Smoke Fairies Interview: SXSW 2010

The UK-based duo Smoke Fairies, comprised of Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies, has been playing its unique blend of acoustic, folk and blues since 1996. Last year, Blamire and Davies released their 'Gastown/River Song' 7" single on Jack White's Third Man Records. The two guitar players and vocalists have maintained a rigorous touring schedule for years, and are taking a break from recording their full-length album to play several shows at this year's SXSW. Spinner chatted with Blamire about the Smoke Fairies'' unique sound and their expectations for this year's festival.

Could you describe your band's sound in your own words?

It's kind of hard to describe. I suppose people describe us as a mixture of folk and blues, and it is quite dark at times. It is kind of an intermingling of voices and guitar parts that weave in and out of each other, and it gets quite heavy at times.

How did Smoke Fairies form?

Well, we both went to school together, and we met on that first day. So, we've known each other for quite awhile.

What are some of your musical influences?

We are very much influenced by the blues, so anything with a blues or folk kind of twist that takes it to a different place, like Velvet Underground. More recently, Ryan Adams and people like that have been a real influence.

What is your biggest vice?

Our biggest vice? It might be whiskey and coffee.

What is in your festival survival kit?

Well, you have to have wipes for your face. And a phone or something so you can find your friends.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

Should I really say? Well, we both used to like Hanson when we were little and that is quite embarrassing now, but we still think they are a good band. You know -- young guys that you could relate to at that time.

Beatles or Stones?

Right now I am really liking the Beatles, and it's taken me a while to really get it, but I can't believe how many amazing songs they cram onto one album. So, right now, I would have to say the Beatles.

What is the craziest thing you have seen or experienced on tour?

There have been so many! One time, we were stoked to be doing a radio show but we packed all of our guitars into our friend's tour bus and he drove it off to Wales, which is about 300 miles away. We were stuck in the middle of nowhere without any guitars, so we had to go on a crazy expedition to get some. It is kind of embarrassing to show up to your radio show without any guitars.

How is different between playing in Europe and playing in the US or in other countries?

There is actually a lot of difference between playing in the UK and playing in Europe. We play mostly in the UK, and that is where we have most of our experience. We used to play in America when we lived in New Orleans, and that was always really interesting because you meet so many different musicians. The audience was really intrigued by us because we were English and playing this type of bluesy music.

Did living in New Orleans influenced your sound?

Yeah, definitely. That is when our sound started to form more. Our band became more fully formed and we picked up a lot of blues influences there.

What do you expect your SXSW experience to be like, and have you ever played there before?

No, we haven't played there before, but it is something we have always wanted to do, so I am expecting it to be really good. I am just excited to see the other bands that are there, and we have quite a few shows ourselves. I guess we expect SXSW to be an incredible experience. There is a lot of music going on there and I expect to come away really inspired.

J. Marshall Pearson is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.