A two minute interview with A Voice of the Seven Woods' multi-instrumentalist front man Richard Tomlinson
Me: I couldn't believe you were from the U.K., tell me when and where you started up the band?
Rick: In truth it is difficult to establish when this was started, hazy recollections... I got some friends together in Manchester to help me record an EP in 2005, which ended up being released under this name. We then played a couple of live shows, though that was never necessarily the intention. Nothing more than the initial 45 was planned; it sort of snowballed from there, as these things tend to.
Me: The style of music is very hypnotic, very psychedelic, what were your main influences?
Rick: My record collection and my friends, life experiences. Too many records to list, if that's what you're digging for. My main influences change on an almost daily basis... I buy a lot of records, and just when I think I have it nailed I discover a whole new world of sounds. So much out there I've yet to hear, I am never short of inspiration or influences.
Me: I hear you don't live in an opium den or listen to Led fuckin' Zeppelin' - what's wrong with Led Zeppelin ('Valley of the Rocks' sounds slightly Pagey does it not?) or opium?
Rick: Hmm... 'Valley of the Rocks' - Pagey? I would encourage anyone into that sound to go and listen to the stuff that Davey Graham was doing in 1962, seven years before Led Zep released their first record. And for that matter Big Bill Broonzy was recording in the 1920s, so this stuff precedes LZ by a long way! Though I'm sure Jimmy Page would be very open about his influences (Black Water Side, anyone?). As for opium - my friend Sam (from Samandtheplants) wrote an amazing song about it, you should check it out.
Me: Good point on Davey Graham actually. Recently your US tour had to be abandoned, can you tell us more?
Rick: I'm not actually sure why we were taken off the bill for that tour. You should go and find Prefuse 73 and ask him. Good luck on a straight answer.
Me: I presume the U.K. tour is still going ahead unaffected? (the gig in Kennedy's in Dublin, ahem!!)
Rick: Yeah, actually we've just completed all the other dates, Dublin's the last one. Looking forward to it, always a great atmosphere.
A Voice of the Seven Woods play Kennedy's in Dublin, 3rd November
