Interview: Helen Sanderson-White
LTTM talks to British singer/songwriter Helen Sanderson-White about her recent single Close That Door and finds out how she loves connecting with her audience. Read Helen's thoughts on surviving as an indie artist and pushing musical boundaries.
Tell us a little bit about your new single?
I wrote Close That Door in April 2014 after I'd been talking to a couple of friends about the reality of modern life and all the options open to us. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. Not everything that looks good is actually good for us and we have to discern what will be beneficial and what will harm us. There are certain situations where you just need to walk away in order to protect yourself; we literally need to Close That Door... You can watch the music video below.
If you could work with any songwriter, who would it be and why?
I've always loved Julia Fordham so to work with her would be amazing! Her work is largely derived from personal observation and she knows how to tell a story. She also has an amazing voice with a big range. I've always dreamt of working with music producer Larry Klein, he is very sensitive in the way way he interprets songs and has the ability to bring a story to life.
Do you prefer playing live or working in the studio?
Both! They are both so different. I do love recording and creating a track, for me there is nothing more satisfying than hearing the finished version of one of my songs. Playing live also has its bonuses; it is a chance to connect with an audience on a personal level. I create music for people to listen to, so without an audience there would be no music.
This is always a hard question for me; as artist I find it hard to be pidgeon-holed. I love trying out different genres! However, I would probably say that I'm a pop, soul, singer-songwriter act with jazz influences!
Growing up, Karen Carpenter was a huge influence for me. My parents had a Carpenters record that I fell in love with when I was about 3 years old; I used to pay it over and over again. After that I was addicted and wanted to sing as well as her.
Now I'd probably say that my influences are Judith Owen, Julia Fordham, Joni Mitchell and Kate Bush. My influences change all the time, I think as we grow older our likes an dislikes change and we want different things. It's part of the journey of creativity, so who cows what I'll be into next month.
As an Indie artist, how do you go about getting your music out there?
Contacts and fans! Over the years, I've built a few good relationships with smaller radio stations and DJs who want to support my music. For example, Flame CCR in the northwest had the world exclusive of Close That Door a week before it was released. They have supported my music for 10 years and I wanted them to be part of the campaign for the new single - their reaction and support was just amazing. My fan base are very good at sharing music and passing on details of prospective places to play. It's like having a small street team!
How would you define success in your career as an artist?
Success is a different barometer for everyone. For me, it's about producing deep, heart-felt material and pushing my musical boundaries. Each project has a different goal and therefore success of one album can look very different from another one. I try not to get into the whole "success" thing too much as it can lead you down a path of comparisons.
What is your favorite album of all time?
There are too many albums to have just one favourite! But the ones I would add into my list are The Hissing of Summer Lawns by Joni Mitchell, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy by Sarah McLachan, Lovelines by The Carpenters, In The Red by Tina Dico, Perfect Symmetry by Keane and Beautiful Life by Dianne Reeves. I could go on and on...!
You're stuck on an island, it's hot, you only have enough battery life left to listen to one song on your mp3 player. What track is it?
Alison Dewar's cover version of Black Velvet; it's almost better than the original.
What does the next year hold for Helen Sanderson White?
Hopefully quite a lot! I'm starting a new venture with Nikki Hoath called Turntable Music; we putting on a concert series bringing more jazz, folk and singer-songwriter acts to Buckinghamshire. You can find out more about it at turntablemusic.co.uk
I'm currently promoting the new single and getting some concert dates together for later in the year.
I'm working on a new album at the moment and I'm also writing a project about folk stories of Buckinghamshire. So there's lots of composing to do!
Find out more at helensandersonwhite.com
