Stereoboard Speaks To Hotly-Tipped Scarlette Fever About New Album 'Medication Time' (Interview)
Saturday, 18 June 2011
Written by V O'Hagan
Hertfordshire-born pop chanteuse Scarlette Fever has already received support from the likes of Radio 2, The Sun and Record Of The Day, and all this comes before she unleashes her debut album ‘Medication Time’ on June 27th. As an artist who is expected to turn many heads this summer, Stereoboard speaks to Scarlette, following her performance at Isle of Wight Festival last weekend, about the upcoming release, her rise to the fame and whats yet to come.
Hello Scarlette! How was the Isle of Wight?
Hey there! The Isle of Wight was very cool thanks and despite it raining on stage, I had a great time.
Could you tell me why you’ve called yourself Scarlette Fever? Is it a disease that’s important to you? Is it because you’re both ‘sexy and contagious’? Is it because it’s sexier than the mumps? Or is there a simpler, less insane reason?
It's certainly a different reason but I'm not sure that it's less insane! I think that I reached a point in my career where I realised that I was taking myself and my music too seriously. I wanted an artist name that reflected my passion for music and my somewhat dramatic personality (my sister's been calling me Starina from ‘The Birdcage’ for years). I knew that I liked the name Scarlet (a posher word for red) and at some point I was sent an e-mail referencing Scarlette Fever so I thought ‘that's it!’
I really enjoyed the album, it’s very catchy. 'Black and White' has been stuck in my head and driving me slowly mad for about a week. Plus, my alienated niece likes you more than Katy Perry, which is a good thing. But what is your ideal audience? When you write songs, who are you writing them for?
When I write, I usually just write what I feel. I always hope that people will like my songs. Playing a song to my mum for the first time is always quite nerve wracking (she's my biggest fan and critic) and doesn't let me get away with anything less than my best. I think that the beauty of music is that it means something different to each and every listener. Ultimately, that's why I wanted to sing, to touch people (emotionally I mean)! I write my songs for anybody who enjoys them.
How would you describe your own music?
Heartfelt, passionate rocky pop.
Which songs on the album do you most enjoy performing live and why?
I love singing 'Looking Glass' and 'Cheating Man' because they're songs that the band really rock out on. When the band's going for it and they’re in the zone, it always brings out the best in me.
What was the first record you ever bought? So we’re even, mine was 'Cotton Eyed Joe'. You’re gonna have to think really hard of a way to top that!
That just gave me awful flashbacks of school discos dancing 'The Macarana' and 'Saturday Night'! Thankfully the first album that I ever bought was a 'Now' cassette and I wanted it for 'Ride on Time' by Blackbox. I still adore that song.
When did your love of music begin? Were you the type of child that used their rattle as a percussion instrument, or did your passion for music come later?
I think that my passion for music really came from my mother. She's a massive music lover (especially lyrics) and always used music to journal her emotions. She taught me from a very early age the joy and power of music.
Did your family encourage you, or did they want you to move in another direction?
My family have been unbelievably supportive; I really wouldn't have got this far without them. Although it is true to say that in the beginning my Dad wasn't too impressed by my career choice. We used to row about me getting a 'proper' job or a degree but I think that he came to really respect my sheer determination and passion.
You have a very scientific mind, so I’m told, and your ambition when you were younger was to become a marine biologist. Was it a difficult choice between music and science, or was it a natural decision to pursue a career in the arts?
I've always had a very curious mind and loved science, especially biology. This may sound sad, but how can you not get excited by this incredible world that we live in? I don't think that I ever made a conscious choice between music and science. I decided to have a gap year to pursue music and never looked back.
In order to combine your interests, would you ever consider writing a song about sea-life? ‘Shark’ sort of rhymes with ‘heart’, so it should be quite straightforward. Or you could just cover ‘Octopus’s Garden’. The possibilities are endless!
Or indeed 'Under the Sea'! I've always wanted to play Ursula the Sea Witch from the Little Mermaid. You never know....
