I was approached by a Cornish singer songwriter called Nichola Rey recently and asked if I would take a listen to her latest track ‘Fate of the Lonely’, I did, I liked it and suggested that we did an interview feature on the website so more people can read all about her and be given the chance to check out her music.

Read on to find out all about her early musical memories, the music scene in Newquay, musical influences, travelling, her approach to songwriting and even rubbing shoulders with the mighty Paul Carrack and being invited to join his band on the road. For all of this and much more, grab yourselves a beer or a brew and get comfy, you’re gonna like it…..

We know a little bit about you, we know you’re called Nichola Rey, we know you’re based in Cornwall and we know that you grew up in South Yorkshire, tell me something about yourself that you’ve never told a journalist?

I never know how big to go with questions like this….. okay, I’m a qualified dance teacher and I like tomato ketchup on toast.

 

You’re based in Newquay, please describe the music scene there for me

It’s a real community-spirit-backed scene. Locals support the music all year round and so it’s a great place to be based in terms of booking gigs and feeling warmth from the people out in the audience. The musicians here range from acoustic folk to heavier bands and there are also plenty of DJs in the area producing their own tracks too so it’s a full mix. Definitely something for everyone with musicians supporting each other.

 

Newquay is renowned for being a place where people go for stag and hen parties, tell me about some of the music venues around the local area that are doing their bit to keep things alive?

There are a few great music venues known for full band set up and gigs being a part of their weekly schedule and plenty of smaller bars all booking artists to play on a weekly basis too so there really is something for all genres/styles to be a part of here. Whiskers and Dead Famous stand out as two venues that centre around musicians playing, from open mic nights through to competitions/battle of the bands style nights in order to fill festival slots. You also get a mix of local musicians from around the county as well as out of town bands or artists visiting from overseas. 

 

What is your earliest musical memory?

I’m lucky in that music has been a part of my every day life since I was small. There have always been instruments around or singing/dancing in the front room whether we were at home or visiting grandparents. One of the earliest memories that stood out for me was realising when I was young that I could figure things out by ear. My dad asked me to try and harmonise to a song we were singing. I didn’t think I understood how to do it but then I just tried and naturally did it note for note. My Grandad Ted around the same time, had an organ and I sat in front of it one day and he just said “try and play it”- it was this whole concept of just hearing, listening, and figuring it out that was opened up to me.

 

Would you say that you grew up in a musical family? If so, who played/plays what instruments?

Yes I would. My parents didn’t play instruments but the interest was there so we had a guitar in the house and playing music was a huge part of our family life whether it was whacking on some songs and having a bit of a sing-a-long at parties, or learning to jive in the front room with grandparents. I was exposed to a lot of soul and rock n roll music growing up. One of my grandparents played the organ and accordion and there was singing on the other side of my family, but there are no professionals, just people who appreciate music immensely.

 

What was your first ever musical purchase (CD, record, download) who/what was it? Do you still have it and do you still play it?

I was obsessed with Michael Jackson and I remember he released a song with his nephews ‘3T’ and off I went to my local shop with my pocket money, happy days! It’s probably still in an old box in the attic at my parents’ house somewhere. Whether the CD is still in the case is another thing altogether though.

 

You cite HAIM , Bon Iver, Karen O, Matt Corby, RYX , James Blake and The 1975 as influences, who was it that made you want to become a songwriter?

I started songwriting before I actually appreciated what I was doing really. Even going back to being in primary school I had the impulse to sit and write or create my own song and melody. I had guitar lessons at school for the purpose of being able to learn enough to start writing. The older I became, the more I understood that I admired and played songs that had depth in lyrics and beauty in them. Looking back now I was drawn to people like Otis Redding, Nat King Cole, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin - they were played a lot at home. I had a big eclectic mix to draw from.

 

From listening to your voice, I am getting hints of some classical training in the past? Am I right? (I rarely am!!)

Hahaha, yeah you’re not far off! I trained in dance and musical theatre growing up and so this is another part of who I am. I didn’t have classical training, aside from studying music at A Level, although I always appreciated and listened to artists in that field.

 

You have travelled far and wide and have written music along the way, would you say that the sound of a song might vary depending on where you are when song ideas come to you?

Yes, I do think that has an influence together with people you meet and write with and the influences they bring along the way. The band I was in when I travelled to Australia had a heavy Australian folk influence running through the instrumentation and so naturally you gravitate towards adapting melodies and lyrical content that lends to that foundation.

 

Do you have a proven formula when it comes to writing songs? If so, please tell me so I can tell others!

I have a really analytical mind, which often drives me mad, and I definitely can lose time overthinking and so weirdly, or at least it feels like it would be strange to some people, but I actually write better when I don’t sit and think, and instead switch off to that. I usually start to form a section of the track say the intro/chorus and then just start recording whatever comes into my head live. Then I see what I’m subconsciously churning out and put pen to paper. It usually does then become clear what I’m singing about and I can unravel where I want the song to go.

 

We’re coming to yours for a 3 course meal, what will you be serving us?

An overcooked mess ha! I’ve actually gotten better at cooking in recent years. I’m not great with starters and deciding on what to make. I love eating them but in all honesty I would probably just start munching my way through the cupboards while I’m cooking and putting some bread with oil/balsamic out for guests! It would be great to serve something with finesse but I think the thing that would taste the best would be homemade stew and dumplings with a crumble and custard dessert. It doesn’t really scream ‘dinner party’ but I promise it will taste good- I’m really living up to the Yorkshire food palate stereotype with that menu aren’t I? LOL.

