Q&A Scene: Sophie Kinston

Tell us about your new single/ album/ tour?

We’re looking forward to this. Releasing the new single, Winters’ Fall, and touring in support of this, some really lush venues…….Winters’ Fall is off the 2nd Tailor Birds‘ album, we’re releasing later this year. It’s exciting to see how our music has developed, and Winters’ Fall is part of that. Having toured for The Rosie Burgess Trio for a number of years, having had the touring experience, Tailor Birds is now more established. We’re doing a run of shows through QLD, NSW, VIC, and SA, including some breweries, and local and beach-side venues, and a few markets. The sound is very organic in its’ energy, and suits a lot of these venues, so we cannot wait. We’ll be doing both solo, duo and full band shows, with some special guests here and there. We’ll be heading through Byron Bay, Peregian Beach, Brisbane, Wollongong, Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne of course, being our base, at the start of the year, seeing what the response is. VIC shows include the Harvest Festival at the Ceres environmental park, and the Sedona Wine estate as part of Easter Sunday celebrations.

What’s your favourite work at this point in time?

One of our newer songs which is the final track for our 2nd album. It’ll be showcased as part of the Melbourne fringe in late 2016, as part of the launch of the 2nd album. It’s about the working craftsman.

Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.

Landjuweel festival, in Holland, one of the most creative festivals around. Woohoo Review, Loona loop and Tailor Birds were playing. Diverse representatives of Australian music in Holland for sure. Tailor Birds opened one of the stages, and we ended up also playing a show on a copper stage, made by friends of mine. We played at 8pm, midnight, and 3am. Definitely one of the highlights of the tour last summer. It gave the audience a true experience, visually and sound wise. This definitely kicked off my passion for playing alternative venues.

What, or who, inspires you?

Any act that is independent working the hard yards to really follow their passion. Hussy Hicks, Lloyd Spiegel, Tijuana Cartel….all totally different, but also classic quality. They’ve developed their careers and have established themselves to prove that anything is possible.

From the other end of the spectrum are artists, architects, painters, anyone who follows their dream – they inspire and feed into our music for sure. And that alongside the amazing team that is Love Your Sister. Uni-cycling around Australia, 16,000 kms, over 2 million dollars raised for breast cancer…..this inspired Lady Caroline, released on our 2nd album.

Which song do you wish you wrote?

That’s a hard one…..so many songs, but I’d have to say, A Guy Named Joe, by Coyote Grace. Joe who wrote the song, transitioned from female to male a number of years back. I met him (one half of Coyote Grace) in America when I toured over there. The guitar is seemless, the vocals are pure and rich, and the words, just beautiful.

How would you describe your sound in food form and why?

[pullquote]All of these are things we’ve eaten and made whilst on and off the road. They represent our experiences that all feed into our music. Food that surprises, engages, but also you never knew you’d love until you try it, and ever since cannot live without. [/pullquote]Well we do hand out birdseed at shows, but that’s bird food. But as intriguing humans we all are….if you’re going for a quick bite, I’d say a croquette or bitterballen – crispy on the outside, deliciousness inside. If you’re into salad, I’d say watermelon, danish feta, coriander, red onion, lime juice…..all things delicious you’d never know would match, but they do. And finally, a stroopwafel, a dutch food – a circular wafel sandwiching caramel between it. You can get this at the dutch markets, or even pop into the supermarket and pick up a pack.

What’s next for you?

After touring Winters’ Fall, we’ll be finishing off the album, whilst also returning to parts of QLD and NSW that we missed the first time around.
Once the album is done, we’ll be doing a run of promo in Holland and Ireland, in prep for 2017, and then……we’ll be touring the 2nd album through Oz, doing both classic venues, and also some special one off shows. We’ll be playing inside a climbing wall, plus getting visuals together to really stretch Tailor Birds to its full potential.

What’s your scene?

A1 Bakery, Sydney Road, the best local cafe to get a coffee and zaatar bread……local melbourne haunts you stumble upon.

Tailor Birds’ Winters Fall Tour Heads North

Fri 26th Feb – Byron Bay Brewery, Byron Bay (8 – 11pm)

Sat 27th Feb – Peregian Beach hotel (2 – 4.30pm)

Sun 28th Feb – Songfest Perigian beach (1 – 2pm)

Sun 28th Feb – Rics’ Bar, Brisbane (9.30 – 10.15pm)

Fri 4th March – Jane’s Cafe, Wollongong NSW

Sat 5th March – Glebe Markets, Glebe NSW

Fri 11th March – Mr Falcon’s, Sydney NSW

Sat 12th March – Paddington markets, Paddington NSW

Sun 13th March – Foghorn Brewhouse, Newcastle NSW

Sat 2nd April – The Exeter, Adelaide SA

Tailor Birds’ founder and creator Sophie Kinston, a Graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and Chichester University – fine art/musicperformance (UK), has performed and recorded for the likes of the Rosie Burgess Trio, Hussy Hicks, Sally Dastey (Tiddas), Marshall Okell, Pataphysics and many more.

Tailor Birds was created to bring something new to audiences – a true experience. With a solid foundation of classical, folk, and independent artistry, she brings a fresh and engaging sound, turning traditional sounds into something untraditional and always surprising. With electronics, percussion, and combining live looping, and foley work featuring bubbling water, little games, and toys, she transforms sound sources into creative sound scores both as a band or solo act depending on the circumstances.

Tailor Birds have just finished their 3rd tour in as many years, with a run of shows and festivals throughout Holland, Germany, Belgium, UK, Ireland, and Switzerland. Festival performances include Landjuweel, Misty Fields, Taribush Kuna, Magneet festival, Wysing Arts Space and Time festival.

Now back in Australia, she is launching the single, Winters’ Fall, with a run of Australian wide shows. She’ll be touring her band, including the talents of VCA graduate percussionist, Daniel Brates, and actor/musician Anthony Winnick starting in early 2016. However in late Nov ‘15 they also play the Panacea festival in Tatong, VIC. This is a totally new festival, to enter the Australian calendar, so are excited to be playing this.