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PUBLISHED BY
Strange Folk
Tumblewild is here ! INTERVIEW BY MARY NILSSON
Greetings faithful Tumblewild followers. At last, the album that you have long awaited is almost upon us. Audrey & Alonza have gone through some changes during the time since they released ‘Sinnerman’ back in 2011 – mainly, the band name. Right now, it is quite a nice day in deepest Belgium, and there is a lot of excitement as they prepare to release the first single ‘Revenge’ from the forthcoming album ‘When the World Had Four Corners’.
So, as I anxiously sit here with my handful of questions, Tumblewild are getting quite excited to answer them! So are you sitting comfortably? Good, then I’ll begin… MN: First question comes from Mike Bray of Taunton, who wanted to ask why you have decided to change the band name from Tumbleweed to Tumblewild?
TW: The name Tumbleweed is being used by an Australian "stoner rock" band who formed in the 90's. They recently got back together and we wanted to avoid any confusion. Tumblewild, whilst sounding similar, also sums up our story - tumbling from London to the wild woods of South Belgium.
MN: As it is now known, the album title is ‘When the World Had Four Corners’? This is a fabulous but very unusual name for an album. Who actually chose the title, and how did you arrive at this decision?
MN: Long time Kula Shaker fan Peter Bruce has a 2 part question. First of all, he wants to know how you both met. And also, he is wondering what finally inspired you to start working together musically? TW: We've known each other for a long time through the Kula Shaker/ Mediaeval Baebes axis. However we met properly when we ended up living opposite each other in East London. We've always worked on music together but never found the time to make it a priority... until now! MN: Yameen from London was very pleased when he noticed the picture of the steam train on the original Tumbleweed page late last year. He wonders if there is a locomotive theme in the new album? TW: We love old steam trains too, I wouldn't say it's a main theme of the album, however the video for ‘Revenge’ features a steam train and one of the songs on the new album is about a character from an old American railroad circus.
TW: Audrey: It came in a dream...No, just kidding, it's the kind of title/statement that makes you think. It was used by Native Americans to describe the universe, a certain balance and respect between people, land, nature & the elements. It also represents the 4 stages of life, (birth, childhood, adulthood & death). That phrase was scribbled on a piece of paper & pinned to our chimney breast as a reminder to keep things cool. MN: Having heard the album, it is very noticeable that it has the same lovely mellow feeling that was also present with ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. Do you feel that the surrounding Belgian countryside has contributed to this relaxed and mellow approach? TW: Getting mellow in our old age! Life is physically harder in the countryside, but I guess all that wood chopping & spider chasing is good for the soul. Weather starts taking an importance as well as the changing of the seasons... You start going along with the flow of things… MN: A question to Alonza – do you think that the occasional arrangements of Indian inspired music will please Kula Shaker fans?
TW: I do hope so, although generally subtle, there is one steaming sitar solo played by our good friend Olivier Declercz, who we met while sharing the bread oven of a local priest. MN: Audrey, having chatted with you in the past about the romanticism found in many of the songs, was there any significant characters that have inspired you in your writing? TW: I find it really hard to sing about myself or feelings. Each song describes stories or characters found in books, fairy tales, photographs or paintings that I like. It has to tell a story. MN: Finally, I have a double ended question that I have to ask, as I have had so many requests in regard of the subject. I. Are there any plans for a Tumblewild tour, or even a one off live date? II. II. Are we going to hear from Kula Shaker again anytime soon? TW: We know a bunch of very cool musicians and definitely want to put something together on the live front. Where and to what extent depends on everyone out there. To answer the second part, Kula Shaker is a very unpredictable character to the extent that not even the band members know what's going to happen next… So there we have it folks… hopefully, this answers the main questions that most people have been asking. Meantime, be sure to check out the new Tumblewild page on Facebook. Also, they are now on Twitter (@Tumblewild), and of course a new website will be along sooner rather than later. Everyone at Tumblewild hope that you enjoy the new release on Valentine’s Day, and be sure to catch the ‘Revenge’ video too – we hope you have as much fun watching it as we all had making it!
! This interview was conducted by Mary Nilsson on a freezing cold day in February 2014
More Tumblewild online:
! Website: www.tumblewild.com !
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/ Tumblewild
! Twitter: twitter.com/tumblewild !
Watch the Revenge video on Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch? v=g0TUkHxhpO0