Talking To Roisin O'Hagan
Nic Rigby catches up with the singer/guitaris
With a new single Us out on the 9 October, Fatea writer Nic Rigby took the opportunity to talk to singer songwriter Roisin O'Hagan.
Essex singer/guitarist Roisin O'Hagan has over the last few years been gaining plaudits for her writing and performing.
Last year she invited to record at Bob Harris' Under the Apple Tree studios and her songs have been praised from among others Matt Malley, a former member of US rock band County Crows.
Roisin says she grew up in a "very musical household".
"My parents absolutely love music, so I picked up influences from them," she says.
"They always loved the great singer songwriters and great writers. My dad always loved Bruce Springsteen for example.
"I picked up their influences, and my parents took me to see artists from different genres, more folky ones like Kate Rusby."
As she grew older she started listening to artists such as Taylor Swift.
"I remember buying her first two albums when I was 11 or 12 and listening to them back to back on my little CD player on headphones in the car and I was like: 'She is incredible'.
"I loved her music for the actual songwriting. It never struck me that this was country music.
"It was more that it was just great songwriting and the instrumentation around her. From genre to genre I've loved her music full stop."
Some of Roisin's earlier songs have been categorised as country, but she's keen not to be pidgeon-holed.
"I released a song in 2018 called Miss You Like June and launched myself on to the UK grassroots scene and that was very country pop inspired.
"I still do love it. But since then I have moved further and further away from that genre and I'm recording a lot at the moment which is a big step away from the country label."
Roisin remembers songwriting before she could play an instrument.
"When I was 11 I remember scribbling together lyrics and memorising melodies," she says.
"Then at around 12 I picked a guitar my dad had lying about. I was very shy and it took time for me to go to him and say: Could you teach me two or three chords?
"Then I wrote my first song Two."
Her new single Us is released on 9 October which was inspired by the Covid-19 lockdown.
"It's about the fact bad things can happen but there's always a light that shines through. There are friends and family," she says.
"It's more singer songwriter in style. A bit darker, a bit more me, a bit less country."
She sings: "When nothing's left, all that's left is us."
She tells me: "It's about how everything can go to ruins and you have to remember what you do have. Having parents to watch a film with or having friends for a long phone call."
Pre-save and pre-order 'Us' out everywhere October 9th:
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/roisinohagan/us
https://www.facebook.com/Roisinmusic/
Us
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.
