Fretwell’s debut album Magpie looks set to cement his reputation nationally after years on the underground circuit in Manchester. The record is a showcase for his delicate Lincolnshire inflections and his keen ear for elegant instrumentation. A man of few words but a gentleman, I managed to catch up with Stephen, calling him up in my lunch hour from a suitably unglamorous printer company in Wilford. Ringing the 0208 number and getting the urgent staccato of a frantic publicist, you can’t help but think Fretwell’s slow, breathy tones seem out of place in this predatory business.
You seem to be mounting a full scale invasion on the mainstream. How are you finding the endless cycle of interviews and gigs?
Well I’ve already done three this morning before you. But it’s a great way of life. I really can’t complain. Even when it gets you down a bit, I can’t complain. If you’ve been spending years and years working shitty jobs 8 hours a day for 40 odd quid it’s a nice taking. Feels like you’re doing something really worthwhile for a change.
Did you ever imagine that you might not make it to where you are now?
To be honest, it never really crossed my find. It might sound really arrogant but I think I had a really blind faith in myself and my singing. You know when people tell you stuff, like congratulate you on performances and that, you get more confident. It was probably really dumb of me to think like that, but it paid off in the end.
I understood you recorded ‘Magpie’ at Abbey Road studios. Did that put you under any addition pressure to perform?
Yeah, its massive pressure, man. But that’s really great for the record, because it makes you work a lot harder to get where you want to. The people there don’t mess about, you know what I mean? You feel you have to do something pretty special there. Also, it’s a really tough time to do well in the industry ‘cause there are so many fantastic bands out there right now, especially all the new lot. I really like the Arctic Monkeys, they’re pretty crazy live man. Erm, LCD Soundsystem too. Mind you they’ve been around a while.
You said in a previous interview that your home town of Scunthorpe was a place with ‘no soul’. This can’t have done much good for the Scunthorpe tourist board, but do you suppose that being one of their most famous sons, you are in some way indebted to the place for influencing your sound?
Possibly.
It’s really odd when I listen to old tapes of myself. I remember I was singing in an American accent up till the age of 17. Or was it 18. I dunno why I stopped. I think it was a way of making my music sound more… erm… (I offer truthful?) Yeah that’s the one, truthful. I just did a few acoustic nights in Manchester singing like that and it all took off.
Being new to the business you’ve been compared with lots of different artists, and been given a whole catalogue of different labels; ‘the new Damien Rice‘, a ‘northern James Blunt’ and more impressively the new Dylan and Cohen. How do you react about these comparisons?
I dunno. That’s a tough question. It’s not something I’ve ever thought about. Obviously it’s very flattering but if I had to pick one it would be beyond me. You’ve got to remember that it’s often a bit of a curse being compared to people like Dylan should you fall on your face. I for one wouldn’t introduce myself as the new Dylan. I’m a kid whose made one record and this is a man who has contributed a mindblowing amount to modern music. So many amazing songs and that.
To be honest, I’d probably say you’re more like Cohen than any of the other labels.
Cheers mate.
Maybe it’s because you name songs after specific girls, which brings me conveniently to my next question, one which I’ve no doubt you’ve been asked a million times, but who exactly is ‘Emily’ (the title track to Stephen’s latest single)?
I wrote that song four years ago. Maybe five. I don’t even remember what it was about. It’s not even about a girl called Emily. I’m getting really tired of playing it, sometimes I just don’t play it. But if people want to hear it I guess I want to play it. It’s good to do something new to it. It’s funny how it changed from a little folk song to what it is now. The radio version’s very different to the album one, which is more like it was originally.
Being a solo artist do you ever wish you were in a band, when there is so much emphasis on the celebrity individual in the media?
I never wanted to do what I’m doing now, I always wanted to be in a band. You know, I wanted to be a guitarist. But it all just took off and like I said I’m not complaining.
I remember reading a feature in Q magazine where you said that your songs were written about harsh treatment of women and cocaine. Did you ever consider becoming a rap artist?
Ha. No. I think I was jesting there.
Maybe there’s a vacancy for a northern rapper?
Perhaps I’ll consider it.
But seriously, do you think your new found fame has given you the license to live the rock and roll lifestyle, like throwing televisions out of hotel windows?
No chance. I’m just a normal guy who goes home everyday. You know, I live with one of my mates and live as quietly as I always have. I’m certainly not going to be throwing any TV's about.
I’ve read a great many things about your first release, 8 Songs. Will it ever be available on general release? How does it differ from Magpie?
I don’t know if it’ll be released. I’ve heard about it costing 50 quid on E-bay, but I’ve seen it on sale for a tenner in a lot of places. 8 Songs was a long time ago, and I can’t recognise my own voice on it. It feels like Magpie is the next chapter; all I’m trying to do is to be a better musician and a better writer. It’s just weird the way it’s all fallen out man.
Thanks for your time Stephen
And you, best of luck with everything .
Stephen Fretwell’s debut album ‘Magpie’ is out now.
Stephen plays the Rescue Rooms on Saturday the 10th of September.
www.stephenfretwell.com
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