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Interview with
RICH WEBB

(20th March, 2022)

Interview by Dave Bruce

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photo credit Wilk

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug? [Or How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?]
Pretty much, yeah, or for at least for as long as I can remember. My Mum was a fantastic singer and my first show was backing her in a local chapel on guitar which was marvellous. Both my brothers are brilliant musicians – Dave (drums, accordion, guitar, piano) and Jon (sax, bass) – and we used to make an almighty racket in the garage with our mates when we were growing up. In hindsight, my folks were pretty easy-going with it all, and our neighbours too. Not sure we fully appreciated it at the time. There was just the once when we were reaching new peaks in some track we had all got lost in, when there was a loud bang on the garage door. It was the lovely lady from across the street. She said she liked our music but asked if we could just turn it down a little bit, because she couldn’t hear Dr Who on the telly in her lounge room. I could give her a hug right now for being so nice about it all. Thank you to everyone involved for letting us do all of that.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
I get inspired by songs that stay with you, that deliver a message, that just work however you do them. They are timeless. So it would need to be a songwriter. Right now?  I’m going with David Bowie. It’s hard enough to make things stick in one genre, but to move like he did and take people with him takes something again. Plus the clothes. His clothes were ace and out there. Never saw him look anything but spot on.  

Your new Single ‘Love Someone’ has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution. 
Yeah, I’m pretty excited. The song came from thinking about the pretty awful way we have treated asylum-seekers and refugees here for ages. We just lock them up – and then send them somewhere else. Bizarre. I couldn’t understand why we can be so inhumane and brutal about this, while the politicians spend most of their time trying to outdo themselves on who can be the most harsh and extreme on ‘border security’. Are we really that lacking in empathy and basic humanity? I don’t think so. I wanted to write a song that went to the heart of the issue, which was about having love and empathy for other people, whoever they were and wherever they were from. It’s about trying to help build some level of understanding. They need our help and support. They can help us make our place better. Let’s embrace it as an opportunity for us all.

Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
Yep, we are just putting the finishing touches on the album right now. It’s being produced by Rohan Sforcina, who also produced the ‘Love Someone’ single. Can’t wait to get it out there. If you like ‘Love Someone’, you are going to love the rest etc. I do actually mean that. 

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Yes, shows for sure. Sunday 10 April at the Brunswick Artists’ Bar with Emilie Martin on violin; Sat 30 April with a full band at The Drunken Poet; Sat 7 May with a full band at the Lyrebird Lounge. More to come. People can expect the new album delivered majestically!   

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How has COVID affected you to date? What have you introduced to balance the losses from missed events?
Tricky one this: I got pretty down about the whole thing on our first lockdown. I missed out on the sourdough starter fun stage. I had a load of stuff get cancelled. Once I got through that, I seemed to be in a state of surprise if anything worked at all. But, I reckon we are through it. What’s gone is gone, and I’m not looking back now. 

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Elvis. Just because. 

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist? 
To play more music, more often, to more people. Same as it was any year.  

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
I love the connection of performing live. I also love the way good bands can ride that energy to take their performance even higher. The experience is pretty special when it happens. Got loads of highlights – among the craziest was maybe when I was playing in a band supporting Stiff Little Fingers at a sold out show at Barrowlands in Glasgow on St Patrick’s Day. Volatile in capital letters wouldn’t even come close to it. Fantastic, amazing, adrenaline-soaked fun all the same. They were fantastic.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – right now I’m enjoying the new Big Thief record – ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’
Artist – where to start, maybe Miles Davis.
Movie – Withnail & I 
Place to visit – Paris
Venue to play – Typograph, Schwalmstadt – we nearly didn’t make it out of there we had such a fine time. Thanks Manuel Klemm for this and much more!
Food – cheese of any sort, with homemade gerks (credit, as above). 
Drink – black tea
Person in History – Joan of Arc
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) – I’ve got a couple. A ship in full sail, and another for my partner. Reckon I’m due a newie – any good ideas?

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Follow RICH WEBB
Facebook – YouTube – Instagram

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Press Release 25th February 2021 (below) HERE

RICH WEBB
shares new single and video
‘LOVE SOMEONE’

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AMNPLIFY – DB