Your music is amazing, hauntingly minimal but so effective in its delivery, who do you work with to create your music? 

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the feedback! I love space in a track and so always try not to put too much of everything in. I actually do all the writing and producing of the demos at home on my own. I have the track as finished as it can be before I take it into the studio where I work with the guys there to bring the demo to life, add in further production and record the vocals again as the studio set up is insane there. I have the backing vocals and everything tracked and clear so when I head in, I’m really organised with what I need to do.

Your latest single ‘Fate of the Lonely’ dropped on February 11th, please tell me a bit more about the song.

I really wanted to create something that people could resonate with lyrically but had the feeling of having a good night to it in the chorus. I wanted to reflect that feeling that we all have had or have when bad things are going on but we do what we have to sometimes to just move through the day and forget it for a while.

 

Your music has been picked up by the amazing Sarah Gosling from BBC Introducing, how has this helped you in your career to date?

The support in the feedback Sarah gave on air was amazing to hear. It’s a real endorsement to the hard work you put in to being a creative and artist both with being selected for playlists etc. and the exposure you have as a result.

 

You released your ‘Change for a Penny’ EP in 2021, did you approach the recording of ‘Fate of the Lonely’ any differently to this?

Yes, I felt less pressure with it being a single following the EP. The EP meant that people already knew the musical direction I was heading in and then with the single, I could just focus on one song, allow myself a longer timeframe to write it and really explore every aspect of what I might want to do with it musically.

What 3 things can’t you live without?

• My van for touring/shipping stuff around

• a bubble bath (if I could pull up to a gig in a bath on wheels, I definitely would)

• various snacks.

 

You use CUBE Recording Studios in Cornwall, is it the same team you use every time or do you tend to mix and match to open up new ideas etc? 

When I get into CUBE I always work with Gareth Young and Ross Rothero-Bourge to curate the final sound/production right through to mixing/mastering. What’s great about them is that I feel like they always understand what I want and always have done, right from the first phone call. I instantly felt relaxed to say what I liked and what I didn’t want. The experience they have is immense and so what’s brilliant is that they can throw a curveball into the mix with an element of the soundscape that I hadn’t seen coming and end up taking it up a notch.

 

Do you write songs about personal experiences?

I do but I don’t always realise it when I first start writing (that whole “switch my brain off and see what comes out thing” kicks into gear which is inevitably influenced by where I am at emotionally/what I’ve been through). The whole EP “Change for a Penny” was all from personal experiences of feeling like there wasn’t much of myself left visible but that I was still there somewhere I just had to figure out how to get it back. The new single is a mix of personal experience and also conversations with people I meet and get chatting to.

I read that in a previous adventure, you met Paul Carrack (Eagles, Warm Dust, Ace, Roxy Music, Squeeze, Nick Lowe, Mike + The Mechanics and more) and his band in a backstage kitchen with a view to joining the tour, I have to ask you to expand on this please…..what were you doing there in the first place, where were you and did you manage to get onto the tour?

We had the same agent and manager at the time. Paul had a female singer on tour with him who was going to be pulling away from the band due to life commitments and so I was selected to step into that space and to go and watch a gig and meet the band and Paul backstage. The space we ended up chatting in was a big kitchen area backstage in a venue in Sheffield- there were quite a few band members so we all fit in there. Unfortunately for me, the singer who was already in the band decided/was able to continue and that was that!

You’ve been asked to nominate the 3 headline acts for Glastonbury 2023, who are you choosing? (can be dead or alive but cannot be you!)

Otis Redding for some of the old school energy, Bon Iver with the request that they play Heavenly Father at least twice, and Amyl & the Sniffers.

Tell me your favourite joke

Anything out of a cracker or on the back of a penguin wrapper.

Now we are parting company with science (relaxing all social distancing rules and regulations), what plans do you have for live shows/festivals going forward?

I can’t wait. It’s my favourite part of the whole process of being an artist. Live playing is when I’m most comfortable. I’m planning on getting out there asap now this new single is released!

 

There are so many social media platforms out there today, which are the best ones to keep up to date with your musical happenings?

Instagram is definitely the one I am most active on! (see links at the end of the feature)

 

I know that you’ve only just released ‘Fate of the Lonely’ but I and the rest of your fans are hungry for more, what is in the pipeline and please provide any planned release dates.

I have another track I recorded last year which I’m going to be releasing in the next couple of months so watch this space. It will be out as soon as I can decide on the title.

 

Would you rather have the ability to communicate with animals or speak every human language fluently?

I’m going to go with speak every language because I think a lot of wisdom can be gained from watching animals and their body language. Humans are so complex it’s hard enough sometimes when we do speak the same language so knowing I could learn from someone else with a different way of life and culture to me and have a full conversation with them really appeals to me.

 

Last but by no means least, if you had to describe your music and sound by using cheese, which cheese would you compare yourself with and why?

Wensleydale with Cranberry - a little tangy with some sweetness thrown in for good measure and doesn’t stink! LOL

There you have it folks, just about everything that you could ever want to know about the Cornish legend Nichola Rey, we’d like to thank her for sparing the time to chat to us and we wish her every success in the future.

To keep up with her musical happenings, here’s a bunch of social media links (Instagram is her preferred channel)

Instagram

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Spotify