Interview: Lucie Silvas

Born in the UK but brought up in New Zealand Lucie Silvas has been creating music since she was 10, and at 17 was out on the road as a backing singer for Judie Tzuke. She has sold bucket loads of her first two long players (a million albums in Europe alone), and has worked with Elton John, Jamie Cullum, Macy Gray, Tom Jones and Jamiroquai on top of writing shedloads of tunes in that Nashville and hooking up with a load of other big acts. Her latest release is Letters to Ghosts 0ffthe back of that recording she is  “fillin’ up the trunk and hitting the road”. We can find out just what went in to the trunk when she plays the Exchange on Monday 12th September. But to get us in the mood she’s kindly submitted to the B247 Vinyl Enquirer:

What was the first record you ever bought and where did you buy it?

Thriller on vinyl in a record store in New Zealand…I felt really excited that I finally had a record of my own…especially that one! 

What was the most recent record you bought and where did you buy it?

I bought Foy Vance’s new album The Wild Swan, it’s amazing! 

What record do you stick on the deck to sooth your soul?

Bill Withers…Grandma’s Hands.

Have you bought a record on the basis of a great single and then been disappointed by the rest of the album? If so, tell us all about it…

Hmmmm… that’s rarely happened.  If I didn’t like it I probably can’t remember it if it was that bad! There’s so much good music out there although some artists I would only ever buy a single which is different to artists I immediately feel I want to invest in fully.  

What record do you turn up to maximum to get in to that party mood?

Ariana Grande’s new album Dangerous Woman has some great grooves as far as a pop record goes.  

If we had the ability to land you at the recording of one classic LP so you could witness the whole recording process, what would you choose and why?

Great question! Pet Sounds by The Beach boys. I can’t imagine the creative genius and intensity in that room. I would have been blown away, intimidated and in inspired for life. Musical genius! 

Ever bought a record solely because you liked the sleeve? If so, what was it and did it delight you or disappoint you?

I’ve bought a Pink Floyd album for that very reason …The Division Bell.  I’m sorry to say that I knew a few songs but overall I didn’t know a huge amount about their music growing up but friends of mine loved them and I wanted to go through the archive and picked that one.

Oh no, your house is burning down and you can only rescue one record! What would it be and why?

That’s so tricky!! First thing that comes to mind is Willie Nelson Sings Kris Kristofferson. I play it all the time at home on our record player. 

What’s your favourite record sleeve? Tell us all about it (and whether or not the music gives you as much pleasure as the sleeve).

I’m potentially gonna be obvious here…but probably Nirvana, Smells Like Teen Spirit…and hell yes, the whole record is one of the best. It was controversial and thought provoking…they got everyone talking, and whether you liked it or not, it became one of the most legendary album covers of all time 

Morbidity alert: what record would you like played at your funeral?

I don’t want a funeral! I can’t bear the thought of it. Someone can just put me in a dingy and send me off to sea…whilst playing Signed, Sealed, and Delivered.