I grew up… in 26 different houses, but it all began on a small fishing Island off the West coast of Canada called Sointula BC. Idillic as it comes!

Now you can find me in… East London, Hackney way, which I found out yesterday whilst looking online at my Family history is where my Grandmothers family has lived since 1670!

It all started when… my father played Mingus records to me whilst in the womb! Along with much dedication, love and encouragement from my Mother.

If I’m not in the studio or on stage, you’ll find me… EATING, SLEEPING, COOKING, CLEANING, LOVING my MISIU etc, you know the score!

My most treasured piece of musical equipment… is my SUPER LUSH very old very beautiful, very yummy daddy of a double bass!

If there’s one album that’s inspired me it’s… a Monastic Trio, Alice Coltrane!

My favourite festival… NO AR COQUETEL MOLOTOV Brazil!

A highlight of my musical career so far… playing the Pyramid stage, Glastonbury and top of the pops.

I can’t perform unless I have… my hands! My band! And a big FAT sound!

I wish I hadn’t… doubted myself so deeply for so many years, such a waste of time and energy!

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s… hard work pays off and what you put in/out you get back!

If you’re new to our music, I suggest listening to Throw Me a Sun (B-side to our single Get Over It) first.

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Guillemots – I Don’t Feel Amazing Now

Guillemots – I Must Be A Lover

Head over Guillemots’ website for full info on their current UK tour which started today!

I grew up… in Ottawa, Canada and some other international places with my travelling family.  I skied for the first time in the Alps and I smoked my first cigarette in Korea.  You can put it together from there.

Now you can find me in… the bunk of a tour bus, Toronto, Canada, and on Sundays watching a Packers game in Wisconsin.

It all started when… my parents had one hot night in Brussels, Belgium.

If I’m not in the studio or on stage, you’ll find me…  walking my furry friends on my street. Seriously, i’ve trained my two siamese to walk off-leash.  I’m a cat whisperer.

My most treasured piece of musical equipment… my 57 Gibson Southern Jumbo. There will never be another guitar to take it’s place.  But i’ve never let that keep me from buying many, many more.

My favourite festival…  The Regina Folk Festival in Saskatchewan, Canada. Best time ever. And i know you want to say Regina out loud.

A highlight of my musical career so far… Being on Tom Petty’s guestlist.

I can’t perform unless I have… my own gear. I don’t believe in backline.

I wish I hadn’t… fallen in love with Bourbon. It makes me do bad things.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s…. there’s more than one thing to learn. Oh so many more than one.

If you’re new to my music, I suggest listening to “Goodnight, California” first.

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Kathleen Edwards – Sidecar

Kathleen Edwards – Wapusk ft. Bon Iver

Kathleen’s upcoming single ‘Sidecar’ is out Nov 14th. It’s taken from her new album ‘Voyageur’ (produced by Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver) which will be released on Jan 16th.

She’s also playing an in-store at Rough Trade East in London on Nov 8th @ 7pm and we highly recommend heading down to it.

I grew up… “on the crime side the, the New York Times side, where staying alive was no jive” – C.R.E.A.M (Wu-Tang Clan). Most of my youth was invested in the hip hop culture.  I was first attracted to b-boying at a very young age and eventually developed a love for lyricism.  DJ Exile and I started a duo called EMANON back in high school and we continue to make hip hop music together today.

Now you can find me in… the airport lounge where I spend most of my time on the road.  I have been traveling extensively since the release of Good Things.  Life on the road is not so bad but you miss out on important things like spending time with family and friends.

It all started when… I signed with Stones Throw Records in 2005.  I released Shine Through in 2006 and three years later I released “I Need a Dollar” as the first single on my sophomore solo album.  The song was chosen as the theme to HBO series, “How to Make it in America” and quickly made its way around the world via the internet.

If I’m not in the studio or on stage, you’ll find me… heading to the studio or the stage in a plane, train or automobile.  In my spare time I like to learn, so I enjoy watching documentaries on musicians, historic leaders or events, and science and exploration.  I am not much into reading fiction, so you are more likely to find me with a text book than with a novel.

If I could take one CD with me on holiday it would be… DJ Rogers’ album It’s Good to be Alive.  I have probably listened to this album more times than any other in my collection except for Nas’ Illmatic.

The one gig I’ll never forget… was not really a proper gig, but  I sang “Mama Hold My Hand” for a group of colleagues back when I was a junior business consultant.  When I finished the song they gave me a standing ovation and some of my co-workers were in tears.  A senior consultant whispered in my ear, “you might be in the wrong business, kid.”

