Introducing Interview: Calva Louise

Having been big fans of London based international band Calva Louise‘s colossal soaring metal inspired sounds for a number of years, we’ve been loving the recent run of cinematic sci-fi inspired singles. Set in the alternative universe laid out in previous singles ‘La Corriente‘ and ‘Under The Skin‘, latest single ‘WTF‘ showcases front woman Jess Allanic’s fierce vocal with an immense power, showcasing the band’s innovative creativity; an evocative fusion of fantastical fiction with a searing sense of urgency.

We caught up with Jess to find out more about the recent singles, the band’s inspirations and their recent tour with Indian metal band Bloodywood. Have read, and watch the video for ‘WTF’, below!

Hi Jess, hope you’re well! Thanks so much for speaking to Get In Her Ears. We’ve been huge fans of Calva Louise here at Get In Her Ears since first hearing your debut album, Rhinoceros, back in 2019! But for those who don’t know, are you able to tell us a little bit about Calva Louise and how you all got together to start creating awesome music? 
Each of us grew up in three different continents and landed in London at the same time looking for the same musical experience. I came from Venezuela to France and met Alizon when I was 16, then met Ben in London and together we formed Calva Louise in 2016, looking to build a solid musical project. When we were struggling to understand more about the music industry, we felt as if we were living a kind of absurdity, like the characters in Ionesco’s play La Cantante Calva -in Spanish – which combined with Louise – the name of the main character of the Lore – resulted in Calva Louise.

And are there any particular musicians or artists who inspire your writing?
The sound influences for us evolves continuously, but started from bands like Muse, SOAD, QOTSA, Molotov, Calle 13, Cafe Tacvba, Carpenter Brut, Ghost and currently Spiritbox.

We love the immense, ferocious power of your latest single ‘W.T.F’ – can you tell us a bit about the track, and what inspired it?
It turns basically around the concept of the human duality represented by the existence of two sides in the human life experience. Following the characters from the Lore of the story that I started to write when I was 10 years old, the both sides are identical in appearance and are called ‘The Travellers’ and their counterparts ‘The Doubles’.

The single is linked to your previous releases ‘La Corriente’ and ‘Under The Skin’, all set within a science fiction alternative reality – are you able to explain a bit more about this and the story behind the tracks? 
As the music videos form part of a larger science fiction project to provide an immersive experience for the audience, all Calva Louise’s songs are linked as prequels or sequels of the first of their Lore’s video production – ‘Camino’, which was released in 2020. The video graphic sequences are constantly evolving with each new song, following the new effects skills that I’m learning continuously, and also dependent on the budget that the band can afford for each new video production, which is currently practically 0… Linked to this part of the story, the conflict arose when the Travellers met their Doubles before the arrival of the hybrid predators coming from other worlds. The sequels continue showing how some Doubles were corrupted with addictive substances injected by the hybrids under their skins, to steal the life energy from them and in consequence from their avatars that are the Travellers, who are the organic human beings like us. The Doubles are their inorganic source of energy, and the hybrids are half organic and half machines, who steal life energy as food to their survival in the hidden worlds.

And how has the songwriting process been for these recent singles, has it been quite different from your previous recordings? 
Since the beginning, I had a plan for the releases based on three different perspectives, where the lyrics represent our experience as we the humans live in this world. The symbolism represents portals to new perceptions of reality through our dreams, and the music and videos represent the unification of both sides in an unknown dimension where all perceptions are intertwined, including foreign energy predation coming from other worlds.

You’re originally from Venezuala, with your band mates Alizon from France and Ben from New Zealand – a truly international band! How have you found the music scene compares in those places to here in the UK? And how do you find all being from different places affects your experience as a band? 
British and American rock music are the common basis for all of us since we were kids, but the Latin rock music is the most particular and individual influence on me as songwriter.

I’ve been lucky enough to catch you live a couple of times (over here at a John Kennedy event at Omeara, and in New York supporting Slothrust in 2022), and both times have been completely blown away by your incredible energy and fiercely immersive musicality! Has there been a particular show over the years that stands out as a highlight for you?    
This current tour supporting Indian metal band, Bloodywood. It’s been the best experience ever!

Generally, when you’re out on tour, are there any particular essentials that you like to take with you to keep you going?
My computer in a custom case that Alizon built for me so I can finish the new videos between the soundchecks and the shows and on the days off.

