{"id":26614,"date":"2017-04-05T12:08:59","date_gmt":"2017-04-05T11:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=26614"},"modified":"2017-04-05T12:37:14","modified_gmt":"2017-04-05T11:37:14","slug":"six-quick-questions-with-didi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2017\/04\/six-quick-questions-with-didi\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Quick Questions With DIDI"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"DIDI
DIDI – Photo Credit Bellanova Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following the release of her debut track, ‘Sorry’<\/a>, we’ve asked DIDI Six Quick Questions!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

EP: What’s the DIDI Story? <\/strong><\/p>\n

D: In reality it\u2019s a very short one! I only decided to create DIDI about three weeks ago in early March (2017) after I suddenly found myself writing a song, then another, then another\u2026and felt the need to release solo, which really took me by surprise. I have been in three\u00a0bands one after the other,\u00a0since I was 10 (I am now 21) and always enjoyed co-writing the songs, doing backing vocals and guitar but never performed\u00a0on my own.<\/p>\n

I think my work as a producer (since 2013) for a local studio, Cream Room Sound Productions in Dane End, as well as for my own studio, The Den (which was mainly for a folk and acoustic label) helped because while I coached many soloists who had not recorded before in warm ups and vocal exercises, I was also coaching myself at the same time and I found just recently that when I needed a voice, I seemed to have it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a particularly outstanding voice, let\u2019s be honest, but it\u2019s quite distinctive, you can tell it\u2019s me once I get going, and I love the song writing and production elements in particular, with no one else to have to consult with, it\u2019s very freeing. I can lose simply hours in the studio on my own stuff, which still seems rather indulgent! Especially as I\u2019ve got other acts I am working on still, with their work to mix and produce! So really, being solo is a vehicle for getting my songs out there, it was never part of the grand master plan, so the singing just had to happen, almost as a by-product.<\/p>\n

Initially it was intended for demos only, then I got really into the songs as the lyrics are so personal and wanted to sing them myself, and now I find myself being asked to perform them live which is again, unexpected, but I am loving it! So I’ve been making a fantastic pedal board from scratch, even the frame, and am preparing for my first official support slot, which I was offered after my first open mic in a local pub!<\/p>\n

I am gradually gaining some confidence in my voice as people have been so kind since I started DIDI. But it\u2019s the overall effect of the music which excites me, the vibe, the emotions it creates, not the purity of the vocals, for example. It\u2019s the whole package. It\u2019s been reviewed as “neo punk”,”kick ass”, and “exhilarating”, as well as “art pop”, and all of these things stem from\u00a0allowing myself to get away from”pretty, polished and perfect” scene I\u2019ve been in for years. And I will carry on doing it for as long as people want to listen! It\u2019s always a gamble releasing anything, you never know how it\u2019s going to be received, so it\u2019s been a relief that so many people seem to “get it”.<\/p>\n

EP: You’ve established a name for yourself as a producer, now you’ve released your debut solo single, ‘Sorry’ – what’s made you come out from behind the desk now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

D: I have been writing for years, mostly with other people, been touring and in various bands, so the whole”being an artist” thing was very normal for me, although I had never released something that was “mine”. My life as a producer always involves other people\u2019s input, but with this, I don’t “have” to consult or compromise with anyone, so it means I have more control which I really like!<\/p>\n

This whole new solo act, DIDI, actually specifically stemmed from writing ‘Sorry’. It\u2019s not a particularly ground breaking song in the grand\u00a0scheme of things, but it was ground breaking for me. It was something that was undeniably mine, and I was surprised to find that\u00a0I was proud of it! so I showed a few people, namely my mum – who has a successful record label, and it went from “Here is my little song, what do you think of it?” to, “I AM GOING TO RELEASE AS DIDI” in a matter of hours!!<\/p>\n

The timing also worked out quite well, because a week before DIDI was “born” I had a photo shoot booked for a\u00a0feature in Headliner Magazine about my studio and being a producer, and me being the person I am, I thought I could make the most of this so got loads of different shots and locations to cover any future opportunities. Luckily Cassy (Bellanova Photography) was really on board but I didn’t even tell her what I was thinking at the time, as it hadn\u2019t really got to the definite stages of being a “thing”, she just had to trust that I wasn’t wasting her time\u00a0and thankfully she did!<\/p>\n

\"DIDI
DIDI – Photo Credit Bellanova Photography and Brian Hewitt Art<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

EP: Who are your inspirations? And what inspires you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

D: If I am being honest, Kate Dimbleby really has to be up there, I don’t think I would have actually gone through with this if I hadn’t produced her album and seen her perform and record\u00a0Songbirds, which is pretty unique and “outside the box” with\u00a0layered a cappella (ie no instruments). We just completely “threw out the rule book” and went for it! it has stuck with me ever since. That freedom and spontaneity, because we were trusted by the label to come up with something good and given complete creative license. I have inspirations on a bigger scale musically, like Two Door Cinema Club, Ellie Goulding, Muse, and on a (only slightly) smaller scale Stevie Parker, Alex Lahey and Declan McKenna for just doing it and doing it amazingly!<\/p>\n

But I think what really inspires me are the musicians on “my scene”. I have learnt so much invaluable knowledge from gigging with them, and from having the privilege of getting to go on stage and play with them, artists like Minnie Birch, Alexa Mullins, Kelly Oliver and Emma McGrath. But ultimately it is my mum, Helen Meissner, who has inspired me to get on and do this and follow my heart.<\/p>\n

EP: What’s your take on the current state of the music industry, and what do you suggest to others to get along in it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

D: I am so ruddy excited! So many independent artists are breaking though and changing\u00a0up the way we consume music. Also the improvements in technology mean that it has become so much more accessible for people who maybe didn\u2019t get into it before, because it was too expensive or complicated, who are doing it now\u00a0and it sounds great!<\/p>\n

My main two pieces of advice would be :<\/p>\n

1)\u00a0Don\u2019t shy away from your “brand”, think about what makes you unique and really play on that, and<\/p>\n

2) Don\u2019t feel you have to make something sound the same as everyone else, just because that is what you hear day to day, because really, you need to be the one who sets the trends, not follows them.<\/p>\n

EP: What do you have in the pipeline? More music (we hope), and when can we hear it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

D: Well, well, well, I have a little “extra” release to do with ‘Sorry’ which I am very excited about and shows how awesome other people are at interpreting my music! Then I have a new single on the way, due out 24th April \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

EP: What question do you wish someone would ask you in an interview, but nobody ever does?<\/strong><\/p>\n

D: It\u2019s funny you should ask, as\u00a0it\u2019s not directly that I wish I was asked a specific question, more that I wish that some questions were not asked! It hasn\u2019t happened yet on this project, but when I was in a girl band we would get asked questions all the time about dating tips and my ‘dream man..’ which was hilarious because they were barking up the wrong tree completely! :’) In those instances I would have much preferred that they asked me about my customised pedal board or my favourite guitar pedal, or amp micing technique, but I know that doesn\u2019t make for juicy gossip! It’s about time it was cool for girls to be tech\u00a0geeks and be\u00a0encouraged\u00a0to inspire others to explore the other side of the mic, and get\u00a0stuck into the production side. It’s amazing what you can do when you trust yourself!<\/p>\n

DIDI has three remixes of ‘Sorry’ out on 7 April. Check out the ‘Crazy Joe Cola’ remix:<\/p>\n