Music / Interview
Interview: Lindi Ortega
Anyone who’s familiar with Lindi Ortega will know she’s a classy songwriter and performer and be familiar with her excellent oeuvre, which mixes rockabilly with country via an almost gothic (but not Goth) sensibility. If you’re not familiar with her work then you can give your ears and feet a treat by catching her at the Fleece on Wednesday 13th June. Meanwhile she took the time to answer a few questions about her latest LP Liberty (stream it while you read on), touring the UK and more.
There’s been quite a gap between Faded Gloryville and Liberty – a difficult gestation or did you take some time to recharge?
I was working the whole time. I was playing plenty of shows, I recorded an EP between Faded Gloryville and Liberty, and I also moved back to Canada, got engaged, got hitched… so lots was going on!
is needed now More than ever
Tell us about the recording, you collaborated with a few people in its creation – how did that work out?
I think it worked out great. The recording was a lot of fun. I very much enjoyed getting to be so creative with my music and working with people who were just as excited to be as creative as I was.
The album has a theme, is it a full blown concept piece or simply a collection of songs that are loosely linked and tell a story?
It’s a full-blown concept. But it’s not really about a central character so much as it is about a theme of transitioning from dark to light and slaying a bunch of demons along the way. It’s a record that is meant to help people through their struggle and give them some hope.
It’s fantastic to see UK dates from you again, how important is it to be successful here in the UK?
I don’t think of it in terms of “success” because it is very subjective. I enjoy playing the UK and I have built a nice little crowd of supporters. I come back to the UK for those supporters and because I’m a fan of the countries I get to perform in. I love the architecture and I love eating Yorkshire pudding the size of my head with loads of butter.
When you see British dates on the schedule what do you most look forward to the most?
Cobblestone streets, castles, haunted old venues, chocolate, crisps, tea time, and Sunday roast.
And when you see those dates, what do you look forward too least?
Usually I tour in the winter and I get so afraid I will get sick, and I usually do, but hopefully there will be less colds going around in the summer.
Meanwhile what will you miss most about home?
My husband, my dog, my cats, and my bed.
How different are gigs back home to UK & European dates?
I think all gigs, no matter where I play, have similarities and differences. I’ve played places with a quiet sit down crowd and the next day in the same city, a rowdy sweaty rockin’ good time. People are people, and we have a lot more commonalities than one might think. So in some ways the only difference is an accent and perhaps a little more of a propensity toward liquor.
What are the bands that you are all collectively happy to listen to on the road, and what bands drive massive wedges between you?
Usually I’ve got my headphones on so it’s not like music is blasting in the van, but when it does blast in the van we generally all like what’s playing. A lot of times it’s old soul, Sam Cooke is a favourite.
How important do you think artwork is for bands in these digital days?
It’s as important as you want it to be. I personally enjoy good artwork, but I can still enjoy the music of a record without seeing the artwork.
The N.M.E., Rolling Stone, Mojo, Classic Rock – how important is print media to a musician in the age of social media?
It can’t hurt. Isn’t that the saying, “All press is good press”?
Speaking of the digital world: vinyl, CD or download – does it really matter (except to blokes of a certain age)?
I think people wildly underestimate the popularity of vinyl. I personally have found it to be a best seller on my merchandise table.
Women in the music business have come a long way since Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin & Aretha Franklin; do you think women artists now have true equality with their male counterparts?
No, not at all. Look at country radio in America, the answer to that question is very glaring.
Many of the younger female artists (naming no names) are certainly willing to flaunt what they’ve got in videos & on stage in a way that’s totally different to the natural sensuality of, say Tina Turner or Janis; do you think this is a sign of empowerment as they claim, or are they just kidding themselves they’ve some control over their use of their sexuality?
I don’t really care to be honest. If you got it, and you want to flaunt it then fantastic, it’s nice to be confident. Good music is good music. I don’t care how you want to present it; all I care about is if the music stirs the soul.
What are the best and worst things about being a musician in the 21st century?
I think it’s great that musicians have the internet as a tool for self-promotion and having this tool can allow for someone to create a career without having a label. I think there are a lot of good platforms artists can utilize in this day in age to remain independent and in control of their business and careers.
Finally, what’s the most important piece of advice you’d give to a musician starting out right here, right now?
You better love it or it will eat you alive.
Picture by Kate Nutt
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