Turner New album ‘Daydreams and Stars’ review and interview.
Louise Turner interview followed by track track review of upcoming album “Daydreams and Stars”
Interview conducted by Chris Matthews.
The arrival of your new album ‘Daydreams and stars’ is nearly ready for its release? What are we all to expect?
Its like a little musical journey into my world and a journey that takes you through different feelings, emotions, stories and styles.
Its called Daydreams and Stars because part of the album is almost like little daydreams and whimsical reflections and the star aspect is more poppy with Glamour & glitz so the album has two parts & sides to it.
The artwork also expresses the Journey and I was lucky enough to work with the fabulous Derek D’Souza again creating wonderful photography which again expresses the journey of the album.
We took a trip to Heaton Park in Manchester on a beautiful Sunny day & captured some great images to go alongside the music...starting with the Daydream aspect of me sitting by a tree with bluebells & ending with a night time star picture against the back drop of a full moon!
The album as a whole is meant to transport you to somewhere else....a little snippet of the World of Turner.
I think its been 7 years now since ‘This is Turner’ EP, what are we to expect that’s different from that EP to this album?
With this album I’ve actually got a band involved now where as my first Ep was just me working with Yves Altana who did all the production and played all the instruments.
I’m really proud of my first EP but with having the band involved on this one I feel has given the album a bit more Dynamic & in parts a rockier feel to some songs...plus I love collaborating with other musicians!
I’ve also had a little journey myself studio wise and I have worked with different producers such as- Dean Glover, Mike Vindice & Yves Altana in different studios! This could have been a potential disaster but worked out really well & I think adds to the dynamic of the album giving it different feels & vibes by working with the different producers which actually in the end comes together really well....it also matches the theme of the Journey which my album takes.
Last year we had the pleasure of hearing the first single off the new album ‘Don’t you ever stop’ and also a live demo version at the ‘Elizabeth Gaskell house’ of the title track ‘Daydreams and stars’? How was the reaction to these?
It was amazing! the atmosphere in the room that night was something else...Such a beautiful setting & playing in an old sitting room with just a Grand Piano and voice! It was only an intimate audience with about 30 people which just added to the charm and atmosphere on the night...the reception to the gig and new songs was really good and really positive....A one of a kind venue that I feel very fortunate to have played in
With how the past 12 months has gone, has this meant any change in the structure of the album or have you kept it the way you first intended? Any new songs added or any taken away?
I originally had 12 songs in mind for the album but then Covid hit so financially it all went up the wall!
I couldn’t meet up with the lads in the band so we couldn’t rehearse & finish off the final couple of songs.
I decided to reduce the album to 10 tracks but rather than do the last 2 as band tracks this is where I got a bit creative...there were 2 brand new songs that were not even meant to be on the album & I decided to go it alone with Mike Vindice to finally complete the record.
I’m actually really glad I did this as the final songs- ‘The Clock’ and ‘Mr Know it all’ are actually 2 of the songs I’m most proud of on the album & it was a good challenge to record them...especially with Lockdown & feeling like your back is against the wall!
What is your creative process like? Do you tend to sit down at certain times and work on writing songs or is it just as it comes?
Its as it comes really!
I do sometimes sit down and try to write but most of the time the ideas just come to me.
I could be sat in my car and an idea & melody will just come into my mind!
I’ve even woke up in the middle of the night with song ideas and then I have to get up and record them at stupid O’clock in the morning!
The melody tends to come first and then I try to think up the lyrics and Story...after that I jam the idea with a guitar or other musicians.
I find the best song ideas are the ones that aren’t forced & just come naturally.
You’ve often been described as Part Dusty, part Nico and part Debbie Harry which is a hell of a compliment, would you agree with this or do you just see yourself as Turner, this is me and this is my style?
I was talking about it this morning..I absolutely love Dusty, Debbie, Aretha and all the great female singers & its a huge compliment being mentioned in the same breathe as them!
These are strong iconic females who have totally inspired & influenced me over the years.
I would say my music and identity is a melting pot & eclectic mix of all these people but With my own Turner style thrown into the mix...not to directly copy anybody else but to mix it all together and use them as inspiration.
Is there any surprises on this album, any surprise guest appearances we can expect?
Oh let me think!
Jason from the Stars plays guitar & does backing singing on one song on the album..it’s about time he did some BV’s for me as I’m always singing for the Electric Stars! :)
I’ve also got the wonderful John Ellis on a few tracks playing Piano & Hammond. Andy Bee from the Stars also plays a wonderful flamenco style intro guitar part on Masquerade & Pete Whitfield provides a beautiful String Section in ‘Daydreams & Stars’.
If there’s one artist that you could work with/collaborate with then who would that be?
Its a tough one but as I am a vocal harmony queen i would have to say Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys!