As we’re an organisation with a focus on supporting new and marginalised artists, I just wondered how you feel the industry is for them at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the years in its treatment of female and queer artists? 
It still needs a lot of work, it’s a fact that artists are always at the bottom of the industry. Things are slowly changing, but more needs to be done! 

And are there any other exciting bands or artists that you’d recommend we check out at the moment?
Bobby Wolfgang! 

Is there anything else you’d like to add about upcoming plans or particular thoughts you’d like to mention?
We’d love to tour the US again!

Huge thanks to Jess for answering our questions! Watch the cinematic new video for ‘WTF’ here:

Calva Louise are currently on tour with Indian metal band Bloodywood, catch them live at Kentish Town Forum on Thursday 27th March – tickets here.

Photo Credit: Henry Calvert

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INTRODUCING INTERVIEW: Meg Elsier

Today, New England-born and Nashville-based artist Meg Elsier has shared her latest alt-pop anthem ‘forlyleinsanfrancisco’.

The track is a potent blend of all the elements that make her music so exciting and interesting. Fuelled by her direct lyrics and clear vocals, underscored by gritty riffs and energetic beats, and accompanied by a chaotically fun video; ‘forlyleinsanfrancisco’ simultaneously celebrates everything that Meg is, whilst lamenting everything she wishes she could be.

When we meet over Zoom to chat about her new release, she tells me she has been snowed in for three days, which is not normal for residents of Nashville at this time of year. Luckily, she has her cat, Oakley, for company. Meg describes her as “a really sweet girl, but she’s also a killer” as Oakley comedically interrupts our chat at different points. With respect, the same could be said for Meg herself. She is generous with her answers to my questions and earnest about her passion for her art, but she also has a palpable determination and grit when it comes to talking about how it is presented.

Read on to find out more about the alt-pop artist’s early music inspirations, what excites her about her new single, her recommendations from her local music scene in Nashville, and what listeners can expect from her debut album, spittake, which is set for release later this year…

 

What are your earliest memories of listening to music, or becoming interested in music?

I didn’t really grow up in a musical household. We had a piano that my Mum used to play, but I don’t remember her playing it at all when I was younger. So we had the tools around the house, but nobody did it, besides me, because I wanted to make a lot of noise and be annoying!

Growing up, I went to a lot of Broadway shows, because my Grandma would get us tickets. That was a huge intro [to the idea] of “I wanna dance around with costumes and sing songs. That looks great!” Then it was The Beatles. That was the first record that my parents played and I was like “everything’s different now,” and Queen too. Freddie Mercury was my first crush!

That’s an eclectic range of influences and a great first crush. Your music has been described as “inhabiting the space between folk, indie-pop, and alternative music,” but how would you describe your own sound?

Maybe it’s not the best word [for it], but I consider my music slightly paradoxical. One of my favourite things in music is when you have a really soft element – whether it’s the words that you’re saying, or it’s the voice that’s projecting them – then you just plough through it with this aggression. Because it’s kind of like a facade that people put on. I sing soft, and I like that. But I also love a grungy, gritted out guitar. So I just try to find what feels like me. I like different things and I like combining them. It feels natural to me.

Your new single ‘forlyleinsanfrancisco’, is a great example of this. It’s inspired by a trip you took to visit a friend in San Francisco, and how afterwards, you wished you could “linger in a moment” fully and commit to that feeling. Can you elaborate on that?

I took my time making this song and it is kind of precious to me.

It’s a huge aspect of having this state of mind and being really impulsive, and that being your identity for that moment. So when I’m sad, I am sad – that is who I am. I really identify with it, which maybe isn’t the best thing – which is also [addressed] in the song. But it’s also about the opposite and how fast you can be like “ohhh never mind!” and not committed to being sad at all. It’s the weird push-and-pull of that, and realising or having this feeling in your stomach about how weird it is that something can feel so true in one moment, and then very quickly not be. It’s about that displacement and lack of trust in yourself.

The accompanying video for the single looks like it was a lot of fun to make. Talk us more about the shoot…

It was so fun. It came together in three days, in total, which started with me texting my friend Roberto, who is also the director. We really like hyper-pop DJs, creating projections and digital art. We wanted that kind of thing, but with all of our friends involved. So we texted all of our friends and were like “I’ll have some beers, a bottle of tequila, some snacks and some really good music…”

With this song, when I play it live, all of my friends go crazy and it’s the greatest feeling. You can get moshy for it for kind of no reason and it’s great. So I wanted to bring the energy of the live show to this video, because the other videos we’ve made are so thought out – which I absolutely love – but with this one it was kind of fun to be impulsive and show the energy that we have when we play live.

