Learn the Irish language one word at a time with the Irish Word A Day pages from Talkirish.com. Click on the photo of the “Rabbit” to read the page on the Join Martin Blog. Once you’re on that blog, click the picture again to enjoy the sound files on the Talkirish.com website.
Photo Credit: Ian Rees
Every once in a while, a singer-songwriter comes along and leaves the competition standing. She recently supported Cara Dillon and her new EP ‘Falling into spring’ is out next month. Marty Drury chats about language learning and music with Hannah Scott.
Which languages can you speak?
French, Italian, some German and a little less Spanish!
Why did you decide to study modern languages?
If I’m totally honest, it’s because those were the subjects I was best at at school! I’d done a couple of French and German exchange trips and had really enjoyed the opportunity to meet people from different cultures and more importantly, be able to communicate with them. Just before I went to University, I went to Italy with my family for the first time and totally fell in love with it, although I was frustrated that I could not communicate with the people. It was this trip which inspired me to take up Italian at University alongside French and German.
You spent a year in Tuscany and Monaco. What was that like?
An amazing experience. I was 19 and as part of my degree was required to spend a year abroad. I had the choice of going to a University abroad, doing a language course or looking for work. I chose the latter in order to earn some money and gain some experience and organised a 9 month placement on a Tuscan estate and a 4 month placement at a hotel in Monte Carlo. The two experiences were very different but looking back they have given me so much and I am still close to a lot of the people I met when I was there.
Would you ever consider recording a song in a language other than English?
I have done! I’ve written one song in French and three in Italian. Italian is a great language to write in since all their words rhyme!! I’ve not written anything in a different language for a while though – I think living in the countries inspired me more to write in their languages and now I’m back in the UK, English seems to come more naturally.
This is Hannah singing “Ghost Town” Live At The Institute, Kelvedon. It’s from the Youtube Video Channel, HannahScottUK. I’ve been alive for nearly 28 years, I’ve listened to a lot of music and I cut my teeth as a music journalist- but I think I’m ready to say this: “Ghost Town” by Hannah Scott is now my favourite song. Not just my favourite song on her album. My favourite song full stop. I know, I know, bold praise indeed. But “Ghost Town” is poetically haunting and breathtakingly beautiful. Hannah’s songwriting prowess is off the scale. She’s a breath of fresh air in the music business and she’s headed all the way to the top. Time to stop taking my word for it. Instead, buy her album here.
Back to the interview….
Who are your musical influences?
I grew up listening to classical music and am classically trained on the piano. Once I got to high school it was no longer ‘cool’ to listen to classical music so I began listening to chart music. Once I got to about 15 I began listening to artists I still enjoy today, people like Alanis Morrisette, Counting Crows and Sarah McLachlan. Now I listen to a lot of singer-songwriters, for example Tom Baxter and Paolo Nutini.
Which is better: recording an EP or album or playing live?
Playing live without a doubt. Recording is really satisfying, especially as I perform and write acoustically – putting drums, bass, strings etc really can bring a track to life. But playing live is where the emotion is and where the real connection with an audience is.
Which would you choose: number 1 single or critical acclaim?
Critical acclaim. A number 1 single might mean I’d never have to work again but I’d rather people thought I was a great songwriter than everyone buying one song and me disappearing off the radar like so many one hit wonders have done in the past…
This is “Grey” by Hannah Scott, performed live at High Barn. The video is taken from the Youtube video channel: Hannah Scott UK.
Back to the interview…
What do you think of my language learning challenge?
I think it’s a great idea! Languages on school curriculums continue to lose importance and I think this is really sad and will only continue the general British feeling that everyone else should speak English in order to communicate with us. Anything done to challenge this concept can only be positive in my mind. Best of luck with it!
Download Hannah’s album from iTunes here.
Once upon a time, I was a music journalist. I used to turn up at gigs and have long conversations with the door staff along the lines of: “No. I’m Marty. I’m on the guest list. No, not David…Marty”. On the odd occasion, I actually got inside the venue and was able to review the gig. Seriously, I loved my early years writing about music. The money was awful and the hours were long but, every now and then, a real gem of a singer-songwriter would come along and make everything worthwhile. Of course, money talks and I went where the money was. Not because I wanted to but because I needed to. You can only survive on Marmite and crumpets for so long. I wrote features for women’s magazines and PR people sent me moisturiser samples through the post- an “interesting” experience for a young, straight man who is constantly trying to preserve his “manly” image whilst concealing the fact that he is probably the only straight man for five miles with his own Jane Austen collection. But then, whilst I was working in the world of features, I chanced upon a Myspace page and heard a voice. A voice of poetry, passion, emotion and energy. A voice for the present and for the future. Hannah Scott’s voice.
