Beth Orton Interview
If a sunnier disposition than Beth Orton’s could be found in a person backstage at OneWorld it would be hard, as she sits chatting amongst her friends and crew. She’s so obviously at home here that for a minute it’s hard to recognize her as the slim chic indie songstress who has become something of a sweetheart for music fans of all persuasions. As I approach with uncertainty to her identity, mainly due to her distinctly non-star attitude, I double-check that she’s a performer here, “No I’m not one of them”, she replies, keeping a perfect poker face, but you look lie Beth Orton I insist, “I know, everyone says that!” Turning her pass round the name Beth Orton is clearly written and the joke is almost on me, but she shares it too, and is happy to have a vaguely coherent chat about what it’s like to be performing here once again.
“I think this is my forth Glastonbury that I have played at”,
Does it get better every time?
“Well, I don’t know I haven’t played this one yet, so I will let you know. But I think the first one was probably my favourite, it was in the Acoustic tent and it was beautiful with the sun going down at the end of the festival. The suns come out so this is going to be a nice night.”
Where have you just come from?
“We just did a gig in Devon last night and then in Truro the night before.”
What’s big in your life right now? What are you bothered about right now?
”Personally I’m bothered about learning the piano, writing new material, and writing new material – and I’m feeling really happy with it. It’s a very creative time for me right.”
You don’t seem forced or pushed to pursue any record company bullshit?
“Well, I don’t have any record company bullshit – and if I did, I’m sure I wouldn’t follow it.”
In terms of Glastonbury’s political side, are you happy to promote your political side as well as your artistic side?
“I think probably not, it’s more comfortable for me to proclaim my creative side, because that’s kind of what I do, of course I have my political opinions, that I hold quite dear, I’m not sure I’m the greatest politician on earth but I’m very much behind the Fair Trade thing.”
What do reckon to the current state of things musically, are you optimistic about the way things are going?
“Well I love songs, so I’m going deep into the heart of song-dom, I think there’s a hell of a lot of great song writers coming up in the airwaves, so I’m quite excited right now lyrically speaking.”
And are you in the process of recording anything right now?
“I’m quietly getting on with my thing, trying out a bit of this and a bit that, not ready to go in and record yet. I’m on tour a lot and I spend a lot of time in America, but I’m at home in North London a lot right now which is really nice.”
Interview: Mike Flynn
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