Alternative Friday

Welcome to another entry in the new Q & A series, this time with Rory Wynne, a solo artist from Stockport. We first featured Rory here last year in Emerging artists #25, and he popped up again more recently in #29 too.

My comment regarding last year’s appearance was “It doesn’t matter how raw this indie track sounds, the tune and lyrics come through with an effortless ease”. If his tracks sound raw that can be more than understood given that they were recorded in his bedroom, and that Rory Wynne is only 14 years old!

As Tom Robinson said recently on his BBC 6 Music show… Rory is “writing music that’s beating artists twice his age!”. A fine compliment, but read on, as we learn more about his musical development, and also find out what he likes on his chips!

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~ When did you first pick up a guitar?
I first picked up a guitar when I got one as a present for Christmas when I was 4 or 5, but I couldn’t really play anything.

~ Do you come from a musical family?
Yes. My Dad plays guitar and sings. Just as a hobby though.

~ What influenced you to start writing and recording songs?
In terms of writing and recording the first song I wrote was just an experiment to see if I could compose anything thought provoking (this is at the age of 10/11) and it was just four chords repeated over and over. As for recording I tried to always record any stuff that sounded decent, mainly so I didn’t forget what the song was like, whether it was on a video camera or a USB mic or a laptop microphone. It was only a year or so ago I started doing proper recordings.

~ Have you performed live yet?
I’ve played at family parties and that but nothing serious, and I didn’t get nervous probably because it’s what I enjoy doing, but I hope to start gigging soonish. I’ve just got a backing band together so sometime soon.

~ You’ve got an album coming out soon. What have you found most challenging about making it?
None of it was all that challenging really. The writing process was very quick and the songs didn’t change much from the initial idea. The recording and producing I just did in my room on Saturday afternoons. The producing was probably the most enjoyable for me because it was fun to experiment with effects, panning etc, to try and get the most dramatic sounds on some tracks and the rawest sounds on the others.

~ If you could curate a festival stage, what five bands/artists would you invite to perform?
Jack White, The National, Onions, Me, and The Stone Roses headlining. They are my four favourite bands at the moment and I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to join them.

~ What’s the most rock ‘n’ roll thing you’ve ever done?
I haven’t really done anything particularly Rock n Roll. I’m not the most vibrant of individuals. I’d probably say… wearing sunglasses and a jacket inside. I suppose my haircuts pretty rock n roll compared to most people I get a few funny looks at school. I’m afraid I’m not really old enough to have any intriguing tales of experiences that could be categorised as Rock n Roll.

~ What do you like doing away from music?
Away from music I don’t really do much else. I don’t watch T.V. and I rarely go out. If I were to be clichéd I would say ‘You can never get away from music, especially as a songwriter, you are constantly coming up with ideas’ but I just like doing nothing.

~ As a teenager, what do you think is the age when someone becomes officially ‘old’?
80 – 85 I don’t really have a set age on oldness. I think individuals decide when they have been defeated by age and feel old.

~ Tomato ketchup, barbecue sauce, or mayo?
Heinz Tomato Ketchup. It has to go on nearly all of your meal, especially your chips!

~ Playstation or Xbox?
Neither, the only game I ever play is FIFA and that’s on the Xbox but I’m not really a gamer.