who live in Cornwall, and
perhaps even the land herself, long for. The air and sea are still warm, the holiday crowds start to thin a
little, and there is and excitement of reconnection in the first autumn swells…
Recorded in the magical St James The Great Church in St Kew Church Town with it’s wonderful natural
acoustics by the talented engineer and producer Josh Best-Shaw and featuring Scotland’s rising star on the
blues scene Calum Ingram on cello.
What have been some of your favourite venues to perform at?
Rich – I have been very fortunate when I think about it to have performed at some if not all of Cornwall’s
most exciting venues. I have played at Carnglaze Caverns, The Eden Project, The Minack Theatre, Hall for
Cornwall… even down two different old tin mines in Cornwall! Some of my favourite venues however are
less about the magnitude of the venue but the community and the intimacy created between performer and
audience. I would say playing in a barn, sat on a hay bale, performing for a pasty as payment is up there with
my favourite venues.
Dave – The Great Hall at Dartington has got to be up there. Anywhere there is a group of people willing to be
vulnerable and willing to make a genuine connection.
Freya – Our first Brother Sea gig was at Islington assembly halls opening up for Faun. It was mega! Having 800
people singing along with you is hard to top.
Annie – An off-grid stage powered by 2 cyclists in the Green Fields at Glastonbury – I loved the idea that we
were in it together making the show happen.
Kris – I’d have to say stood around the oldest apple tree at Haywood Cider Farm for the Wassail Ceremony.
Here at Artistic Echoes, we are always on the lookout for new artists do you have anyone to recommend?
Rich – Teylu – a young female duo from Cornwall. They write all their own material and perform it with two
guitars and two vocals. The connection these two have is really inspiring, second nature and always full of
fun!
Dave – Seamus Fogarty. I can’t get enough of him at the moment.
Freya – Our friends Jamie and Sophie who form the duo Long For The Coast. They write and perform some of
the most honest and beautifully crafted songs.
Kris – The beautiful Fly Yeti Fly.
What plans do you have for the rest of the year?
Rich – I am currently writing my own song and tune book of my compositions going back to about 2004! I am
also working on transcribing manuscripts from a 19th-century Cornish composer Thomas Trethewey. I
always have about 100 ideas and plans floating around my head at any one time so watch this space!
Dave – Hmmmmmmmm
Freya – Good question! We’ll keep creating music, playing together when we can and putting out videos and
content to hopefully keep connected with folks and keep spirits high.
Kris – A mixture of what Dave and Freya said. But, definitely trying to use this latest National Lockdown to
explore some writing.
Find out more:
