Having recently returned from a frantic but fruitful trip to the prestigious North American Folk Alliance in Memphis, HAIL asked excellent Scottish Harp and Song duo, The Duplets, to share their experience and offer any tips on making the most of international showcasing opportunities.
The Duplets at Folk Alliance
“We arrived back from the Folk Alliance feeling refreshed, full of inspiration and with a clearer idea about the future of our careers, oh, and more than a little tired! The trip really helped focus us, and although we are home, the work is certainly not over on this project. After sorting and categorizing our collection of business cards, we still had over one hundred to take home, plus a wide selection of CDs and additions to our mailing list, so we have spent the last few days writing e-mails. Happily we have received many positive responses already. We’ve also had new contacts offer us festival work and offer to route tours for us in America and Canada, and we are already receiving airplay on the radio by some of the DJs we met there, so already the trip has had a significant impact.
We spent a lot of time preparing before we went and it really it paid off. The competition to be noticed is fierce out there, so to any band that has such a great opportunity, our advice is to take it very seriously. There are flyers and posters everywhere you look so it’s important to go in with determination, a goal and confidence.
Memphis is globally renowned as a great city for music and during Folk Alliance we were thoroughly spoilt. Some of the great bands that we heard were Lake Street Dive, Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra and Ma Muse. Take a listen if you can!
We took part in all the main elements of Folk Alliance, attending several excellent workshops and seminars covering all aspects of the music industry. We also had a booth in the exhibition centre which gave us some great exposure and proved an excellent platform to introduce ourselves to attendees. We had a showcase room where we presented our music and had a couple of guest appearances on the last night. Thanks to the Nuala Kennedy Trio for playing a blinding set! We were also fortunate to be offered a prestigious “Official Showcase”, which really added weight to our campaign; we advertised this show with verve so were delighted to get a great audience. We greatly appreciate all the support and encouragement we are offered, and the Folk Alliance is brimming with both.”
The Duplets
The Duplets are currently working on a new album and will tour it throughout the UK, US and Canada across spring and summer 2012.
The Duplets attended Folk Alliance with support from the Highlands Arts Programme.
The Duplets
Panda Su
HAIL caught up with Panda Su during her recent visit to Inverness to ask about her Highland roots, forthcoming EP, I Begin, and her plans for the rest of 2011.
HAIL: Could you introduce Panda Su?
Panda Su: Hello, Panda Su is predominately myself, Su Isabel Ferreira Shaw. I’ve been writing music since I was a young cub, but have been performing under the moniker Panda Su since 2009. On stage I am joined by Ad who provides some percussion, glock and keys.
HAIL: Your debut EP ‘Sticks and Bricks’ received a genuinely impressive response and boasted a really strong, coherent, individualistic identity, what artistic developments do you feel have been made with ‘I Begin’?
Panda Su: ‘Sticks and Bricks‘ had a very simplistic approach. The four songs that featured on that EP were four of the first songs that I had ever written and I will always be immensely proud of what was achieved. ‘I Begin’ represents a slight move in direction for me musically. As an artist, I always want to push myself creatively and the songs on ‘I Begin’ allowed me to experiment with new sounds and different ways of doing things.
Panda Su
HAIL: What impact has ‘Eric Is Dead’ being featured in an episode of Skins had on Panda Su and how did that come about?
Panda Su: We received an email from the music producer of the show saying that they wanted to use ‘Eric is Dead’ in the season finale of the show. What’s so great about Skins is that they really make an effort to push the music that they play. It gave my music a platform to be heard all over the world and the impact has been incredible.
HAIL: You spent the early part of your life in Caithness, does this find its way into the music you make, and do you get back there at all?
Panda Su: I was born in Wick and my brother was born in Stornoway so I spent a lot of my childhood years in the Highlands. It’s always been somewhere that has had a very calming effect on me, and every time I return I’m reminded of how beautiful it is. I don’t get to spend as much time up there as I would like to but I am very much looking forward to my return visit on this tour.
Panda Su
HAIL: What advice would you offer young artists keen to embark on a career in the industry, given the current climate?
Panda Su: The best piece of advice I can offer is to stay true to your roots. The Scottish music scene is thriving at the moment, but if you choose to release your own music and take control, then prepare to put in some hard work! It’s very easy to get caught up in what’s happening around you but it’s important that the music you are making is music that you want to make.
HAIL: How have Highland audiences responded to Panda Su?
Panda Su: Highland audiences have always been very encouraging. We’ve always had a great time playing shows in Inverness but for this tour we wanted to see a little more of the Highlands, even if it means having to encounter a few bumpy ferry rides along the way.
HAIL: When and where can fans get I Begin, and what’s the band’s plan for the rest of the year?
Panda Su: ‘I Begin’ isn’t officially released until April, but we’ll be selling advance copies at all the shows on this tour. This year will be spent touring the new EP and hopefully another UK and European tour will also be on the cards.
Panda Su