I’m by no means the first person to discover this amazing musical artist. In fact, in some respects it feels as if I turned up late to the party because it is quite clear Hannah already has many fans. But that really is Hannah’s skill as a singer-songwriter. Whether you see her live or you listen to her album or you watch her Youtube videos, you feel as though she is singing directly to you. Not to a room full of people. Just to you. Her songs speak to you on a deep, emotional level. It’s something you’ve never seen before and it’s something you’re not going to forget. Without really thinking about it, I’ve been humming one of Hannah’s songs whilst writing this interview. Her songs stay with you in the same way your closest friends stick by you- through the good times and the bad, through the happiness and the sadness, through the challenges and the all night parties. Through life and through love. Through everything. Constant musical companions that suddenly cast a ray of sunshine on the most cloudy of days.
The author, John Banville said of the late John Updike- the author who merged the emotional, evocative and exotic with the ordinary- that: “simply no one writes this well”. Sorry John, someone does write that well and her name is Hannah Scott.
Photo Credit: Fatimah Namdar
Sometimes, language learning can take you to exotic places and enrich other people’s lives as much as your own. Rhona Foulis tells her story:
Hi, Rhona. Would you like to introduce yourself?
I am an actress, English tutor and theatre reviewer. Having graduated with a First Class Honours degree in English and Drama, I worked in the theatre industry for four years before training as an actress.
Did you have a natural talent for language learning at school?
I find learning languages fairly easy because I’m fascinated by words and the ways in which we communicate with each other. I’m definitely an arts rather than a science person.
Has being able to speak more than one language helped you in your career?
I’m not sure whether my Spanish and French have directly helped me in my career. They probably would have proven more useful if I’d become fluent, but the acting took over after my A Levels.
Learning a language is no longer compulsory (in the UK) for schoolchildren once they reach the GCSE options stage. What are your views on this? Do you think children should be encouraged to learn a language at school? What can be done to make children enjoy learning a language?
It’s really sad that children aren’t encouraged to learn languages. We suffer from serious linguistic complacency in this country, assuming the universality of English, which is very ignorant. Undoubtedly, it’s easier for people to learn languages if it’s encouraged from a younger age; then learning language becomes synonymous with discovering the world, rather than a classroom lesson. Beyond childhood, visiting the host country is ultimately the best way to learn.
You taught English as a foreign language to children in South India. What was your experience of teaching in South India like and how did you get involved in teaching English as a foreign language?
Having graduated from university and undertaken several theatre internships, it felt as though I was at a turning point. I decided to make the most of not having any fixed responsibilities by travelling. In my last year at school, we were given a talk by a man who set up an orphanage in South India, the King’s World Trust for Children. Having lived in the Middle East and travelled extensively as a child, he whetted my appetite for an Indian adventure! I wanted to do some voluntary work and thought teaching English would be the best option for me. The tiny village school in Tamil Nadu was like nothing I’d ever seen before – almost like a mud hut – and there were very different methods of disciplining the children. The classrooms were pretty chaotic and full, but you soon learn ways to keep the children interested and engaged.
You’re an actress, an English and Drama tutor and a theatre reviewer. Where does you passion for the theatre come from?
I don’t know! I was hooked after my first performance during a school assembly, aged 10. My passion developed through further opportunities at school and Scottish Youth Theatre.
Have you ever directed a play?
I’ve never directed anything. However, it’s certainly something that I imagine doing in the future, once I’ve had more acting experience, feel more knowledgeable about the theatre and confident in my choices.
As a reviewer, is it hard to write critically about other actors and actresses work when you’ve got first hand experience of how hard the actors work and how much effort goes into staging a production?
No, I think it’s interesting to apply an actor’s perspective to a critical review of a performance, as long as that’s not your only perspective. A reviewer should also consider production values, direction, the writing etc.
Would you agree that Drama and the Theatre Arts are great tools for helping people to overcome the language barrier and communicate with each other? Can Drama and the Theatre bring different sections of the community together?
