Originally posted on June 13th 2017 here is my interview with singer-songwriter ENNE. We talked about her experiences writing songs and performing live.
Where did it all start for you getting into music?
I grew up in an environment where the tv would be off and my mum would be playing reggae and dub as she did her chores, I quite enjoyed that atmosphere when she did that. I also have early memories of her singing to me, songs I now know well, and I used to think my mum was the best singer in the world, I used to tell all my school friends how wonderful she is, I still to this day believe this. I began learning instruments from 7 years old starting with violin and I picked up many more on the way which has led me to right now. I will just buy an instrument and learn it. I have just put a bid on for a trumpet as I haven’t yet ventured into brass, but by this time next year I will have mastered trumpet solo’s haha I attended a music school on a saturday morning each week alongside my normal school and then when I went to college. I started teaching the samba group and running other music groups from the age of 15. I just have a passion for music, and if I can use that to make other people, feel, dance and enjoy life that little bit more, then that is what it’s all about. Who are your influences? Well, other than my mother, I would say the biggest influences to me as I grew up was Bob Marley, Gregory Isaacs and Lauryn Hill. But really I was exposed to so much more music and found a love for Donovan the folk artist, I now love folk, Dolly Parton and I also had a keen interest in Opera..so there were many elements that have influenced me from an early age..
With songwriting where do you tend to get your inspiration from e.g how do you start your songs & what's your process?
I actually like to meditate and clear my mind most of the time, creativity processes can be hard to describe as I get a feeling sometimes that an idea for a song is brewing. My processes vary a lot. As I teach myself new techniques on guitar I find myself wanting to put them in to new music quite rapidly so I'd usually end up writing based on a new skill. I draw from life experiences from my own life as well as observational songwriting. I sometimes use my poetry to form concepts for songs, as well as discussing concepts with friends which can also give birth to new ideas...really is a vibe you get into which determines what you are inspired by. My favourite thing about it is no matter what you are capturing moments and immortalising them through song, in each moment there can be a lesson to be learned and I like to put a lot of that into my songwriting also.
How important is it do you feel it is to listen to current music as well
as music from the past?
Very important, listening to all music teaches us a lot, I love going to see unsigned bands however more than keep to up to date with Drake for example, but it is important you know what the buzz is and what you can take from everything, or what you would rather NOT do is also a big lesson to shaping your own craft. For that huge reason alone is enough to make listening to new as well as old very important. Another point is this...We are all hoping to be that NEW time musician, the past inspires us, we must nurture our new musicians and new music because that NEW could be the next past classic that inspired generations of people and musicians to become great...it needs the support more than past music does, past music brings about nostalgia, memories...new music creates new opportunities for that.
Do you feel it is important to watch other acts perform and to watch other live music?
Yes most certainly, for similar reasons as above. By watching other live acts and connecting with musicians it has 1) made me like minded new friends 2) got me more gigs, 3) made me a fan of so many new artsists that I now don’t know where I'd be without 4) learning, we can learn so much from each other. I learnt a skill I can do with my operatic voice in not much time, that other opera singers have told me it took them years to learn, I would have never of known that if I didn’t interact with them and probably wouldn’t of thought I had come very far with it. I also have taught skills to other singers and musicians that took me a long time to master, which they got in under an hour sometimes...years of work in bite sizes that brings forward progression. We all have something to learn.
Finally what tips do you have for anyone starting out when it comes to songwriting & performing?
The tip is, do not be scared to start from literally anywhere, just make the start. Respect and enjoy the musical journey, have patience with yourself and draw inspiration from everything you can :)
To find out more about ENNE go to www.facebook.com/musicenne and Bandcamp www.musicenne.bandcamp.com/releases
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