The Interview: Adelaide’s Cape

I jumped at the chance to interview the lovely Sam from Adelaide’s Cape in May. He’s a fantastic new folkie who has toured with Alessi’s Ark, played on the same bill as the awesome Pete Roe (of Laura Marling amazingness), and played Communion. At only twenty, Sam is pretty young, but is doing extremely well, having signed to Dustbowl Records. He is also juggling University as well, and touring Britain and Ireland. I have a little confession; I may be a city dweller now but I grew up in the small English city of Norwich, 120 miles away from London, in the beautiful Norfolk countryside. When I found out that Sam is a Norfolk dweller (by way of Bath), and that Dustbowl are a Norwich based label, I really had to represent my countryside roots. So in North London on one Sunday, I got to know my countyside companion, Sam.

Hi Sam, how are you coping with doing a degree, touring and writing?
Not very well, I’m doing a Creative Writing degree and I think I’m going to take some time off from University. All my work is in for next week!

How was the tour with Alessi’s Ark?
Really nice, it was amazing. It was my first proper tour and it was so nice. Alessi is so good, she’s so young but really good.

I think that’s an important point actually, with everything that is happening in the music scene not just in London but nationwide, I feel like there are a lot more artists or people working in the music industry who are really young and very talented. And they’re not just musicians, they’re setting up labels or setting up PR companies, it’s really good to see.
Yeah it is really good. Sometimes it can be a little detramental if you’re trying to break into an already established scene where a lot of the people of the same age are doing quite well but it is nice to see young people trying hard.

Is it daunting to be part of the folk scene then?
I don’t really feel part of it though! I’m not London based but it’s always been friendly competition where everyone seems to be really nice when I’ve met fellow Folk artists. Everyone wants to help each other out, it’s really nice.

Getting to know your background a bit, does music run in your family at all?
My parents were proper folkies, they were really into traditional folk, they liked artists like Maddy Prior.

So what are some of your musical influences?
I listen to Folk music a lot, I really like Bob Dylan and Richard Thompson [folk-rock artist]. I like contemporary Folk too, like Johnny Flynn and I’m really liking Bombay Bicycle Club at the minute. I also really like Nick Drake and a bit different, but The Proclaimers, I saw them at Cambridge Folk Festival and they blew me away, they were amazing.

Do you get to go back to Norwich at all, with being at University in Bath?
It’s quite far from Bath to Norwich but I try to.

Yeah it really is, it’s not too bad from London to Norwich, I go back when I can. How’s Bath treating you?
I like it, I kind of prefer Bristol, it’s better for the music scene, though Norwich does remind me of Bristol in a way. There’s some really cool folk bands in Norwich, like Takeda. They’re fantastic, they’re signed to Dustbowl Records too.

I do think the scene in East Anglia is getting better, I used to feel so stifled with the music scene in Norfolk but with really awesome events like the amazing Latitude Festival, access to good music is getting easier.
Yeah I saw Arcade Fire at Latitude in their second year.

Talking of music, with full band, how many members do you have?
As of tomorrow, there are seven of us! Me on guitar & vocals, Mike on banjo, Paul on double bass, Danny on keys & accordian, Aaron on drums/percussion, Tim playing guitar & banjolin & Daisy playing violin.

How did you meet?
All over the shop really, mainly Uni. We started a couple years ago, I started writing songs at a pub in Wymondham [Norfolk] and started seriously doing it as a band, last October and November. We’re all from over Britain.

Is there an artist that you feel that is underrated?
Takeda, they’re my favourite band. And I like Cakes and Ale and Alloy Ark.

Where was the first venue you ever saw a gig?
It was the politician, Tony Benn’s show ‘Writing on the Wall’ in Edinburgh. Andrew WK was my first one in Norwich.

If you could play any dream world venue what would be?
The Maltings in Berwick Upon Tweed, it’s not very big but it’s nice.

What’s your favourite venue you’ve ever played?
Norwich Arts Centre.

Why the Arts Centre?
I think because I went to all my rite of passage gigs there. It was weird always going there for gigs through high school and sixth form and then headlining it! It’s mad to even think about it.

Don’t think about it! Where else do you like playing?
The Grain Barge in Bristol.

What’s your song writing process? Does the music come first or the lyrics?
I won’t write something for ages, or I’ll just write shit and then get angry and stop for a while. Then finally something good seems to come out of it. I think you have to go through the bad stuff before you get to the good stuff. I write acoustic type songs then transpose them so they can be played by the full band. It’s a hard question because sometimes the music or guitar part comes first, sometimes the lyrics come first.

Are your flatmates tolerant of you making music?
My flatmates are the band, so they’re very tolerant! We play late into the night. We thanked our neighbours in the EP though.

What’s next for you musically?
A full band EP. Touring with The Miserable Rich. I’m going to play a couple gigs in August in the States too.

Getting to know Sam, if you have a rider, what’s on it?
I’m half vegetarian, lager and food is always on the rider generally! I played a show in Nottingham where they forgot the rider and so they just made me a curry. Curry is literally my favourite food.

What’s your choice drink?
A good ale or a gin and tonic.

Favourite films?
Star Wars, Catch me if You Can, The Edukators.

If you could be asked any question in an interview what would it be?
Oh that’s a hard one! But probably are you voting in the general election and who for? [at the time of interview, it was 4 days prior to the historic British general election].

Adelaide’s Cape are phenomenal live, Sam’s Scottish voice echoing other folkie favourites such as The Boy That Trapped The Sun. The upbeat song, ‘Girl of the Land’ featured in my mid year playing favourites and is a song that reminds me of my countryside roots. I have to say, I definitely think that this band is one to watch and is going to make waves in the folk scene. Aside from the fact that Sam is one incredibly humble and lovely guy, he’s a fantastic musician. He channels a lot of energy and raw talent into his music which just seems to ebb naturally. I’m heading down to one of my favourite venues, The Flowerpot on June 29th to catch him full band.
You need to check over at the Adelaide’s Cape MySpace to see where else he is playing, he’s got a huge tour coming up so there will be plenty of opportunity for you to catch him live.

Go to the MySpace now and whilst you’re there, hear one incredibly talented chap produce some beautiful folkie numbers.

Photo credit: Antonella Muscat Photography