Your visuals for your previous singles ‘ifshitfuq’ and ‘iznotreal’ are also very cool. Can you tell us a bit more about concepts behind them?

When it came to making my album, spittake, I recorded all of the demos by myself. So I kind of know that world and I really love it.

It was Jacqueline Justice who produced them, and myself and Mary Violet who basically creative directed these videos. It was a world that I’ve never been in before, and it was so stressful, but I loved it, because I loved having people that I trusted with my vision. I trusted their creativity, and also having control over things that you [often] don’t have control over in this industry. I just really wanted to be like “I’m going to be portrayed in a certain way, I want to be in charge of the narrative and what I’m wearing.” These ideas and concepts were great and I had so much fun. I loved doing that.

We shot these videos consecutively, we had no days off in between. ‘iftshitfuq’ was first and ‘iznotreal’ was on day two. We were all absolutely delirious, which is why I find it so funny that the video kind of came out in the way that it did. I was like “how did this come from like, 10 people taking a smoke break and being over-caffeinated?” The editing is amazing.

There are behind the scenes shots of me laying on the ground, with people chain-smoking cigarettes over there, other people chugging coffee being like “I’m gonna go get a vape” – it was the most ridiculous hang out.

It sounds like you had a blast. These tracks will feature on your upcoming debut album, spittake, which is set for release in March. What are you most proud of about this record?

My favourite type of music artist is when you can tell that they’re being totally authentic. Like, even if they did try to hide it, they just couldn’t. That’s the music that I like and the music that I want to make.

This record took a while to make and a while for me to release. There’s something that I learned [in the process] about letting go of things that are precious and trusting in yourself. I took a while to figure out what I wanted to sound like. I wanted to figure out something that felt sustainable to me, that I wasn’t faking. This was the first time that I the sound really felt like me. That’s something that I haven’t had before. So to have this record be different parts of my personality, I’m really proud of that, and that I got to reflect that in it too.

We can’t wait to hear spittake in full!

Finally, as we’re a new music blog, we always ask for recommendations. Who or what are you listening to right now?

The new Oneohtrix Point Never song ‘A Barely Lit Path’ makes me feel amazing. It gets so choppy, I love it. I went to New York for about a week from the end of December to January, and this was just the best walking around, zoning-out-listening-to-music in the city song.

I’ve also made playlists for my friends, and they’re like “I’m so sorry, I can’t listen to that” even though it’s so perfect! Like, one of the songs on these playlists is from Saltburn, – Mason vs Princess Superstar ‘Perfect (Exceeder)’ – I can’t get it out of my head and it’s so embarrassing. It’s such a strut song where you feel cool, but everybody looking at you is thinking “why are you walking like that?”

When it comes to Nashville bands, Sn​õ​õ​per are incredible. They’re so DIY, They make these puppets and their shows are amazing. My friend Wilby is one of my favourite writers and singers too, for sure.

New York and LA are amazing and they have such incredible music scenes there, but Nashville gets overlooked when it comes to the not-country scene. I think the music that isn’t in that genre, because that scene is so much smaller, the community is so supportive and amazing, and the music coming out of it is so different and inspiring. I’m from the East Coast, and I love that, but there is something so special about playing music in a place that isn’t really known for that kind of music. Like, it’s tough, but it’s rewarding for sure.

Follow Meg Elsier on Spotify, Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Emily Moses
Styling: Tay Sorrell for @shoptoro.xyz

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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INTERVIEW: ALT BLK ERA

Formed of sisters Nyrobi and Chaya, genre-defying duo ALT BLK ERA create tenacious alternative tunes designed to showcase their vivid personalities. Inspired by the likes of Ashnikko, Hacktivist, The Prodigy and Billie Eilish, they blur the boundaries of pop punk, nu-metal, rap and electronic music to form their riotous sounds.

By combining jagged electronics, heavy riffs and racing beats with raging lyrics, the pair have created an alternative statement of self autonomy on their debut EP, Freak Show, which perfectly showcases their antagonistic, youthful spirit. We caught up with Nyrobi and Chaya to talk about their new release (out on 1st September), their recent performances at Reading & Leeds and Glastonbury, and the love they’ve received from fans who have discovered their music…

 

For anyone who doesn’t already know, can you explain how you came to be ALT BLK ERA?