Absolutely. The structure of the theatre industry itself is traditionally elitist (unfeasibly high ticket prices) and the national curriculum doesn’t give nearly enough value or importance to the arts. However, drama itself is all about people, team work and communication – fantastic tools.
Which would you rather have: critical acclaim or fame?
Critical acclaim over fame. However, I don’t think that either is particularly important to me. What’s important is being able to do work that I enjoy and feel challenged by.
If someone wanted to hire you for English or Drama tuition, how could they do that?
I’m happy for anyone to email me at rhonafoulis@hotmail.com.
What are you working on career wise at the moment?
I’m performing in an exciting, improvisational performance with Fluxx Productions. “Night, London” runs for the first three weeks in March at the Tristan Bates Theatre
Finally, what do you think of my language learning challenge? Have I bitten off more than I can chew or is it really possible to learn many languages in just 1 year?
In some ways, the more languages you learn, the easier they are to learn. You can begin to make connections between languages and common grammatical rules. But there’s a danger of mixing them up in brain overload!
See the Marty Meets: Rhona Foulis interview on the Join Martin Blog.
http://www.myspace.com/laurenderwent
Stumbling across this woman’s talent is like discovering a secret that’s about to take the country by storm. Marty Meets up-and-coming singer-songwriter, Lauren Derwent.
Hi, Lauren. Would you like to introduce yourself?
No. hehe just kidding 
My name’s Lauren and I’m a singer/songwriter.
How would you describe your music?
I would describe my music as mainstream Pop, theatrical and very British! Thought provoking and meaningful songs with a message.
Who are your musical influences?
Well, I’ve been compared to Queen, Abba, The Carpenters, Kate Bush, Kate Nash, Lily Allen, Scouting For Girls, and Natasha Bedingfield! So I guess a mix of 70’s Pop and modern day British, with a hint of Jazz (since I have a love for Jazz).
You clearly have an amazing talent for song writing. What inspires you to write? Do you get your ideas from “modern life” or from personal experiences? Do you find yourself waking up in the small hours of the night with an idea or do you set aside time to write during the day?
Most of my songs stem from personal experience, the way the world today makes me feel, and my take on things. I’ve written songs in my sleep before! But usually an idea comes from emotion, and it could be some chords, a melody, or lyrics… then I expand on that emotion until it becomes pallitable for others.
“Wood For The Trees” has this fabulously quirky, upbeat feel to it. But then, in “Merry Go Round”, you switch seamlessly into haunting poetry. Then “Broke” comes along and takes things to yet another level. How do you decide on the “mood” of a song? In other words: how do you decide whether to make the song slow or upbeat, emotionally charged or funny and satirical?
Haha! Well, to be honest it normally just comes how it comes… I don’t try to make anything a certain way, it’s more of a natural process. I’m currently co-writing and sometimes when a song perhaps isn’t working in a certain style we experiment and try out each others suggestions… it’s great because the other person might have a different take on it to you, one you may never have thought of.
You were the leading vocalist and percussionist with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra for 5 years. How did you get involved with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and what was the experience of playing with them like?
I met a singer who used to sing with them years ago, and now lead the weekly vocal workshop, and she told me about them, encouraging me to go along. so one week I braved it, and the first experience was very daunting… standing in the middle of a 25 piece orchestra with all these talented musicians staring at you waiting for you to make a mistake! I left a couple of times due to losing my confidence, but I always went back, and worked hard to earn the vocal chair. The percussion kind of came by accident because we were invited to play on a Jazz cruise and tour Florida and only 20 members could go, so if you were a singer you needed to also play an instrument! So one day, the director called me up and said, “Lauren, you’re booked on all the gigs on percussion for the next year”… I already played congas and bongos etc but I had to learn how to play the vibraphone using 2 fingers on a piano!! It was a wonderful experience, giving me the opportunity to perform in some great venues, and on the bill with some of the Jazz greats. My vocal technique improved, as the songs were hard, as well as my confidence.
I like Jazz music a lot. I once stayed up all night in a hotel in Hyde Park watching a programme about Diana Krall on a German language channel. I had no idea what anyone was saying on the show but I loved the music. But I know a lot of young people might not think of jazz as being a fun or exciting musical genre. What sparked your interest in jazz music?
