Amelia’s Magazine | The Silent Well: an interview with Douga

Douga by David Tolu Graham
Douga by David Tolu Graham.

Former member of Keith and Plank! drummer Johnny Winbolt-Lewis has released The Silent Well with his new band Douga. Much of the record was made at the Seed Studios where Winbolt-Lewis volunteers, working with people who suffer from psychological distress, and the sensitivities of those he comes into contact with have indirectly influenced this laid back record, rich in sonic textures and psychedelic influences.

Douga The Silent Well interview review
Douga by Simon McLaren.

We talked before when you were part of your previous incarnation Keith – how did you get involved with your latest band Douga and where does the name come from?
It started life as a solo venture, which I was doing whilst in Keith and then when I played drums in Plank! My parents gave me the nickname of ‘Douga‘ when I was younger cos of my endless imagination. To be honest it probably doesn’t make much sense, although I’ve always seen being creative as an extension of that childlike wonder. It is actually a name which derives from west Africa, having read ‘In Griot Time‘. This is purely coincidence but a nice one since as I’m so in awe of the music from this part of the world.

Douga The Silent Well interview review
What were the inspirations behind the lyrics of the songs on new album The Silent Well?
There’s a bit of disillusionment in the order and status quo we live in and various introspective thoughts, but I’m not one for dissecting lyrics too much. I like the listener to find their own interpretations and projections (sorry to be so clichéd).

You enjoy creating unorthodox textures in your tunes, how are these achieved in practice?
I think Douga live and on record are two separate entities at the moment. That’s not to say this will always be the way. Myself and John Waddington made most of these tracks. I think a lot of the more esoteric textures were the work of John, who works well with those layers which juxtapose the melody. He used his Casio keyboards with various pedals, or played the electric with metallic objects to gain those shimmering drones. Also, Dan Bridgewood-Hill (one of the most versatile and gifted musicians in Manchester IMO) created his inimitable style with the violin. We tended to start with the rhythmic instruments first and then the guitar. After that came the more leftfield / psyched out stuff – the fun part!

Douga
I believe you recorded the album in an unusual studio, can you tell us more about it?
We recorded the bulk of it at Seed Studios in Trafford. It’s a space used by people suffering from various mental health problems. I do various music related projects there and the place pays back by allowing me to record. It’s a pretty big building with various spaces to setup to record. We used mainly our equipment there and had a lot of assistance from Raul Careno (also a volunteer).

How has the Manchester music scene shaped your music making?
I’m not sure it has greatly. We probably live outside any scene cos we’re fairly introverted people. That’s not to say we don’t enjoy a lot of music that’s being made in this city currently. One thing I am inspired by is the prolific rate at which some musicians put new stuff out. We’re currently recording our next record. I think you want to build up your catalogue to show people what you’re about! I guess this first collection of tunes is more downbeat that we are when we play live and the way the next record is panning out will reflect a more upbeat side of the band.

Where does the footage come from in Still Waters?
Galen Milne-Hines told us it was comprised of material from the Prelinger Archives and other sources in the public domain. There’s some manipulation of the colours as well.

Where can fans catch you live this year?
We play A Carefully Planned Festival in Manchester in October. We’re currently booking dates around the country at this sort of time. Expect London, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield shows.

The Silent Well by Douga was released in May 2014 via Do Make Merge Records.

Categories ,A Carefully Planned Festival, ,Dan Bridgewood-Hill, ,David Tolu Graham, ,Do Make Merge Records, ,Douga, ,Galen Milne-Hines, ,In Griot Time, ,John Waddington, ,Johnny Winbolt-Lewis, ,Keith, ,manchester, ,Plank, ,Prelinger Archives, ,Raul Careno, ,Seed Studios, ,Simon Mclaren, ,The Silent Well

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Amelia’s Magazine | An interview with Owlle: introducing new album FRANCE

Owlle by Andrew Khosravani

Owlle by Andrew Khosravani.

French electro-pop chanteuse Owlle is set to take the world by storm with her unique fusing of 80s era melody, super danceable beats and a pop-art aesthetic. Owlle describes the process of her musical creations with us, all accompanied by fabulous illustrations.

Owlle wall

Owlle by Sarah Bromley

Owlle by Sarah Bromley.

