introducing nancy wallace

voice on the verge #7: nancy wallace

listen to Nancy on Myspace

You may remember the delightful tones of Suffolk-born musician Nancy Wallace from her brilliantly rustic Young Hearts EP, a set of folk covers of classic disco anthems by the likes of Candi Staton, Barry White and Elton John. Possibly you’ll remember her from The Memory Band or The Owl Service. She sings and plays in both collectives. Or maybe you’ve heard her songs aired on ‘Countryfile’, soundtracking the mid-air acrobatics of a great tit or something just as wholesome. Wherever or whether you’ve heard her, you ought to be pleased to know that Nancy’s debut solo album, Old Stories, is being released later this year by The Hobby Horse Recording Company. Until then you can catch her with The Owl Service at this year’s Green Man Festival. Or, you can sit on your chair and read our short insight into Ms Wallace’s world.

* * *

What’s your middle name(s)?
Jane (plain).

What were you like at school?
Quite strange.

What would you tell your 18-year old self if you could go back in time?
Multicoloured tie-dye dungarees are a really bad idea.

Do you have a tattoo? 
Yes, I have two. Misspent youth.

Are you multi-lingual?
Non.

Who was the first person/band you saw in concert?
Steeleye Span.

What did you want to be until you decided to become a musician…if you ever did ‘decide’ that is!
It was a tragic inevitability…

What would you be if you weren’t a musician?
A seamstress and craftswoman.

What kind of person would have sex to your music?
Nobody I would ever like to meet!

Which female musicians have most inspired you?
Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Kate Bush, Dolly Parton.

What are your views on feminism?
It’s like breathing.

What’s your top household tip?
Get someone else to do your cleaning for you.

How are you most likely to die and what would you want written on your headstone?
In a debtors prison most likely. My headstone would read, “She meant well”.

If you chanced upon Aladdin’s lamp what three things would you wish for?
An end to poverty, world peace and a nice man. I think the first two are the easiest.

Tell us about your favourite instrument.
My concertina. It’s on permanent loan from my Dad, who is a fine player himself. It’s about 130 years old.

What’s the biggest guilty pleasure in your record collection?
Nik Kershaw, Human Racing.

What’s your favourite song to cover and why?
‘Why’, by Carly Simon. It’s just a gorgeous song.

What have you done today to make you feel proud?
Not listened to M People.

Tick tock, tick tock. What you waiting, what you waiting for?
The 38 bus.

* * *

Alan Pedder

Live performance of ‘Cold Haily Rainy Nights’ (with Jennymay on violin)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLy8-CFRU00]

Written by: Wears The Trousers magazine

Tags: alan pedder, interview, nancy wallace, the memory band, the owl service

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