We’re sisters from Nottingham and we have been singing together for as long as I (Nyrobi) can remember. It became a regular daily feature when we would do our chores, washing up, with music blasting from our Apple iPod. This is where we learnt how to harmonise so easily with one another.

I’m the chief song-writer (Nyrobi) however, I work best with my sister Chaya by my side. She’ll add key parts, change things or say a straight no – so it’s a dual process. We sound so different, and we have such different personalities that we have to work closely together throughout the creative process.

Your own music is a blend of lots of different genres (nu-metal, rap, pop punk, electronic/rave) – talk us through your process of combining these styles and merging them into your songs…

We grew up on Reggae, Soul and R&B – so these elements are at our core. However, we stumbled upon the world of Metal and DnB when we were trying to express something harder and edgier than what we knew.

We haven’t got a step-by-step process. We sit with a beat. We have a song title and theme and then we ride the creativity wave. If we hit a wall – we write something else and then come back to it later down the line. There’s no pressure. We have fun making our music and if we want to throw in a bit of opera – we do exactly that. If we want to throw in a few bars of rap, we do that. There are no rules. This works for and against us because the industry wants to give a title to what we do. At one point we felt pressured to label our music genre – but it isn’t one thing so we generally call it ‘Alternative’.

You’re gearing up to release your debut EP, Freak Show, on the 1st September. What are you most proud of about this release?

We love that the EP is a story of where we started from. Our feelings of sitting outside of the mainstream. It feels like we’re getting a lot off our chest and we’ve found that so many others relate to what we’re singing about. We’re still really young, so the school experience has been a major area of our lives. What’s amazing is how many older listeners share with us that they wish they had us around when they were growing up. This is what we are most proud of – being able to connect with a range of people who identify themselves in our music. All the songs have a slightly different twist on them, and there are a range of energies that we share – from defiance to empowerment, to encouragement and love of yourself and others.

Do you have a favourite track on the EP? If so, why?

We of course love every track on the EP, but Chaya holds a special place in her heart for the title track, ‘Freak Show’ and I am loving ‘I’m Normally Like This’ – but this could change. It depends where we’re at emotionally as each track can speak strongly to you at different times.

Your music and your aesthetic both make a strong statement about individuality and not being afraid to express yourself. How has this message impacted your listeners? Have people reached out to talk to you about these things?

It’s been so wonderful to see the reaction. Our music is about celebrating who we all are which we especially see when we perform live. We’re tired of the pressures to conform. There have been a few haters that can’t help but share their thoughts about us and what we stand for – but we forgive them because they maybe haven’t heard our lyrics where we say “We don’t give a damn if you like it!”

People are always reaching out to us. We talk about some deep issues in our music, including violence against women. We get so many comments and private messages from people who have or who are struggling with their mental health and self-love – who say our music is helping them. Parents and grandparents introduce our music to their children and grandchildren. People from marginalised communities reach out to us and thank us for making them feel safe and heard.

Older true Metal Heads tell us how much they love our music. Rap artists tell us that they love the music we are making. What’s also beautiful is how many people from the Black community reach out to us too. Either they’ve never liked Rock/Metal music before or they have not seen enough representation. This is clear in our live shows when there are so many people from different walks of life join us in one room.

You performed at Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds Festival this year! Talk to us about these sets… 

OMGosh! Glastonbury was a dream. We have so much love for Earache Records for taking a risk on two teenage girls and putting us on their Takeover of the Truth Stage at Shangri-la. The highlight was when we looked over at each other in the middle of our set and we both knew what the other was thinking… “It’s really happening!” We were so happy.

We headlined the BBC Introducing stages at Reading & Leeds Festival. Again, another dream come true. We just wanted the audience to enjoy themselves and feel part of something new. We had people screaming back at us and joining in the chants it was spectacular. We’re still processing the experience.

You played live for Get In Her Ears supporting STRAIGHT GIRL in July and we loved your set. What do you enjoy most about playing live?

We love seeing the energy of the crowd. We love how we take them through different mood states and how we all experience it together. From soft, weird, to full out moshing. Live is the most wonderful thing! Thank you for having us! (see pics of the night here)

What does the rest of 2023 hold for ALT BLK ERA?

We have a few things lined up. We will be supporting Lord Of The Lost at the O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – this is another massive step for us and we’re so excited for this. On the 3rd November we have our headline show in Nottingham, where we will also be sharing music that we plan to release in 2024. It’s going to be a full on party!

