In Conversation With #141 - Rachel Sermanni
Earlier this month, Scottish songwriter Rachel Sermanni released her new EP ‘Swallow Me’, which sees her chart her journey into motherhood. She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hello Rachel, how are you? So your new EP is finally here, how does it feel it have it out there finally in the world?
Hi. I'm fine thank you. Tired today. On the cusp between pre-menstrual and menstrual. Some call it the void. It can be quite bleak or, if you hit it right - with lots of rest and self loving stuff - it can be quite pleasurable.
The new EP IS here. It feels curious to have it out. The EP, I guess, marks me as a different person in my own eyes as well as, possibly, for others. They are mainly creations that were made during pregnancy. My daughter is now 3. It is strange to hear these songs, out in the world, written in the eye of a storm and to now see that storm with clarity and calm. Feels good. I'm so happy with all aspects of the EP, from the songs to the production, from the artwork to the many people who are helping me to try and get it heard as widely as possible.
It is titled ‘Swallow Me’ - does that have any meaning behind it?
It does. I think it represents Surrender. Swallow Me. Like when you're in the sea, and there's a large wave coming and there is nothing to do but let it do its thing. To you. With you. It is a declaration of Surrender.
Where was the track recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process that you would like to share with us?
That track, Swallow Me, was actually recorded in my living room in Portobello. I sat on the floor with my Eartrumpet Lab Mic surrounded by the cushions from my sofa. Then it was sent to Fin in Berlin. He sent it to his friend, Thomas Moked Blum, who is playing both violin and pedal steel on it. It took a LONG time to feel happy with both the written aspect of this song and the production. It sounds very simple. But it didn't feel that way. I wrestled with it for nearly a year I guess.
This EP was written while on tour in the US, but also while you were pregnant - did this influence the way the EP came together in anyway?
It actually did not. Not really. I wrote them during that era, yes. But I didn't even listen back to the demos for a long time. It was Fin, only last year (so two or more after they'd been penned), who listened to them and heard promise. I had had some ideas for moving forward with the songs I'd written but his input was brilliant and really helped shape the EP. I guess though, the amount of time between writing and recording meant that the songs were sung/performed in a particular way. Perhaps in a way that depicted more wisdom.
The whole EP almost feels like a spiritual journey for you - is this the case?
What's not a spiritual journey!? come on though? what even IS a spiritual journey? What is a non-spiritual journey? Thoughts for food. The songs definitely mark a time of really trying to Trust. So yes. I guess you could say so.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
'Love my love me like my love and ephemeral light' - this makes me smile. .
Now the EP is out there - what next for you?
Good question. A tour in November. A set of workshops for songwriting & general creative expression in July. Another EP, out later in the year. . . lots of lovely stuff.