Interview with Ali Whitton

To get recognized as an artist, singer/songwriter Ali Whitton went from Leeds to London, the cultural centre of the island. Youn can read in our interview how he fulfills his dreams there, who influenced his music and how an old filing cabinet changed his life.

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1. How would you describe your music in one sentence?

A little bit country, a little bit folky, but hopeful and honest, even if they sometimes sound melancholy.

2. Was there something like a light bulb momemt where were young, maybe a concert, a certain song or a record that made you dream about a career as a musician?

At about the age of 16 I discovered some poetry at the back of a filing cabinet that my father had written in his 20s. It was good and I asked him about it. It surprised me, and I guess I started to write shortly after that. I started writing a long time before taking up guitar – the writing came first.

3. Are there any artists that might have influenced you some time?

Many, Damien Rice influenced me when I was finding my own voice and learning to sing, then Conor Oberst is a big influence for his lyric writing. So is Bob Dylan. These days I’m listening to lots of country music which I hope will filter through to the sound of my newer songs.

4. How do you develop your songs? What part comes first, music or lyrics?

It really varies, but if I had to choose I’d say the lyrics. I write a lot, all the time – so always have my lyric book to turn to if I find a nice melody. But also, sometimes songs just come from playing guitar and improvising a line or two – then it’s more like lyrics and music at the same time.

5. What song is most important to you? Why and how did it develop?

"Ali Whitton's Dream" means quite a lot to me. Just because it all came quite quick and despite its pretentious title – it’s all really true and genuinely about a dream I had. It’s about the kind of naïve schoolboy love, about how pure a stupid crush felt when we were all a little younger. I like simpler things.

6. In what aspects did your music change compared to when you started to make music?

It’s become much more lyrical and personal. I realised fairly quickly you have to write honestly. These days I try and write things into songs that make me slightly uncomfortable sharing, that way there’s always a kind of edge to the song.

7. What has been the best experience so far, as an artist?

No single experience, but the notion of allowing music to take me places. I’ve seen a lot of the UK, played in Paris, and soon to be playing in New York. It’s great to meet people through music, and great to see the world while I’m doing it.

8. What can you tell us about your current projects?

I’m sad to say I’m kind of still at the level where I need to keep playing until I get a break. Everything I do is self-funded so I record acoustically at home, put the new songs on the site for free, I’m kind of in limbo just hoping people pick up on what I’m doing and realise they can get it for free. I have a record out from when I played with my band too.

9. And what are you aspiring to in the future, what do you want to achieve?

All I want is to play and write music professionally, and to have that be the only thing I do. Even if I can only just scrape by, that would make me happy. I have a dream of touring the States and seeing more places in Europe.

10. With whom would you like to go on tour?

Anyone who’ll have me! But to support someone like Okkervil River or Bright Eyes would be amazing.

11. What record would we find in your CD-player right now?

"Shepherds Dog" by Iron and Wine.

12. What do you think, as artists, about platforms like MySpace?

At first, MySpace was a great idea – a good way of getting noticed. These days I’d say it’s sadly essential for every band to have a page on it in order to keep good internet presence, but I can’t help thinking that it’s the equivalent of lots of people in a big room shouting.

13. myFanbase is a website that is devoted to American television shows. Do you have a favorite show?

I have a soft spot for "House" and "Numb3rs", and obviously "Friends" is always there every so often.

Catherine Bühnsack - myFanbase