Music / Interview
Interview: Rita Lynch
Rita Lynch is one of this town’s brightest talents. She’s been releasing tunes of real quality for ever and is guilty of playing visceral, passionate gigs packed with her tunes; songs that deal with the wider world and changing political landscape but filtered through the impact events have on all of us. Her new album Backwards is an excellent piece of work and it’s being released through her very own label Shy Girl Records. The LP is being launched at the Exchange on Thursday 26th April and the gig’s a must see event (tickets here). Meanwhile Rita took time to tell us about the recording of said long player.
Where did you record the LP?
We recorded the album in Amber Vale studios in Clifton. With Luke Cawthraw. Luke also plays in The Brackish (support at the launch along with Marcy).
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How long did recording take – straight in and straight out or a bit of an epic?
We recorded the tracks in a day, very quickly. We then recorded the other guitar and vocals in Angelo’s home studio, Angelo plays guitar in Massive Attack. This took a couple of months as we were recording when we could, working around our other jobs and childcare commitments. John Langley, my drummer, was engineering the studio and we both mixed the songs. It was great to be able to work just the 2 of us together.
Do you take in fully formed tunes, or go in with sketches and demos and work them up in to fully fledged songs in the studio?
We go in to the studio with the songs and structure fully formed. Time in a studio is money so it makes sense to be as ready and practiced as possible. I did rewrite some of the lyrics in between recording the original tracks but not a lot.
What comes first, lyrics or music?
The music always come first and dictates the flow and emotion of the song.
There’s plenty of mischief going on the world lately, do chaotic times make for better lyrics?
Yes, what happens in the world has a massive impact on what I write but I will pretty much always bring it down to the personal and how the world affairs affect me or what I see around me. I have to feel personal about it and it always needs to feel authentic to me and what I can imagine and visualise. I’m a deep thinker so that helps.
What’s your favourite part of the recording process…?
I have a couple of favourite parts. First, when the song starts coming together and I can hear the structure and drums and bass and guitar. It’s exciting to hear the song emerging after it’s just been in my head. And then there’s the part when I’ve just sang the vocal and I’m happy with it. That is a great feeling of achievement and happiness. And then the song is done and I can move on from it.
…and what’s your least favourite part?
My least favourite part is when the vocal isn’t flowing right or not sounding good enough, It is usually me who is the most critical of my vocal and I’m kind of tormented until I get it as good, to my ears, as it can be. And, obviously, I’m hugely relieved and elated when I get it right.
How much have you changed as an artist since your first recording, what’s the biggest difference?
I have changed and evolved so much since I first started writing and singing. I now have an understanding, at least, of every process of the recording, from the initial first spark of creating the song, until the final and definitive version. I now have a clear vision of how I want the songs to end up sounding. In the past I allowed other people to dictate how it should sound a bit too much. Now, especially after working with John for so many years, we have a joint vision and his input has helped the recording process produce the best results for my songs.
Any of the back catalogue you’d really like to go back an re-record?
There are a couple of my first songs that ever I wrote about 30 years ago, but mostly no. I always want to write new songs. That’s the buzz and the whole point.
What are your plans to tour the LP?
I would love to tour the album but cannot do that at the moment. I am hoping to play in Brighton and would love to play up North as I haven’t played there for years. Just getting the album launched is enough at the moment and, obviously, writing more songs so that I can make another one.
Are there any songs that you think are really gonna be a blast to play live?
Yes, actually they are all a blast to play live! But from this album in particular at the moment are Leader, Humble and It’s Good to See You.
If you want someone to get in to the LP, which cut would you single out to get them hooked?
It’s Good to See You and Attention.
All pix by John Morgan
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