We started playing celtic-style folk music in the mid 1980s, inspired by the likes of Alan Stivell, Clannad and Capercailie.
That style of music has developed into something much more diverse and yet seemingly even more firmly rooted moving on into the new century. We absorb all kinds of influences including Kate Bush, Joni Mitchel , Simon and Garfunkel, Steeleyespan, Judy Collins and more recently; Eivor Palsdottir from the Faroe Isles, Janie Mitchell and Anne Marie Summers from the hills of Shropshire, Cara Dillon from Ireland, Julie Fowlis from Scotland, Richard Hawley from Sheffield and London Grammar.
Deb and I met at college in 1979 and were then listening to a lot of Yes, Mike Oldfield, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Peter Gabriel, Renaissance, in fact anything that took us on a musical journey, but we always gravitated toward acoustic sounds. I grew up with a piano around most of the time and so a harp seemed a logical extension of that way of playing. Guitars have always baffled me slightly (the Guitars on Track 4 are played by our good friend Nick Petryszyn who I suspect, like Hendrix, probably even plays while in the loo).
Deb comes from South Wales and has that wonderful Welsh sparkle in her voice. Her Dad loved music and although never in a choir, would have been very welcome in one! Deb built and started playing Hammered Dulcimer in the 1980s, inspired by Sue Harris and American maestro, Jim Couza (who gave her some welcome tips on dulcimer construction).
The tin whistle is also part of Deb’s compliment of Celtic sound textures, inspired very much by the wonderful playing and haunting compositions of Phil Cunningham of Scots band Silly Wizard.
The Last name I’m going to drop is that of Horslips from Ireland who virtually single-handedly got 1970s folk music in Ireland to move on, becoming something much more potent and accessible. We were listening to them a lot back in our college days and pieces like ‘The snow it melts the soonest’, ‘Drive the cold winter away’ and ‘The sheep beneath the snow’, we owe to them (there seems to be a bit of a chilly theme developing there!)
We are currently rehearsing in the studio with guitarist, Martin Petryszyn (Son of Nick) and are looking forward to unleashing our sound sometime soon in a village hall near you!
Mark Bardsley 2018