What ideas tend to permeate your lyrics and music the most?
I love telling stories, most of the time very personal, through descriptions, landscapes or surreal visions. I like mixing different or even antagonist atmospheres. Something that stroke me when I went through all my lyrics when I’d finished the album is that there’s the notion of someone running incessantly after something, someone impossible to catch all along. I didn’t realize that at first, that this was my theme lyrically, but also rhythmically in a way!

OWLLE by Alexandra Dzhiganskaya

OWLLE by Alexandra Dzhiganskaya.

How has your background in Fine Arts influenced your approach to music?
My time as a Fine Arts student was decisive, it helped me refine what I really wanted to do, I discovered and met many talented artists, Pierre Huyghe and Brian Eno to name just two that really had an influence on me; I also experienced lots of different mediums myself, visuals mainly. I learnt to mix visuals and music, to stage things. All of this helped me broaden my vision, my culture, and ultimately my horizons as a musician! Art continues to feed and inspire me on a daily basis!

Owlle by Emma McMorrow

Owlle by Emma McMorrow.

It is said that – despite your music – you prefer solitude over heaving dance floors, why is this?
Dancefloors can also be a very lonely place, a place of solitude, not necessarily in a bad way, somewhere you let go, you forget everything and everyone around you, and that can be very thrilling. But there’s truth in that I’m more the introspective type.

Owlle by David Tolu Graham

Owlle by David Tolu Graham.

When and how did you discover the work of Brian Eno and how has it influenced you?
I first discovered Eno not through a record or a concert but through an art installation he’d done at an Art Fair in Lyon in 2005, called « Quiet club », such installation obviously had music in it too, but not only… and all of a sudden, it was a blinding revelation to me: how much visual arts and sounds/electronic could interact. Suddenly I realized how I could combine both myself. I stared at it indefinitely, I was struck. Visuals play a key part in what I try do as an artist, they matter as much as music, it’s an integral part of the project!

Owlle by Emma Farrarons

Owlle by Emma Farrarons.

How did you get involved with Depeche Mode and what was the highlight of your collaboration?
That was totally unexpected and an unforgettable moment for me. I’m a big fan of them. Their live drummer had apparently heard of my first ep – Ticky Ticky – and liked it enough to put my name forward to the rest of the band when the time came for them to look for remixers! Their team contacted me on the eve of Christmas 2012… for a minute it was so unreal… quite the Xmas gift! The title of the song – Heaven – was very appropriate to the situation! I tried to give a part of me into this remix. I even dared adding backing vocals, I couldn’t resist ;) When I heard the melody and Dave’s beautiful voice, I knew that it’d be a great experience. I had zero direction from them but only stems and complete freedom to do whatever i wanted. I had no pressure from anyone except myself to live up to the challenge and the chance I was given! I hope I did. Feedback from Depeche Mode themselves and then their fans when the remix came out were an immense reward to me, and a huge encouragement at the vey moment I was working on writing my first album

Owlle multi

What has most influenced the look you create in your videos and artwork?
The fashion aesthetics from the 80’s, its craziness and theatrical aspect inspired me most, the 90’s are an obvious influence of mine too for that is when I grew up and I was very permeable to it, listening as much as watching artists like Madonna, Cindy Lauper or even Boy George but also designers like Alaia and Hussein Chalayan. I like things that have a dramatic aspect to them!

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Owlle: Don’t Lose It

Where did the name Owlle come from?
It’s derived from ‘Owl’. At first I mainly liked the sound it makes when you pronounce Owl, then I feminized it with two L and a E. Then everyone started asking if I had kind of an obsession for owls. Well, I don’t but, yeah I’m a night-ish person, I mainly compose at night, I love this bird and the whole mythology it carries too. I can be quite inhibited or, say, discreet, in my everyday life, having an alias is also a way to overcome this somehow.

owlle france cover

What next for Owlle?
2014 is going to be quite the busy year! I’ve just released my debut album FRANCE in Europe, it should come out stateside in the next few months and I’m going to tour a lot with it, as far and in as many countries as I can!

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Owlle: Ticky Ticky

Categories ,Alaia, ,Alexandra Dzhiganskaya, ,Andrew Khosravani, ,boy george, ,brian eno, ,Cindy Lauper, ,David Tolu Graham, ,Depeche Mode, ,Emma Farrarons, ,Emma McMorrow, ,heaven, ,Hussein Chalayan, ,Madonna, ,Owlle, ,Pierre Huyghe, ,Sarah Bromley, ,Ticky Ticky, ,« Quiet club »

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