Interview with Tally Spear – Interview conducted by Lucy Grubb

Tally Spear is an artist we’ve featured a number of times on Belles and Gals and it would be fair to say we’ve become huge fans. Tally recently released her debut E.P. ‘Fade to White’.

Interviewer, singer Lucy Grubb, writes ‘This EP instantly caught my attention, not only due to the delightful vocals, but the lyrics are immediately engaging. The production is simple yet accompanies Tally’s vocals beautifully, ensuring that the lyrics are what you listen to first.’

Firstly, besides the singles, ‘Fade to White’ is your debut release. As I’m sure you’ve collected a number of songs over the years, did you find it difficult having to choose 5 tracks for the EP? How did you make this decision?

These 5 tracks are all part of the same story, and they were all written around the same time in my life, so it felt natural to put them together on an EP!

In regards to listening to ‘Fade to White’, do you want listeners to take each track individually or listen to the EP as a collective? Is there a purpose behind the way in which the EP is structured?

I think I’d like listeners to focus on each individual track in this EP. Although they have things in common, they all have quite individual sounds… For example, the country-pop and upbeat feel to Wrong Side of the Road is really very different to the subdued and introspective verses of Don’t Believe It’s All Me. Each track has it’s own thing going on!

I hear a lot of Neil Young in the production of your ‘Fade to White’ EP, especially in the track ‘Don’t Believe It’s All me’. This modern take on 70s vibes is refreshing in today’s music climate. Have you always toyed with this type of production, or was this something you were experimenting with for the EP?

Up until now, when producing tracks, I’ve never quite known what we’re going to end up with. I haven’t tried to replicate anything in particular, I do what I feel is right for the track and see what happens!

I particularly like your lyrical phrasing in ‘Just Don’t Know’, the verses draw me back to 60s Bob Dylan yet the chorus stays undeniably modern. Who were your influences when writing and recording this EP?

Thanks so much! Funnily enough, I was feeling influenced and inspired by Dylan’s ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ when writing a number of these tracks, particularly side two of the record. I love the way Dylan often has those catchy phrases that return at the ends of his verses… you can hear that I do something like this in ‘Don’t Believe It’s All Me.’

As an independent artist, how do you cope with juggling various aspects of the music industry? Are there some aspects you find harder than others?

I find that the music industry is just one big guessing game. No-one can predict where it’s going, or who it’s going to pick up next. You just have to keep going and keep making music and see what happens… you’ve gotta work hard.

And finally, what do you want listeners to take away from ‘Fade to White’?

A sense of feeling understood, and a feeling of knowing me a little better…

Interview conducted by Lucy Grubb (twitter.com/_lucygrubb)

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