Do you find it easy to write lyrics? Do you think that lyrical articulation is vital to musical expression, or do you see lyrics as more of an afterthought?
I find melodies very easy, but lyrics are a completely different kettle of fish. I agonise over words, it can take me weeks to finish lyrics. To me lyrics are the heart of a song.
Your album artwork features you in all manner of different costumes and guises, from frilly dresses to gothic feather capes, denim shorts and vintage hats. Do you just like dressing up, or does each photograph represent a different side to your personality?
I think that it comes back to my earlier comment; I don't want to take myself too seriously. I love exploring my creativity and imagination so the artwork definitely reflects different aspects of my personality.
You’ve done quite a few Pride performances; do you feel you have an affinity with the LGBT community?
Yes I do, I feel very at home in the LGBT community. Let's just say that any bar that hangs Barbie dolls from the ceiling and plays ‘New York, New York’ is my kinda place.
In 2010, you performed alongside Robbie Williams during the Blackpool Illumination festivities. What was that like? Are you a fan of his? Do you have any saucy anecdotes that you’d like to share?
Blackpool was a fantastic experience although petrifying (it was a massive crowd)! I'm not a massive Robbie fan but I have a huge amount of respect and admiration for him. My reaction to meeting him was quite a surprise to myself; I turned into a complete star-struck giggling girl and almost swooned. He really is gorgeous, so nice, and to my surprise, tall.
I understand that the title of your album is inspired by the diabolical Nurse Ratchet’s cries of ‘medication time!” in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. Is there any particular reason you chose this disturbing mantra?
I love that film, it's amazing on so many levels! I think that most of us 'self medicate' be it with alcohol, chocolate, coffee, exercise, self-help books or whatever else it may be that people use to get through their daily lives. For me, the ultimate medication and therapy is music.
You managed to use a sample from John Barry’s ‘Midnight Cowboy’ soundtrack for your (utterly gorgeous song) ‘You Don’t Know My Name’. How did that come about? And are you a fan of Midnight Cowboy? (If you can quote from it then you get an extra point.)
Writing that song was one of those rare and exciting moments of synchronicity in life. I really couldn't have planned it happening! I've always been a huge John Barry fan thanks to my mum, and 'Midnight Cowboy’ is one of her favourite films (“You're the only one Joe”). Anyway I digress. I was lucky enough to meet Grant Black (a fantastic writer); we immediately hit it off and started writing together. At some point he had a great idea, to write a song around John Barry's Midnight Cowboy. We sent it off to John and luckily/ thankfully he gave his permission for us to use his sample.
You toured with Mike and the Mechanics this year. How was it? Tell us something funny/surreal about the tour. If nothing interesting happened, then just make something up. (By the way, I know you bumped into Tom Jones in the Isle of Wight, but you can’t use that one. I’m live in Wales; I bump into him at least twice a week.)
The tour was fantastic although exhausting. We travelled nearly 3000 miles in two weeks! The audiences were lovely and so supportive; it was a real pleasure playing to them each night. Mike, the Mechanics and all of the behind-the-scenes guys were also great, so no nasty gossip I'm afraid. But something funny/surreal? Ok. On the very first date of the tour (York) I was ridiculously nervous and had some time to fill, so a couple of us decided to go into The York Dungeons to take our minds off the gig. It seemed like a nice idea until at some point during the tour our group was forgotten and left in part of the dungeon. Thankfully we managed to eventually work out how to escape the dungeon but it almost made us late for our own gig.
If you could tour with any band, who would it be?
I'd love to tour with one of the greats. Someone like Aretha.
Finally, what’s planned for the coming year? And more importantly, where can my alienated niece see you perform? We need to get her out of the house so she stops chewing up the furniture.
We have lots of different things planned in the pipeline for the coming year. The best thing to do is to keep an eye on my website for upcoming events. With regards to your niece, I hear that mustard is very good for stopping puppies from eating household furniture so it might be worth a try...!
Thank you Scarlette. Debut album 'Medication Time' is released later this month on June 27th.
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Hello Scarlette! How was the Isle of Wight?
