Louise Patricia Crane has just released her debut solo album, Deep Blue. We ask her the BIG questions.
Tell us three things about yourself?
I'm a singer/songwriter from Belfast, a left-handed person who plays right-handed bass and I am also a visual artist!
How would you describe your music?
A blend of progressive rock and art rock, with psychedelic sounds and dreamy lyrical imagery. What I set out to achieve for my own music is a sense of escapism... the way some of my favourite records made me feel. When, from the start of an album, you can go on a journey away from the boring and sometimes unpleasant reality of day to day life to somewhere more beautiful. I knew I didn't want to be confined by genre and instead wanted to make the album that I wanted, for me. As this is my debut solo album, I had nothing to lose in that sense and felt so strongly about doing this how I wanted it to be.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Kate Bush is a huge inspiration, for many reasons. The way she wasn't constrained by any particular musical genre or style... she just wrote songs as she wanted and each one is almost a different world in and of itself. Also, her strong visual image in the '70s and the imagery of her writing are magical. That's why I also love King Crimson - who are my favourite band - and Jethro Tull. Lyrically these bands overall are fascinating, fantastical and musically at the absolute top of their game - progressive rock allows so much more artistic freedom, so it is most appealing to me overall. Cocteau Twins deserve a mention here too; they are certainly an influence on my music, particularly their albums Treasure and Heaven or Las Vegas.
How are you occupying yourself during the coronavirus lockdown?
Well, during the lockdown I have released my album, so I've been insanely busy this whole time! The album was released on my own record label, Peculiar Doll Records. Being the boss of my own music means I've been illustrating logos, doing graphic design for advertisements, website, packaging for my album's release, doing interviews and personally packing and posting hundreds of physical orders myself, among lots of other things. Then with lockdown restrictions getting it to and from the post office while trying to maintain my own safety with social distancing and so on. I have to say, however, it is so satisfying being in control of it all and I wouldn't change it for the world!
What's your favourite song right now?
Can't stop playing Bruce Soord's All This Will Be Yours from his 2019 album of the same name. I don't often listen to modern stuff as I'm usually stuck in the '70s with my listening habits. But I'm in love with this record at the moment.
Favourite lyric of all time?
This is impossible to choose a definitive favourite! But one I really, really love is from Jethro Tull's Velvet Green:
"We'll dream as lovers under the stars
Of civilisations raging afar
And the ragged dawn breaks on your battle scars
As you walk on cold and alone up on Velvet Green"
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be?
Ahh, this is so difficult! Maybe I Talk to the Wind by King Crimson, because it is so whimsical and beautiful.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can hear my music at my Bandcamp: louisepatriciacrane.bandcamp.com and on all main streaming platforms.
You can also come and say hello to me on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and see what I'm getting up to:
www.facebook.com/louisepatriciacrane
www.instagram.com/louisepatriciacrane
www.twitter.com/louisepcrane
