Purson
"Ideally I would have been around 40 years earlier!"
If psychedelic prog rock gets you all hot and steamy, Purson should be top of your list to go see this month. Led by the charismatic and mystical siren Rosalie Cunningham, their second album is just about to come out. With a history of making music that nods along enthusiastically to the past, and a genre-busting collection of intriguing and just plain rockin’ tunes, Purson are a fascinating act. I spoke to Rosalie about her musical journey thus far and what it’s like to support KISS.
You’ve been in a few previous bands; Theoretical Girl and Ipso Facto, and I loved both of them. I can definitely see your character and music develop through to your current band Purson; you seem to be very comfortable and mature now. Have you found your true sound?
I was only in Theoretical Girl briefly for about six months..they needed a guitarist and I was 16 and wanted to get out of school and wanted to move to London and so that was my reason. Fern was the bass player in Theoretical Girl so we decided to do our own thing, and set up Ipso Facto which were the songs I’d been writing as a teenager. That happened a bit too quickly for me really, the whole scene, moving to London, being thrust into the East London limelight and I felt this pressure to fit in and to be considered cool by the people in that scene. So I moved to more of a post punky sound, further from the 60’s psychedelic pop that I had been doing before. Also, we were a bunch of amateurs really, none of us had any gig experience, we couldn’t play very well..it was great fun and a really good experience but it was very underdeveloped before the world saw it. With Purson it was a lot more planned out and more controlled. I had a break of a year and a half when I put the music together and tried out a lot of different musicians to get a feel for where I wanted to go with it and eventually it came to a point when I was expressing my true self. I got a lot more proficient with my playing, my writing and my studio techniques so that’s how Purson developed.
"It’s seems that psychedelia is becoming a sort of revelation for younger people with bands like King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard doing really well. You’re still in your 20’s, Rosalie. How did you first come to discover and love 70’s music, prog and psychedelia?
It started for me as a child really with 60s pop, The Beatles’ later stuff. I always loved that experimental, psychedelic sound although I didn’t know that’s what it was called at the time. I’ve always been attracted to dark, mysterious music that leads you somewhere as well, what we would call prog now. Working in a record shop when I was younger and my dad being a musician led me to be exposed to a lot of music from an early age I suppose. It was something that caught my attention, that I wanted to create really.
Do you feel like you were born at the wrong time in some ways?
Yes, all the time! Yeah, I mean, ideally I would have been around 40 years earlier.
Your first single Rocking Horse sounded very influenced by Kate Bush. Has she been important in your listening history?
Really? She’s not been a direct influence, funnily enough but I respect her a hell of a lot. I really admire her femininity, the way she’s sexy, powerful and otherworldly and kind of goddess-like. She’s not just another female pop singer is she? Her music’s so melodramatic and expressive as well..I’d love to be compared to that!
Which books or films have inspired your music in particular?
Books for sure, I wouldn’t say films although my style has been influenced by films. Herman Hesse is my favourite author and the new album’s title and themes are quite inspired by his novel Steppenwolf. Movie-wise there’s a film called Dracula 1972 A.D..I only mention that because yesterday I went to the hairdressers and took a picture with me of Stephanie Beacham from that film to have them cut it like that, ha ha! I’ve come out looking a bit more like Keith Richards after a three day bender though..
Were you happy with your debut album The Circle and the Blue Door in the end? I know your new album is pretty much almost a solo album for you.
The first album wasn’t a band thing, it was mainly me and my ex boyfriend. It was very personal, and essentially just the two of us. It was a heavy time in both of our lives, not a good time, so doing it this time on my own has been a very different experience because I’ve been happy and so the whole thing has been very light and for my own amusement really. I’m still very very happy with the first record, it’s just difficult for me to listen to now because it was such a difficult time.
Is it difficult to play those songs now or to listen to them because of those difficult memories? I imagine it’s like rereading your own diaries.
It’s a lot like that because lyrically it brings me right back to what I was feeling at the time. Playing them live I switch off because I’m just enjoying the music and the audience’s response, but when I listen to the record it’s a very draining emotional experience.
You are pretty much the centre of the band, writing the songs and the music. Is there anyone you talk your ideas over with and try things out on?
I often ask the rest of the band what they think about things but the people that I go to are my friend Tom and my dad. Musically they’ll tell me something’s shit if it’s shit!
The first single from the new album, Electric Ladyland came out last September; we haven’t heard anything else from the new album yet but is it indicative of what we can expect? It sounds more energetic and happier.
Other than one other track it’s the most upbeat song off the album. There’s a poppier element on this record for sure but I wouldn’t say it’s indicative of the whole thing. It’s varied, and one track can’t sum up the whole album.
I know you toured with metal band Ghost last year. It must be difficult to support other bands in a way because you don’t fit easily into any particular genre, so don’t naturally fit with many other bands?
It’s a curse and a blessing being in the position that we are because it means we can play to lots of different audiences from mainstream pop to metal and there will be people in the audience who get it and appreciate it. It means we reach a wider audience but at the same time we don’t have a target audience. Interestingly whenever we play with bands that are nothing like us we get a really good reaction. We’ve never had a bad reception. There are a lot of different genres going on in the music so there’s always something for people to latch on to and enjoy in a fashion.
You supported KISS in 2014. What was that like for you?
That was nuts! We didn’t know how we’d go down with the KISS fans because they are hardcore, it’s like their religion. We didn’t think they’d be interested in any support band especially not some flowery British thing, but they really loved us. Apparantly on their tour this year they were wearing Purson t shirts and asking for us back.
This tour that’s coming up is pretty thorough, covering the UK and the States. What’s the toughest aspect of touring for you?
It’s physically exhausting. Trying not to drink too much is the hardest thing! For America we slept on the tour bus; usually we do it with a bus and staying in hotels, but I prefer sleeping on the bus really. It felt like we were a band of gypsies; it was quite a liberating feeling. The downside was it was an absolute shithole in there and you really have to respect each other’s privacy, as your privacy consists of a coffin-shaped box!
You’ve had quite a change of bandmates since you’ve been together. Has it been difficult to find replacement members playing the sort of music you make?
That has been the main reason for all the line up changes because finding the right people is quite difficult when you’re as specific in what you want as I am. Sam and George I’ve been friends with since we were teenagers so we intrinsically have the same kind of values about art and music and the same sense of humour. So we’re the core; Raph was our original drummer, and when he left we went through about seven or eight drummers basically just trying to find Raph again because he worked so well with us. Eventually we convinced him to come back. The original bass player was my ex boyfriend so trying to replace him was obviously quite difficult. But it’s a completely different role to be filled now; I’m not sleeping with Justin! Since he’s joined the band it’s been great, he’s chilled out and has a similar taste in music so it’s just working now for the first time ever.
Where do you and your band find your incredible clothes?
All over the place really; I’m a bit of a magpie, a charity shop addict, and I also make things, from scratch or altering things. I’m constantly thinking about what I can do with various bits of fabric and bits of glue. A lot of it looks good from far away. It’s all smoke and mirrors to be honest!
I imagine you’ll be playing some festivals this summer? Who would you like to catch playing live yourself?
We’re going to play Levitation Festival in Austin and Brian Wilson’s playing! That’s going to be something else. If we have to leave I’m going to be so pissed off. The line up for that festival is amazing so I hope we can stay for the whole thing, but I’m especially looking forward to Brian Wilson. We’re playing a few festivals in the UK including Cambridge Rock Festival and Ramblin’ Man Fair.
Purson play The Waterfront on 11th March. Tickets available from ueaticketbookings.co.uk
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