What is your name?Kate Young
What is the bands name?
Gallows Ghost
How did you come up with bands name?
We came up with it as a homage to British Folk Horror
What is your genre of music?
New Wave Folk
Give us a little bio about you as a band and individuals.
Gallows Ghost are like a bunch of barbarians coming over the hill!
We do our own myth making; Pairing action packed sonic intensity with narrative ambition – stories filled with enchantment, soaring strings, vivid guitars, and euphoric electronics… entwined in an irrepressible rush. These are songs you can take in quickly, but spend a life time devouring.
Describe eachother in one word.
Tribe
Are you a signed?
No
Tell us more ‘ Lick Your Wounds’
Lick your wounds is the great big dirty great snake our set! It will devour you.
What was the recording process like?
We worked with Chris goulestone (Goldfrapp/Mushroom from Massive Attack) again on this track. Working with Chris is like creating in Frankenstein’s laboratory. You go in with the body of the song and come out with a monster!
What was the writing process like?
Turn the amp to 11. Hit the fuzz pedal. Take a breath and see you on the other side.
Describe the track in three words.
Dark, sexy, heavy.
Are you heading out on tour or have any gigs planned?
We can’t wait for next year. We will be shooting a new video and our first gig of the year will be an acoustic set at St Pancras Old Church on the 2nd Feb. Then we are playing Treadwells Bookshop (the oldest Esoteric and mystical Bookshop in London) on the 10th and then our residency at The Courtyard in Hoxton continues on the 24th Feb.
If so which cities will you be going?
London for the moment. It’s where we are from and we want to build from here.
What made you go in to music?
My passion for singing and writing has always been powerful in my life and music is the most important thing to me. Combining that with meeting the right people we then knew we wanted to evolve the band from there
Do you play any instruments?
I play a little guitar and piano but I’ll leave the virtuosos to make it sound awesome! All the other members are so talented it blows my mind.
Who are your influences?
So many! Led Zeppelin, Massive Attack, Alt J, Fairport Convention, Queens of the Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Alice in Chains, Moderat and possibly everything in between
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Influence for lyrics – poetry – my head!!!Tennyson/Yeats/Tolkien old traditional often macabre folk songs twisted into something modern. Often influenced by romantic paintings -Waterhouse/Rossetti/female warrior mysticism and empowerment. Battle/armour/fight/struggle/power/strength against adversity/love.
Dark atmospheres – MR James ghost stories, Victorian gothic literature, anything macabre.
Honest and deeply personal lyrics – pretty much always to do with real situations/feelings and relationships or experiences. Other times if it’s a vibe of a song I write poetry and lyrics according to how the mood is evocative to me. I Create a mood board inside my head and then try and link the images that the music makes me think of. Often a song can evolve from one line or lyric that the music from the boys made me feel or write down.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Our biggest dream is to carry on being able to make music and playing together. But Pyramid Stage wouldn’t go amiss…
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Usually something creative. I paint and draw and make and sell jewellery.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
In my Time of Dying by Led Zeppelin
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
To keep putting wood on your fire and keep it burning no matter how small or big the smoke goes out to the world. It’s your fire, so keep it alive regardless.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Do what you want and be yourself and true to your art. It’s so tough out there that it has to be worth it by feeling like you are creating your own imprint of how you view the world.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
‘A strong spirit transcends rules’ Prince
You work with Hush PR, how did that come about?
We have worked with Hush for our previous EP and so already have a great relationship with Sacha.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
My bodypaint, to warm up, to have an amazing time together, some water and for the cello’s not to be put in the cold before playing!
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
We are on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. All of which can be reached through one quick click from our website www.gallowsghost.com
(Below actual links if needed)
https://m.soundcloud.com/gallows-ghost-1/sets/gallows-ghost-track-demos
https://www.instagram.com/gallowsghost/
https://m.facebook.com/pages/Gallows-Ghost/218646791526913
https://mobile.twitter.com/gallowsghost?lang=en
