Graham Reid | | 3 min read
Lauren Thomson: No Good For My Soul
Auckland-based singer-songwriter Lauren Thomson released her excellent debut EP Our Love is Due in the closing days of 2007 and on the back of it toured frequently, often with Canadian Tami Neilson and Jackie Bristow. The three of them delivered a terrific package show which thrilled with foot-stomping barroom country rock, or took you to deep personal places with heart-stopping ballads.
More recently Thomson travelled to Canada with Neilson to assist on her Kitchen Table Sessions Vol II -- and got her own album Chanteuses and Shotguns out of her time there (which features various Neilsons).
Before embarking on a New Zealand tour with Neilson (see dates below), whose album is given simultaneous release, she responded to the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire.
The first piece of music which really
affected you was . . .
Back when I was about 13, The Smashing Pumpkins album Siamese Dream, the song Mayonaise. This song affected me, but later on I realised that album had better songs. It was the instruments and the chords, not necessarily the words.
Your first (possibly embarrassing) role
models in music were . . .
Jewel! She was so cool when I was 14, but now, i’m just embarrassed.
Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?
Lennon, Nirvana, Madonna, Jacko.
If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .
A counsellor – or at least I’d need one!
The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .
One Thing – Jay Neilson/Tami Neilson. Love Love Love – Avalanche City. Road To Nowhere – Me! Coming out on my new album
Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?
Just the old piano I grew up with ... Sorry no autographs or anything like that
The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .
I never get through them! So obviously I don’t have one.
If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, and
we would sing some old hymn acapella.
The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .
Amelie, Dan In The Real Life, Royal Tenenbaums
The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)
The National and Avalanche City
One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .
Blowing In The Wind
The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .
My hatchshow print of Johnny Cash
You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .
A big bright flower
David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?
Travelling and helping the poor and destitute.
And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”
it was a collaboration project with Tami Neilson. We went to Canada to record with her crazy musical family and came out with an album each. It's more country, and more soulful than my first EP, and I'm hoping that's a good thing!
Tour dates: Lauren Thomson and Tami Neilson
Oamaru - Thursday 3rd March, The Penguin Club
Christchurch – Friday 4th March, The Harbour Light
Geraldine – Saturday 5th March, Geraldine Cinema
Kaikora – Sunday 6th March, Mayfair Theatre
Takaka – Thursday 10th March, Mussel Inn
Nelson – Friday 11th March, Yaza Café
Picton – Saturday 12th March, Le Café
Carterton – Thursday 17th March, The Lounge
Palmerston North – Friday 18th March, The Bent Horseshoe
Wellington – Saturday 19th March, Meow
Whangarei – Thursday 24th March, Salut Bar
Raglan – Friday 25th March, Orca
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