It would be such a wonderful experience to be with him in a room when he thinks up his amazing ideas and all those beautiful harmonies...I would love to spend a day with him to see how his mind works because he is just a genius, he’s on a different level. One of my favourite gigs was going to watch him play..it was something else, music from the Angels!
Oh can I have another one too please? I would have to say Arthur Lee from Love...Forever Changes is one of my favourite albums of all time & again I was fortunate enough to see him play a few years ago.
Recently you had someone comment on one of your videos on your tube page of your cover of Suede’s ‘The next life’, someone had lost a close friend and your version had touched them? Does this make it all worthwhile when you get them moments out of the blue?
Yeah definitely, I’m one of those people who tend to pick up on the negative comments more than the positive comments but when you do get these lovely comments out of the blue it does make it all worthwhile.
One of the songs on the album is about my dad who I lost to cancer & the song is called ‘Miss you’ so I can totally relate to these comments & when people are touched by a song or the lyrics....music is a wonderful thing & can help you through good and bad times.
I am always grateful when my music touches or moves somebody, it’s what we do it for & it comes from the heart.
Well we are all now ready and waiting for the album to drop so is there anything else you would like to tell us about the album that I’ve not asked or anything to say to the Turner army out there?
I have had always had this album in me and although it’s taken a while to make I am so proud of how it’s turned out.
In the past I have done session work for a lot of bands which has been fantastic but i have always felt that I’m not just a session musician & have my own voice, songs & stories to tell...I’m so glad I’ve finally achieved it and this is just the 1st chapter...there is much more to come from me yet!
I want to thank the Turner Army for supporting me so far...I really hope you enjoy the Album and I can’t wait to see your beautiful faces at a gig very soon!
Album release date 1st June 2021, you can pre-order the album HERE NOW :
Album Teaser:
1- Character-
Turner has wasted no time in kicking this album off with a bang, a song about somebody who wont ever accept change, a person who also fabricates stories. Turner really shows off her powerful voice, I can certainly feel the Debbie Harry influence here and even Bowie. Great track to kick off the adventure.
2- Don’t you ever stop-
A track that you may have already heard from this album, really upbeat 60’s love vibe with a fantastic vibrant and colourful video to compliment it, a song about being madly in love and the roller coaster that comes with it. I think this song you can really feel where Turner and the band really comes together and brought out the best, in parts it’s got a bit of an Arthur Lee and Love feel to it.
3- Mr know it all-
This is where the album gets serious but in a good way, a song about being manipulated and controlled and how Louise would feel in that position. Delivered beautifully and Turner shows the vast vocabulary range she possesses and I think lyrically the strongest on the album and some great key changes throughout the song.
4- Here I am-
Such a beautiful delicate song, a song about how it feels to be a female in the music industry and how challenging it can be. Tells the story of sadness and disappointment but its such a happy feel good song, almost Morrissey-esq to me.
5- Stay with me-
A song about being saved, again the track you can feel the vibe between Turner and the band, such a solid song, I can hear a bit of Duffy in this song, the backing singing in this song really brings it to life.’.
6- Flowergirl-
A proper 60’s upbeat track with beautiful delicate guitars, this song just naturally flows along and will get your feet tapping and head dossing, a track about a free spirited and wild girl who makes the mistake of getting into a relationship with a guy who is totally opposite.
7- The clock-
By far the stand out track on the album, this is so simple and yet so bloody brilliant its genius, a Nancy Sinatra feel for me on this song. The pure
brilliance of this track is that there isn’t one single instrument used throughout. A song about being stuck in a rut but the clock still keeps on ticking away.
8- Miss you-
This song does exactly what it says on the tin, a song simply about loss and how hard it is to lose somebody who you love so deeply. You can really feel Louise means every word of this and delivered so emotionally. A song about Louise’s dad and how losing him left a massive hole in her life.
9- Masquerade-
I think this is one song that really is totally different on this album, a really magical and mysterious song and again the band really shows up in this, with almost a Spanish/Mexican style guitaring. A song inspired by the David Bowie masquerade party scene in Labyrinth and Quentin Tarantino films.
10- Daydreams & Stars-
What a track to complete this truly amazing album, just pure beauty, the string section is truly breathtaking and takes this album to a whole new level and Louise’s voice is at her best throughout, a track I cant wait to hear played live. A song about the perfect night...being with somebody who you love & the universe creates a perfect Utopia!
Turner’s Social Links & Info Check out Turner’s Website HERE
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Copyright © Mods Of Your Generation & Chris Matthews 2021, All Rights Reserved. Image Credit Derek D’ Souza & Louise Turner. Video rights Louise Turner. No part of this review may be reproduced without the permission of the authors or Mods Of Your Generation .
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