Artist Of The Week #0095 - Abbie Ozard
This week’s Artist of the Week is the amazing Abbie Ozard, who has just released her debut EP ‘Growing Pains’ and is about to hit the road supporting whenyoung. She took a moment to talk to us about the release.
Your EP is out now, and is called ‘Growing Pains EP’, what is the inspiration behind the title?
I’ve always wanted to create a conceptual type EP that ties together the ups and downs of growing up and finding your feet. I want to write music that people can relate to and think ‘oh yeah if she’s been through that and been okay in the end then i can be okay too’. I essentially just want to write a load of sad bangers that people can dance and cry to at the same time.
Where was the EP recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are happy to share with us?
The EP was recorded with Rich Turvey in Liverpool!! When we wrote numb together i knew i wanted to record a tune with a vocoder in. I wasn’t sure where to start so we took some swivel chairs outside and sat with a jacket potato to get some inspo, went back into the studio and smashed it in an hour. Those jacket potatoes were probably the best thing about recording that EP.
The EP sees your working with producer Rich Turvey, who has worked with the likes of Blossoms and Vistas, how did that partnership come about?
My old manager Sam set me up with him! I’ve never really written with other people before, i kinda always preferred writing on my own but with Rich it just seems easy and we can just get really creative , I love it.
What was your creative process like, when putting the EP together? How did you pick the songs to go on it?
I just chose all the songs i was most happy with really, i’ve been sat on ‘On A Low’ for a year or so but its always been my favourite to play live so i definitely wanted that one on. I feel like all the songs have a similar theme to them and they all intertwine nicely, thats what i always aimed for.
What were the inspirations behind the tracks that made it onto the EP?
I guess the changes that come with growing up and relationships! They’re songs that i wrote when i was going through a difficult time and writing them made everything instantly better and easier so these ones mean a lot to me.
Now the EP is out there, what next? What are your plans for the next few months?
Just gigging loads tbh!! I want to get my live shows on point and play loads of shows so everyone starts to gets what me and the band are all about.
Live Dates
September
25th – Jimmy’s, Manchester (Supporting Natalie McCool)
26th – The Waiting Room, London (Supporting Natalie McCool)
30th – Bodega Social Club, Nottingham (Supporting Whenyoung)
October
1st – Gorilla, Manchester (Supporting Whenyoung)
3rd – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow (Supporting Whenyoung)
4th – The Mash House, Edinburgh (Supporting Whenyoung)
5th – Thank Tank?, Newcastle (Supporting Whenyoung)
7th – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham (Supporting Whenyoung)
8th – Scala, London (Supporting Whenyoung)
9th – Brudenell Social Club, (Supporting Whenyoung)
11th – Joiners Arms, Southampton (Supporting Whenyoung)
November
14th – Thousand Island, London
15th – Off The Record, Manchester
30th – Night & Day Café, Manchester