1. The First Song I Wrote
I remember my first fully formed song being written when I was 14. It was heavily influenced by Sam Brown – remember her? I played it on the piano. I have no idea if I could still play it; I must try one day. It was full of teenage angst and die-hard romance. The teenage angst has gone but the die-hard romantic lives on.
2. The Last Song I Released
I released a single from my new album Mother’s Not Feeling Herself Today a couple of months back; it’s called ‘I’m Sorry’ and features 13 of my female singer-songwriter friends on backing vocals. The song was inspired by a talk given by writer/historian Clare Wright about the moment she admitted she was not well and finally asked for help. The words “I’m sorry, I’ve failed” rang in my head; I knew I had to try to write a song out of it.
3. Songwriting Secrets
There’s no secret – it’s a skill set like anything else, a craft that is honed. I do think that my music has become more interesting over time, though, because I am getting closer to finding my own voice; being less influenced by what I think my music should be. Speak your truth, especially if you are a woman. We need more women’s stories.
4. The Song That Makes Me Proud
I am generally most proud of my newest baby, what I have done more recently – I always marvel at the fact that something that didn’t exist suddenly does! I have just released an album of new songs; it’s a concept album of sorts about my experience of motherhood. It’s pretty dark at times and reveals some gritty truths about me and my experiences. I was a little scared (an understatement) about how it would be received – whether people would find it too controversial, too negative, too raw – but it seems many people have connected to it; I have received some pretty amazing messages from people saying the lyrics speak to secrets they have kept, some for years and years, so I am really proud that I’ve had this effect on folks. I didn’t expect it!
5. The Song That Changed My Life
I remember hearing ‘Revelator’ by Gillian Welch for the first time and literally stopping and just leaning against a wall. I felt a mixture of awe and love for the song but also a deep sense of despair because I felt so completely outclassed! One of those ‘Why do I bother?’ moments. But I learned so much from her about the power of simplicity in song and matching melody with meaning.
Suzannah Espie’sMother’s Not Feeling Herself Today is out now through Vitamin, and she appears at Django BaronThursday November 12, with Lucie Thorne.
