AINSLEY FARRELL

Hi Ainsley and thanks for taking the time out to speak with us at Musicology. Firstly congratulations on your latest single Dark Spell, a staggeringly powerful and broody track. From Dark Hours to Dark Spell, what has transpired in the past two years between the EP and new track in terms of what has been happening in your musical life?

Hi, thank you! The past two years I’ve spent mostly in the U.S. visiting family and friends, working, traveling, and playing a few gigs. I got the opportunity to play SXSW last year, which was my first time playing any real gigs in my home country. I was fortunate enough to play with some really talented musicians and great friends. I think most importantly, the past year and a half gave me a break from playing so many gigs and forced me to just focus on writing, looking inward, and figuring out life outside of music.

Often artists in the folk, alt-country genre collate a lot of subject matter that features on their work from being on the road. Can you share with us a travelling tale that was the source for one of your tracks that originated from your time on the road?

We spent a few months living and working in Rhode Island. That’s where I wrote a lot of new songs. It was a break from being on the road. I found it hard to write while on the move constantly, so I was relieved to be in one place for a little while. I wrote one song in particular the night of July 4th, while everyone was out of the house watching the fireworks. I have a curse of having some not so good 4th of July nights for some reason. The song touches on that and a bad mental state. Hopefully you’ll get to hear the song someday soon.

Is there an overarching narrative that features throughout your music and lyrical style that forms the backbone of your writing approach or is it a very fluid and organic method that focuses on whatever subject matter presents itself to you at the time?

I don’t know if there’s any overarching theme or narrative to my music. I usually write as the feelings come out, but I guess in a few songs there’s a recurring sense of heartbreak that comes in different forms and from different sources.

The cover art of Dark Spell is a disjointed visual with a ransom note type collage. Can you elaborate a little on its inception and its inner meaning?

For me, the face cut outs represent a part of me that was lost and trying to be something I wasn’t. I could hide behind the cut outs, but I wasn’t being true to myself or figuring out what I wanted out of my life.

Having meet and performed with so any different musicians and artists over the years, during that time, has there been any defining moments or words of wisdom that were spoken to you which really resonated with you and in turn altered the way you approach your craft?

I can’t think of any at the moment, but Quincy Jones once told my friend Robin that they must be related, which is pretty cool.

You will be performing with Asha Jefferies at Sydney’s Low 302 later this month. An intimate venue and one that the audience is just metres from the performer. Does this type of setting afford you the opportunity to perform in a way that you can’t necessarily do so in larger venues?

It's definitely more intimate and in that sense more terrifying because anyone can see and hear every little detail of your performance. It’s easier to see the audience too though and connect and feel a sort of instant feedback from their facial expressions and reactions. I switch off playing solo and band gigs, which allows for a different performance and energy too.

Having recently performed at the iconic SXSW, are there performance takeaway’s that you gleamed from your time in Austin that have found their way into your everyday shows?

It really made me appreciate the friends that I play with up on stage, whether it’s just for one gig or a whole year; sharing that connection makes it so much more enjoyable when you’re playing gigs. I think the audience can see that too and feed off of that good energy.

Perhaps a little philosophical but always insightful, what does music give you that nothing else does?

Music allows me a way to communicate my jumbled thoughts and understand myself and the world around me better. It gives me a huge mental relief and a place where I feel grounded and at peace.