AHEAD of her latest gig in Manchester, Quays News reporter Liam Shaw spoke to acoustic pop singer Callaghan.
It’s been almost six years since Callaghan made the move to the USA from London, to record her first album. Flash forward to 2016, and two albums later, she’s played in over 45 states in America and about to embark on another tour of the UK. Things are going pretty well for Callaghan…
“It’s great to be back in the UK!” she said. “I’ve been coming back a lot more often over the last 12 months which has been great fun, so I’m really excited about my March tour and getting to get back out on the road and performing again over here.
“I did Rock the Dock with Chris Hawkins and 6 Music in Manchester last year and also did my own show in the centre of town and had such a great time, I’m really looking forward to being back.”
@TimeOutManc Very excited about @callaghanmusic back home for her latest UK tour & performing @fallowcafe in Manchester on Thurs 10th March!
— Fay (@fay_312) March 6, 2016
This tour also includes her first performance in Scotland, at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh, having covered just about the rest of the UK.
“I’m so thrilled to be playing a show in Scotland. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time because I know the music scene up there is so vibrant.
“I brought my Atlanta cellist over in July last year and he was fascinated by all the different regional accents in England, so I’m looking forward to seeing what he makes of the great Scottish accents!”
Callaghan describes her music as Acoustic Pop, but her inspirations come from all different genres. It depends on what mood she’s in it could be anyone from Coldplay to Elton John.
“My music collection is so varied, I don’t think I really have one inspiration. Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Freddie Mercury, and Pink are all favourites of mine, I love watching artists who really put on a show, whether through their voice or way of entertaining.”
She writes all of her own music, and explained that a lot of it is based off her experiences and getting out there and living life.
“‘Crazy Beautiful Life’ comes from that feeling of having the best day ever and wanting to pinch yourself, just looking around you and feeling grateful for what you’ve got. ‘Noah’s Song’ was written for my five-year-old nephew when he was born, all about the hopes and dreams you have for a child. ‘Who Would I Be’ is a thank you to the people around me who make it possible for me to do what I love for a living, but also for what music has given me,” Callaghan explained.
“I love the feeling of writing a song. You can have an idea of what you want to write about and then somehow a few hours, or sometimes a few days, later, it’s a fully formed song.”
You can tell that Callaghan has always had a passion for her music, but she didn’t expect to be where she is today.
“I don’t know that any artist decides to be part of the music industry, I’m always grateful to be able to do what I love for a living, but I still don’t take it for granted.”
Perhaps this is reinforced further by the fact that she has already done three house tours, where you literally perform in someone’s front room.
“I’ve played in some tiny places for 20 people to some amazingly grand houses for over 100, so they really vary. The thing I love most about the house concerts is the atmosphere that is created from such an intimate environment.
My house show tour this year is even bigger than the last one and is called ‘Callaghan Across America…And Beyond’! It will include shows in America, Canada, UK and France it’s going to be quite a challenge!”
It’s a busy year for her, but there is always time for new music.
“I’m working on an acoustic album at the moment that I just recorded in Nashville with two musicians that I often tour with in the US. It includes some of our favourite arrangements of songs from my latest album, some brand new songs, and a few covers of my favourite songs. I’ll be releasing that in the next couple of months, and then also continuing to write for my next studio album.”
By Liam Shaw
@liamsshaw
Tickets for Callaghan’s Manchester show are available on her website where you can also pick up a free five-track EP.
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