Rachel Sermanni

As this is your first chat with us, would you start by giving us a quick biography?

My name's Rachel Sermanni. I am 20 and soon I will be 21. I am listening to some jazz on my computer just now by some of my friends, I have many friends who are musicians. They are very inspiring.

I have a friend who is staying with me at my family home just now in the Highlands of scotland. She's currently tidying the kitchen, see what I mean about good friends? Another friend just phoned me having just arrived back from a violin camp in America. She is very excited to teach us some new things.

I started writing and performing songs in the latter years of school. I left for Glasgow after the passing of the last exams and found myself amongst some very encouraging folk. Many people were up for a jam. Many people were willing to listen and help with my songs. Roddy Hart, for example, wrote the bridge in "Breathe Easy."

I also joined Ben from Mumford Down in London for a while to realise that I can write and record loud songs as well as delicate numbers, this point was pivotal and very important.

Over a span of about four years I evolved as a human being and with this evolved the music I make and the people who play with me. We recorded the album at the start of this year. It is out in a few days. I am very glad about this.

I have travelled across Europe, India, a wee bit of America and even the middle east thanks to playing and writing music.

When did you first start playing music; how and when did you start writing songs?

My first musical lesson was given to me by my dad on the penny whistle. He's no virtuoso but I am thankful for his passing of knowledge. Then I learnt the violin.

Into secondary school I picked up the guitar and started the piano lessons in place of violin. I can now play both violin and piano at an average level and hope to get better over the period of my life.

There is a strong poetic element to many of your lyrics. Do you read much poetry and how much, if at all, do you think it's influenced your writing? For example, "The Fog" could be read as containing many elements of a traditional Scottish Ballad, albeit updated to the 21st century.

You think so? That's cool about your thoughts on "The Fog." I think a lot of my songs are perhaps more concerned and influenced by words and literature than music. "Pablo's City" is a song on my first EP, The Bothy Sessions and this is the best example of being heavily influenced by something I've read. It was heavily inspired by Steppenwolfe by Herman Hesse who is one of my most favourite writers. I read poetry and anything word related a lot. I am also, always, writing. I have many sketchbooks and notepads for emotional escape and thought experimentation.

Do you have a song-writing process as such? Perhaps you could pick one song from Under Mountains and tell us how it came to be written.

It changes. I have been trying to analyse it. But coming round to accept that it is impossible to know, really. "Sleep," the song, however had a lovely conception. I began scribbling ideas in the dark as I lay in my bed. The thought had struck me that when you sleep you are alone. Completely alone. This excited me and was very liberating. I didn't see what I was writing. The next day, when the light came through the curtains, I had a cobweb of words all on top of each other printed onto an envelope on the bedside table. That night, a chord structure happened and I delved into the web of words and extracted the sort of essential parts. The theme remained strong throughout because I had so much to draw on from the previous night. It was a lovely process and one of the quickest and most satisfying.

Were the videos for "The Fog" and "Waltz" filmed near Carrbridge? And has the landscape of your childhood fed through into your music as many of your songs have a strong visual, almost cinematic element?

"The Fog" was actually filmed near Groningen in Holland with some arty Dutch friends.

"Waltz" was filmed in a forest close to Edinburgh. They are beautiful settings. They work well. It seems the songs fit there. I do like space. It is not intentional, however, to portray the environment around me in the songs. If people hear something like that then I am glad though. Maybe it'll provide them with some space too.

How did you find the whole video making experience?

Really fun. All the people involved have always been so inspiring as they're really good at the whole "here's the plan, lets do it" thing. I love to be around "doing people." Arty doing people.

How important do you feel videos are in a music career these days?

They are wonderful things. It's nice to add visual stuff.

Before we come to your debut album Under Mountains, perhaps you could tell us about your earlier recording experiences?

My first successful recording was made in a Bothy in a forest very close to where I live. We recorded everything live. We simply set up some apparatus around a fire in a very warm and wooden room. About ten of my friends accepted my invitation to come up north from the likes of Glasgow or anywhere else they were studying at and we recorded four tracks long into the night. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Such fun.

On Under Mountains you work with producer Ian Grimble. How did you get together with him and how did the arrangements develop?

I first came to know Ian through the Communion Label down in London after I met the Mumfords. It took about two years, however, to get round to seeing about him being a producer.

I was very cautious and sceptical of the recording process and of producers. He rectified all that. He is a wonderful and exceptionally talented man. Very quiet and subtle in his ways. Made me feel like I was still very much in control and really helped the band come together.

We arranged most stuff and he was a very good listener and encouraged us on the way. Almost everything was recorded live. The production was more done after the actual recording when we added soundscapes and atmospheres etc afterwards in his london studio, just him and I and sometimes the guitarist, Leo.

Most artists have their preferred way of recording. What was the recording process for Under Mountains and how did you find the experience--was it as you imagined it would be?

All as live as possible. It was great.

The artwork on Under Mountains is very distinctive. How did you come to chose it?

I sat with Sophie Milner, the wonderful artist, many times. We have come to be friends. I really enjoy to sit and talk with her. I hope it continues for a long time, I have much to learn from her. As our friendship developed I think she began to see my liking for darker things and stranger things. She was able to go freely and what she came up with when we gave her the album title is so startling and beautiful. I'm so proud. So glad she's on board.

When did you first start performing your songs and realising that was what you wanted to do?

Maybe around 14/15 is when I started singing my own songs. I always enjoyed it. The concept of realising has never quite happened. This whole thing has felt strangely natural like I don't have much choice in a lot of the matters--it's a strange life for us all. I think essentially, when we're asked questions like this we all come to that thought--"how am I here?" sort o thing.

You've been gigging pretty relentlessly over recent months. Where have you been and how have you found the whole experience?

Creatively it is always a challenge to remain alive. But the touring has been really good. I have seen many things. I have made a number of friends. Strange people, fascinating lives, talented artists. It's really cool. You must come to sort of accept that you are a passenger in some ways. And you are a means of transport in others. Being tired is part of it but I must try to just go with the flow and when I sing I sort of allow people, hopefully, to join me in the feelings and reflections.

India was a special experience. Hopefully we'll have some recordings to show for it soon.

Now that you've released Under Mountains, what are your plans for the coming months?

Tour! Many places to play. Many feelings to sing.