Beans On Toast joins us at Rescue Rooms on the 19th March so we got chatting about all things festivals, touring and looking inwards in times of inspiration!
Hey Jay! Hope you’re well, how are you feeling about heading back onto the road?
Ready to roll! I’ve recently got back from a tour Down Under, had a few weeks at home with the family, and now I’ll be heading out this March, stopping off at most major UK cities—including the fabulous Rescue Rooms.
You’ve got a lot of history with Nottingham, even curating The Foolhardy Folk Festival. What can you tell us about your relationship with the city?
We had family friends in Nottingham, so I used to visit as a kid. When I started gigging and touring, the city became a place I’d visit often. So many wicked venues and loads of gig-goers—it would often be a highlight of the tour. And yeah, more recently, we started Foolhardy, held in the beautiful Arboretum every August bank holiday.
Do you find that having a deep connection with lots of different places helps to feel a bit more comfortable whilst you’re touring?
For sure! I actually feel like I have a deep connection with touring itself. It’s always made a lot of sense to me—I feel comfortable on the road.
You recently spent some time in The Albion Rooms recording, how was it recording in a place with such a rich musical backbone?
It was great. We recorded the new album there. The album was recorded in one take, under a full moon, to capture the magic. The studio is owned by The Libertines, and it’s relatively new, but it’s already got a whole heap of great records under its belt.
We’re big fans of your introspective lyrics, what can you tell us about your process when it comes to writing music?
I like to write about what’s on my mind and to be as honest as possible. I’m happy to draw inspiration from the little things in life or the big questions, and with that, I feel constantly inspired.
When you’re out on tour what’s the one thing you can’t live without?
Friends!
Do you find that you’re still creative when you’re in the thick of playing shows on a long run, or do you tend to focus on the tracks at hand?
I don’t really write songs when I’m touring. It’s happened a few times over the years, but they’re anomalies. Writing for me is a solo process where I need alone time and privacy—neither of which are abundant on the road.
Lastly, if you could pick one artist, dead or alive, to collaborate with, who would it be?
Probably John Prine. I’d love to learn some of his wisdom.
Beans On Toast headlines Rescue Rooms on the 19th March. Tickets available here.
