After ‘Raise it Right’/ ‘Let You Go’, what other releases can we expect? Will the single be self-released or on a label?
The single, Let You Go/Raise It Right is coming out on TAPE records, a small indie based in East London. After this release I hope to put out another single in September, an EP end of the year and then album to follow.
Will you be releasing an album soon? You definitely seem to have enough songs written to do so.
Yes, this past year I’ve been ‘developing’ myself as such. Writing lots, really getting to grips with where I see D&C going and now we have more than an albums worth of material recorded so it’ll be a matter of getting this out there over the next 12 months.
Any touring plans?
Would LOVE to tour and hope to put some dates together later this year. It’s always so refreshing to get out of London and play to completely new audiences so this is something I am greatly looking forward to.
Do you think that living in London has influenced you creatively?
Without a doubt; it’s made my music a little fiercer, a little darker. But in all honesty if I was living outside of London I’m not sure I would be making music at all, I’d probably be shacked up in a cottage with a couple of dogs painting out of a garage studio. I find living in London keeps me driven; it’s very easy to stand still in this city where SO MUCH is going on. It can be overwhelming, especially when you’re a skint graduate and more doors are closing than opening. I consciously work very hard to keep up with it, keep myself moving forward and more importantly, enjoy it!
Recently, you put on a DIY dress up night, did you enjoy it and would you look to do something similar in the future?
YES, it was great fun and we’re definitely going to put more on. What’s important for the D.I.Y nights is finding an unusual venue. What was great about Counter Culture was that it was a pop-up venue, something a bit more special, not a venue that everyone has already seen on the gig circuit. We’re hoping our next one will be held in some old prison cells in Deptford- stay tuned.
Dimbleby & Capper at her DIY night at Counter Culture .
How would you describe your live shows?
A calamity. A circus. Like the music, I like the live shows to be very textured. So everything from the costumes to the choruses is considered. Big costumes. Big choruses. Big beats. LOADS OF BASS. We now have the Ta Na Deptford (www.tanadeptford.com) dancers joining us on stage for our bigger live gigs, which makes things really special. Hopefully you’ll see the show at a festival or two this summer.
Dimbleby & Capper and the Ta Na Deptford Dancers
Do you think that it’s important to really make a ‘show’ of an onstage performance? Costumes/movement wise etc..?
I’ve grown up around theatre, with my dad being a theatre director I spent a lot of my summer holidays in the dark of an empty theatre watching the rehearsals, watching how shows were put together. Without a doubt that has influenced my approach to my live show. I like to think a first time D&C audience member will spend the first three songs trying to figure out WTF they’ve just walked in to but then by the end become somewhat acclimatised to the visual onslaught and the music takes over.
Fashion seems to be really important to you and you always strive to make an impression with your outfits. Do you think that what you wear on stage is important?
For me, incredibly important. I need to step into a character onstage, like acting. If I am to step up there as Laura Bettinson you had better hand me a piano and I’ll go up there in t-shirt and tights. Laura Bettinson does the session singing and the song writing for other people. D&C would never dream of it. She does the remixing, the producing, the designing and selling. The driving force behind the D&C project is that it’s an act and an act that we all have a hilarious time maintaining. It’s not just me; it’s a whole family of people who put their efforts into this project. From the live performers to the mix engineers, to the photographers to the fans that come and support, buy the t-shirts and download the music.
You seem to be a very creative person. Do you think that your all round creativity helps you to create good pop songs?
Yeah I think so. That and having been a child of the 90s, grew up listening to little else than Whigfield, Gina G, Spice Girls and Peter Andre, which probably had something to do with it.
Who are your creative influences?
I’m influenced by all areas of the arts.
Painting- Tamara de Lempicka.
Film- Michel Gondry.
Animation- The Quay Brothers.
Music- 1960s girl groups, Phil Spector, Bjork, The Knife, Beck.
Fashion- Viktor & Rolf, Dame Viv, Alexander McQueen.
Do you listen to any current music?
Yes, all the time. Love anything Bombay Bicycle Club put out, Yeasayer, Twin Shadow, Fever Ray, Lone Lady, Tune Yards, Warpaint. Really looking forward to new record from Michachu and The Shapes and The Invisible and also something from King Charles I hope.
Do you have a favourite album of 2010?
I really loved The National’s album last year, great song-writing with minimal production which provided a bit of relief from the huge beats and hyped synths we got on a lot of pop last year. Also loved The Black Keys, ‘Brothers’. I’m a sucker for a distorted vocal.
Any new bands that you’d recommend the readers of this article to listen to?
Recently been listening to a lot of Flashman who I did a bit of singing for on the new record. Crewdson- who is making some of the most interesting contemporary electronic music at the moment. A band called La Shark who I studied with and always go to see live when they’re in town- helluva show. And for something a bit more acoustic Lisbee Stainton’s new album this year will be great.
La Shark.
You’re a regular tweeter. How important do you think social media is in helping the career of bands/artists?
I believe it to be as important as you want it to be. It has to fall in to an all or nothing camp for me. You’ve got your Amanda Palmers (career relies on being constantly in touch with her fans) then you have the James Blakes (not one tweet, keeps up the mystique- see what I did there?). I honestly really enjoy twitter and discover a lot of articles and creative people that I might not come across had I not been connected.
What you hope to achieve in the future?
I’d like to put out more music, play some festivals, go on tour and continue enjoying what I do. I’ve only ever wanted to earn a living doing what I love and what comes naturally to me- whether it is a modest living or an affluent one. At the moment the D&C project encompasses the music + merch, my vintage clothes selling, some session singing and freelance graphic design work for other companies. I earn a living out of being me, which is all I’ve ever wanted to do and hopefully will continue to want, so…onwards.
Questions by Katie Wilkinson