Diana Krall’s a great pianist! Yes, my dad’s always been into Jazz and my grandad was a Jazz musician in the 40’s, so I guess it’s partly in the blood. I love the spontinaity of Jazz, and the emotional outpore you can channel through improvising, losing all your inhibitions and communicating on a very special level with other musicians you’re performing with.
Which is better: recording tracks in a studio or playing live?
Hmm… I love both, but if I had to make a decision (wohoo!) it’d have to be live… you can’t beat the adrenalin and buzz you get from an audiences reaction to the music.
Which would you choose: number 1 single or critical acclaim?
Critical acclaim… for having a number 1 single hahahahaha!!
You teach singing and, from what I’ve read, you’ve done a lot to encourage people to become involved in music. But there’s been a lot in the news recently about poor quality music lessons in some schools. I played two brass instruments when I was at school and I enjoyed playing them but I stopped playing after I left school. What’s the best way to encourage children, young people or anybody else to develop a passion for music?
Yes, I think the danger can be a blanket approach to teaching, as all children are different and have different needs. Music can be wonderful therapy… I have some students for whom singing is just a hobby, an outlet, away from their day job, and others who lack confidence or focus. It’s important to give constructive criticism, but always follow with positive encouragement… it’s more important for them to learn and grow and enjoy the experience, than it is to get it right… they say the journey’s usually more important than the destination. Also to remember that everyone’s still learning… I can learn from my pupils just as they can learn from me.
Is there an album in the pipeline?
Yes, we’ve written the album and it will hopefully be for sale ‘in the making’ soon!
Finally, I’m coming to the end of a yearlong challenge to learn as many languages as possible. Can you speak a foreign language? What do you think of my language learning challenge?
Good for you… I think it’s a great idea! I wish I could speak another language fluently. I know some spanish… Mucho gusto Marty, bueno suertes en todos… vivo los suenos
Marty Meets: Claire Batchelor:
Her new EP is called: ‘Wish‘. It’s a great title. Because once you’ve heard a second of the songs, the EP is on your wish list. Marty Drury meets: Claire Batchelor.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE LATEST ‘MARTY MEETS’ INTERVIEW.
The Up & Coming Talent Blog from Beyond The Question is due to be officially launched soon.
Ruth Notman is amazing. This blog is fast becoming the “place where Marty talks about the folk music he likes” but this young woman is very special and gets the Drury’s Something Special Award. You can hear some of her music here.
JOIN MARTIN GETS OVER 100 VISITORS IN 1 DAY: Thank you to everyone who visited the Join Martin blog yesterday and helped us break the 100 visitors in a day barrier. This personal blog is not just an advert for the Join Martin blog but I will be promoting my other blogs here from time to time.
Looking at all the blog posts which feature my Yahoo Avatar (the image above) has made me realise an uncomfortable truth. Yes, I’m the creator of “The Uncomfortable Truth”. It’s not as “high-brow” or “flash” as that Al Gore film but it sounds similar. The Uncomfortable Truth is: the cartoon version of me is stylish whilst the real me isn’t.
Oh, I’ve received hints and tips from people. My dress sense problem may have something to do with the fact that I’ve been wearing the same coat for the past year and a half and have a habit of wearing black or beige. A few weeks ago, my housemate and I were in the Bull Ring shopping centre- in a clothes shop to be exact- and my housemate announced that he liked the look of one of the shirts on the clothes racks. Now, personally, I would have run from the shirt and grabbed a crucifix just to be safe. The colours were melded into a pattern that could only have been conceived by a mental patient and the collars and cuffs looked as if they were modelled on the shirts Jon Pertwee used to wear as the 3rd Doctor.
Some people have remarked that the cartoon version of me looks a bit like Hugh Grant. I think I would do well in romantic comedies. I will always have my own unique style- a distorted representation of my personality sketched in fabric- and no-one is going to tell me how to dress (well, my Mum, possibly…) but my wardrobe needs sorting and my sense of style needs some work.
JOIN MARTIN BREAKS MORE RECORDS:
Yesterday, we had a record number of visitors to the Join Martin blog. Today, you broke that record. Thank you. You are all amazing. Thank you also for the emails about the blog. Much appreciated.
This is the video for “The Story” by Brandi Carlile. In my opinion, she is superb and receives the Drury’s Something Special award (I know, you’ll all want one soon) for being fantastic.
