After returning with a string of impactful offerings this past year, London-based artist Rowan Flack now looks to cement her recent legacy with the release of her eagerly-awaited new EP 'Forest Fires'.
Featuring the previously shared gems 'Tipsy On The Tongue', 'Let It All Go' and 'Strawberries in the spring', this new five-track collection makes for a wonderfully smooth and alluring listen. Brimming with more of those warm and invigorating jazz textures she is known for, she continues to shine as one of the more captivating names doing the rounds right now.
So with the new EP available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I first fell in love with music by writing my own melodies at the piano in my house aged around six. This led me to explore using my voice which is my main instrument.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was into downtempo dance artists such as Zero-7 and I liked folk/ singer-songwriter style songs. Although when I first heard ECM artists Jan Garbarek, Keith Jarrett and Bossa Nova artists Jobim and Astrud Gilberto, I knew I wanted to pursue jazz.
Now when I listen to downtempo electronic artists I love such as Bonobo, I can hear the clear melodic references between jazz and electronica! The wide span of genres I listened to has led me to create my EP “Forest Fires” which merges lots of styles together – Jazz, soul and indie-folk with both acoustic and electronic elements.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
The Prettiest Thing – Norah Jones
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
New songs generally evolve either by sitting at the piano and improvising around some chord changes without lyrics or sometimes the lyrics come first by writing poems on the train.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Kadja Bonet and Kali Malone.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Kamasi Washington or Norah Jones.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Making new musical connections and when a song finally comes together, whether that is in a songwriting session or working through an arrangement for the first time with a full band.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Working with great musicians means busy adult music schedules! Time is the biggest constraint sometimes.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
My partner and the bassist in my band always says to be patient with creating the work and to allow yourself the time for the songs to evolve as they should. I can sometimes tend to jump the gun, excited to record and create but being patient with my work and sitting with it for a while is something that builds a better understanding of the music I want to share and put out in the world.
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Rowan Flack's new EP 'Forest Fires' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.