Finally, as we’re a new music blog, we always ask for new music recommendations. Is there a band or artist who you’ve been listening to lately that you’d like to give a shout out to?

We have three we’d like to mention: PleasePretty Lea, Gender Crisis and Ruena. Do not sleep on these artists!!!

Follow ALT BLK ERA on bandcamp, Spotify, Tik Tok, Twitter (X), Instagram & Facebook

Photo Credit: Fabrice Gagos

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Introducing Interview: Ch’Lu

Having received acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music’s Chris Hawkins, and with her music featured on the award-winning Unreported World TV Series, British-Romanian artist Ch’Lu is now set to release her new album this Summer. Ahead of the album’s release she’s recently shared her witty, yet poignant, insight into online dating with ‘I’m Not The Type To Sit And Swipe‘ – showcasing her ability to layer twinkling musicality alongside her celestial vocals, creating immersive ethereal soundscapes.

We caught up with Ch’Lu to find out more about what inspires her, her experience of the music industry and her upcoming plans… Have a read and watch the video for ‘I’m Not The Type To Sit and Swipe’ below!

Hi Ch’Lu! Welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about yourself? 
So, I’m Ch’Lu. A British/Romanian multi-lingual classical guitarist, singer, actress and ninja. My ethereal harmonies, conscious lyrics and guitar arpeggiation are the foundation to my signature Cosmic Chanson meets Fairy Folktronica sound. Taking you on a conscious and entertaining journey, blending the ancient with the voice of the Zeitgeist. So far my work (some under Camilla Mathias) has spanned thirteen languages, varying from performing live for BBC6 Music (with Chris Hawkins describing as “a beautiful, captivating and delicious chanteuse“), providing guitar for the award-winning Unreported World TV series, composing and performing my songs in the new London stage adaptation of Lorca’s Blood Wedding, and having my Romanian-Language track ‘Sunt Româncâ’ selected for charity album Mitra Music For Nepal, produced by Annie Hogan (Marc Almond).

Are you able to tell us a bit about how and why you initially started creating music?
A decade ago, song-writing and meditation both gave me not only beautiful ways to heal from the sudden loss of my musician father, but rapidly also showed me I could engage and help others though the sharing of such life-experiences. It has always been clear to me that the stories that form our greatest growth are the stories we have to share. Although I trained in classical guitar and singing, I only ever used my guitar as an actress, never to perform my own music. However, in 2010 I started writing and performing my own songs, (under my birth name Camilla Mathias), mostly as a means to process the passing of my dad. Very soon I started doing gigs in French as part of the cabaret circuit in London, and then moved to Switzerland and took on the stage name Diva de la Guitare. I then lived in Spain and eventually came back to the UK, in time for Covid, during which I rebranded as Ch’Lu. Pronounced ChooLOO,  the unique Sanskrit name was conceived by my Jyotisha (The Vedic study of timing) mentor, specifically for my work as a performer. It’s all about the vibration (hence my social media handle is @ChLuVibration). This Sanskrit name activates my spiritual and creative paths, and is very much altering the shape and direction my performance work takes me

We love your eclectic art-pop sounds, but who would you say are your main musical influences?
My most common comparison is Kate Bush. And I would say she is a strong inspiration, especially her iconic ‘Wuthering Heights’. Other influences vary between Joan Baez, Bach, Villa Lobos, Madonna, Edith Piaf, Brigitte Bardot, Rodrigo y Gabriella, Manu Chao, Amanda Palmer, Agnes Obel, Max Richter, Scylla and Woodkid.

You recently released your new single ‘I’m Not The Type To Sit and Swipe’. Are you able to tell us a bit about it?
It’s a painfully honest song entering the hideous and ridiculous universe of dating apps. Everyone knows someone who has – if they have not had a go themselves – sat swiping on a phone to find love. Or to not feel alone. It’s about desperation, loneliness, and seeking validation. What happened to romance? And treating people with respect? I actually started writing the song a few years ago when I first started using Bumble and Tinder, and was recovering from surgery on a sports’ injury. Although it helped me at the time get the confidence to get out and about on crutches, I have noticed the behaviour get dramatically worse in recent years. It now seems to be the norm to match someone with no intention of writing to them, or to message non-stop but not want to actually meet. What a waste of time. It is just vile in my opinion, and this song expresses all the levels I have experienced. There are a few good-uns out there, but not enough for it to be worth the doubt and madness that comes from swiping and texting and waiting and being disappointed endlessly. It’s far better to focus on self-love and being happy with yourself.

