Claudia Georgette Interview

Firstly, you have a very unique style a very different take on folk, what inspired this style?

I guess it’s a product of my greedy taste in music! I get inspired by all sorts of artists from Mos Def to Joni Mitchell, anything with soul! I never set out to create a particular style, it seemed to develop naturally but it feels good!

I see for your video that you ran a competition which saw fans from your twitter to appear in it?

Yes! I thought it might be fun to include people in the whole process. I’m just getting used to the whole social networking scene and I think it’s more interesting if it’s interactive rather than just a means to say ‘look at me!’ So we added an optional dress code of Rah-ver Chic to one of our gigs to drum up some interest for the video and to hopefully find a new cast member. We have started to make plans for the next one, which is going to be even more interactive; I’m really looking forward to that!

The video was directed by Ricky Lloyd George what was it like working with him?

Bliss. We were on the same page throughout the whole process and it was such a pleasure to work with someone who shared my enthusiasm for the project, and level of organisation! He really drove the machine forward and I couldn’t have done it without him.

Also was he put forward by the record company or did you hire him yourself?

It’s just little old me, so no record company! I pitched the idea to him and he loved it so it became a joint venture.

What do you enjoy most about performing live?

Being the centre of attention? Ha! Just kidding. One of the things I love most is seeing people smile. I know that sounds cheesy, but I’m there to entertain so I’m only happy if the audience is happy. I also love the feeling of camaraderie when you’re playing with a band or group; that magic feeling when it all comes together is like nothing else!

What is the best venue you have performed at?

I don’t know what would define a venue as the ‘best’, but the one I had the most fun at recently was Secret Garden Party. We played on a stage that was built into a tree, like a treehouse! It was beautiful!

What are the highlights of your career so far?

Performing at Jazz Café last month was pretty special, as lots of my favourite artists have played there. But I reckon my most ‘pinch me’ moment to date has to be going to Space club in Ibiza and dancing to one of my tunes- a track called ‘Pilling Me’ that I wrote with Parisian electro DJ Greg Cerrone. All kinds of fun times!

I see you’ve done some youth theatre work, can you tell me more about this?

It all started last summer when I was living in New York. I volunteered at a community youth theatre, running voice and speech workshops for inner-city teenagers. Witnessing their development from shy and troublesome teenagers into engaged, confident young adults was really humbling. So when I got back to London I was really keen to get involved here, so I volunteered for various organisations before getting a job, where I currently work, at the Unicorn Theatre. I absolutely love working there, they have a fantastic after-school drama programme for young people of all ages. I feel really lucky to be a part of it.

What advice would you give to aspiring young artists?

I don’t know how much weight my advice holds seeing as I’m still an aspiring young artist myself! But I’ll say what I try to tell myself, which is to be patient. And above all to make sure you’re writing/playing music that you really care about.

Finally, I read on your website that you have a 'patchwork heritage' with quite a mix of countries, can you tell me more about this?

My Grandfather on my Mums’ side is an American, raised in Argentina. Whilst studying at university in England he swept my Irish Grandmother off her feet and brought her back to Buenos Aires where they raised their four children. My Mum moved to England at 16 where she met my Dad, who gave me the middle name Georgette after his French Mother. Growing up in a musical family with all these different cultural/musical influences from Tango to The American Songbook has been so inspiring.

A big thanks to Claudia for taking time out for this interview.