I wish I hadn’t… stopped playing the trumpet for so long. When I quit the high school marching band, I traded in the trumpet for two turntables and a microphone.  Years away from practice have made it hard to get back to into the swing of things, but I still use it to record simple lines when I get the chance.

My most treasured possession is… my mobile phone. I don’t really have any material “must-haves” but my phone helps me record new song ideas and I also use it to write lyrics, so it is the most important aid in my craft as a songwriter these days.

My favourite festival is… Carnival in Panama.  I have had the pleasure of enjoying the celebration a couple of times and I really enjoy the energy.  I am looking forward to experiencing Carnival in Brazil one day.

My favourite piece of clothing… is my black perforated leather jacket.

It makes me happy when… I write a new song, or I see people enjoying themselves while listening to music, or when I see children learning, or when someone does something out of the unconditional kindness of their heart.

It makes me sad when… I see bad parents yelling at young children, bad politicians making terrible decisions for their constituents and greedy business folk corrupting government with lobbies to aid their narrow goals that don’t benefit society at all.

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s… you have to be honest with yourself and do what makes you happy in life.  Your happiness can be infectious and help other people find peace and happiness.

If you’re new to my music, I’d suggest listening to “You Make Me Smile” first.  

My most recent album is Good Things and my next single release will be “Better Things”.

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Aloe Blacc – You Make Me Smile

Aloe Blacc – Femme Fatale

Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar (Tensnake Remix)

I grew up… but first I had to be born. I was born on the welcome mat of the Saint Francis hospital in Evanston, IL. Dad tells the story that Mom thought she had to go to the bathroom and while she was sitting on the toilet my head started to pop out. Dad threw her in the back of the station wagon and drove one block to the closet hospital. Dad threw her in the back of the station wagon and drove one block to the closest hospital. Mom got our of the car and laid down directly on the welcome mat of the hospital and screamed “It’s happening here!” Dad says I shot outta Mom like fast-flying football. He caught me as the security guard at the door yelped, “you can’t do that here!” and promptly fainted. And thus I was born and ready to grow up.

Now you can fine me in… Nashville, TN when I’m actually home. I like going dancing at Robert’s Western World, a honky tonk on the main strip downtown. Guys know how to lead a loady around a room two-steppin, polkai’in’, cajun dancing, swing dancing… whatever it takes to bust a move and get on a groove. And the rockabilly bands’ll rock your socks off.

It all started when… I heard a vinyl record oozing the perfection of Doc Watson signing and playing Shady Grove one night at a party during Universitry. Went straight out hte next day and bought a $100 banjo.

If I’m not in the studio or on stage, you’ll find me… in China chilling balls with my pals in Beijing or Chengdu. Probably riding on somebody’s bicycle handle bars down a dark alley with red lanterns somewhere near the guijie inside the second ring road.

I can’t perform unless I have… fingernails. Literally, I can’t play the style of banjo I play w/o fingernails. That means I have a fingernail maintenance kit with me at all times; file clippers, sanding paper, small scissors, superglue, fake nails (just in case). Lately I’ve resorted to taking prenatal vitamins because all the supplemental calcium makes my nails super strong.

If I could take one CD with me on holiday it would be… Robyn. Okay, I didn’t even like her music at first and then it just clicked and now I can’t get enough of her.

My most treasured possession is… my new clogging shoes. They were specially ordered. I even had to trace my foot for length, width, shape, height so I got the perfect fit. And I did. They’re grey and black saddle shoes with wooden heels. They sound great on any wood floor.

My favourite festival… Telluride Bluegrass festival. It’s magical… up at 9000 feet in a high Colorado mountain valley with 14,000 foot peaks all around. The sun sets in the saddle of the down valley view and the high altitude shallow oxygen makes you feel like your on another planet. There’s only one stage so the entire 10,000 person audience is totally dedicated to the artist on the one stage while the artist looks out over mountain peaks and waterfalls.

My favourite piece of clothing… is still my mid-calf red knickers when I was in the 4th grade. I wore them til they had holes and my mom forced me to throw them away. I’m still not over it.

If there’s one thing I’ve heard it’s…. compassion is always worth a try.

If you’re new to my music, I’d suggest listening to City of Refuge first.

My most recent album is… City of Refuge released earlier in January 2011 on Rounder Records. Not sure when the next one’s gonna be but I already have songs in the works!

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Abigail Washburn – City of Refuge EPK