Being based in London, do you get to see lots of live music? Would you say it’s recovered since the pandemic?
I actually move between Bucks and London, as I have my recording space in my Mum’s wonderfully remote place surrounded by woodland and hills. But I make sure I am in London regularly to get my culture fix! I need the balance of nature and silence with action and what’s happening. I would definitely not say the live music scene has recovered – there are many challenges with people not buying tickets in advance, so shows get cancelled; and audiences are smaller for gigs I’ve been to. Though music festivals I went to this summer were doing well. Touring is another issue – I used to gig a lot abroad, but with Brexit, that right now is not an option (unless you have a large-sized tour management to take on costs and admin) with all the restrictions, visa-requirements and controls on bringing merch. I am helping support the campaigning and lobbying the Musician’s Union are doing to improve the situation and a possible “Musicians’s Passport” for artists who want to play live outside the UK.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?  
I will have my first physical London show since before the pandemic this Summer, to celebrate the release of my debut album under the Ch’Lu umbrella. A Ch’Lu live show has a Campfire-meets-Kirtan-meets-Club vibe. It’s intimate, theatrical, fun and transformational. The way I blend the ancient with the voice of the Zeitgeist means you can expect lyrics in a whole range of languages, live-looped classical guitar and electronic beats, and audience engagement and relatability to make you howl. The first Ch’Lu tour (USA and Europe) is already under preparation and will be a physical version of the “Ch’Lu Campfire” streams I have been moulding online for the last 18 months. For me, the audience are very much part of the performance, and this tour is going to be designed by and for, my devoted fans. Every online show I do touches me greatly, and my followers tell me how I’ve helped get them out of bed, or through an emergency situation or given them hope… So I can’t wait to meet the fans I’ve got to know virtually on this physical fan-led tour. I feel very much that the Ch’Lu Campfire family is out there, and growing. Together we are finding where the Ch’Lu flame is heading next!

How do you feel the industry is for new artists at the moment? And do you feel much has changed over the last few years in its treatment of female and queer/LGBTQ+  artists? 
It’s harder than ever in most ways to be a new artist. Technology in some ways makes it easier to reach fans, but it also presents so much pressure. I am grateful for my martial arts and meditation practice, which helps relieve the stress of maintaining and growing a constant social media presence. And the fact that to get my music out there, I have to take on at least ten people’s jobs from sound engineer to mixer to producer to PR/marketing guru to show booker to merch designer, to name but a few, in addition to simply writing, composing and performing my music. I believe it is getting slightly better for female and queer/LGBTQ+ artists, but I am still faced regularly with the assumption that all I can do is sing, and that I need assistance with anything else. And that I am ok to be addressed as “love/darling/honey” in a working environment. Male bookers, engineers and producers are often surprised when they discover I record, mix and produce my music, compose in multiple languages and play classical guitar. As for the obsession with the age and appearance of female identifying artists, that is still a monumental barrier that I am passionate about obliterating. I want to see as many older and multi-shaped women performing as I do men. Of course there are exceptions, but it is all too often I am treated differently because I’m a woman.

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any other upcoming artists or bands you’re loving right now that you’d recommend we check out?
I recently saw Carol Grimes in concert (at a lovely London venue called Piano Smithfield where I will be playing on June 14th) who is approaching 80, and in her band she had two female guitarists who were in their late 60/70s. I have never seen that before and it was so incredible to witness. They were all amazing. It blew me away. I vowed to do all I can to help this to become the norm for female artists out there. I also recently saw Spirit of Sundaze Ensemble do their debut live appearance at London’s Southbank – the stage was packed with musicians ranging from live classical to the electronic and DJs. And it was the first time I have seen the QEH turn into a nightclub with everyone on their feet and screaming. I love the unexpected and genre-fusion – this was that.

Finally, what does the near future have in store for Ch’Lu?
I’m getting ready for the release of my Arts Council of England and Help Musicians UK funded album, The Goddess Within on 10th June, Global Wellness Day. It fuses together my binaural field-recordings, hypnotic Sanskrit vocals, classical guitar arpeggiation and electronic soundscapes – the foundations to the album are the Sanskrit words of the ancient and sacred “Mandukya Upanishads”. It will be a journey into consciousness fusing the ancient with the voice of the Zeitgeist with a launch concert at London’s Piano Smithfield on 14th June (get early bird tickets here).

Many thanks to Ch’Lu for answering our questions!

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