4. Marker StarlingRosy Maze
If I were to have one at the moment, I think Chris [Cummings, AKA Marker Stalling] is my favourite composer. There’s a lot of depth; there are a lot of nooks and crannies and obscure pockets to dive into, not at first listen but with each repeat. The album reveals its beauty after many listens, and each time you listen more it’s like, ah yes! It’s another one of those records that you can listen to forever, whatever mood you’re in. I remember last year I took a long road trip to France and I was meeting friends, so each time I would play it, and in whatever circumstances, the music would fit. In happy circumstances it was great, but on another occasion I remember a friend had lost their dad, and it was very soothing and healing. It’s another album that holds a lot of magic and is forever comforting. If it’s hot it freshens you up, if it’s cold it warms you up! It’s great.
He wrote a song for my last album as well. I’m a big fan. And live it’s extraordinary. His backing band is Batch: we just did a residency together, they’re amazing. I was watching their video last night actually, a little live thing from a festival, and those guys are brilliant. I can’t believe how great they are, in terms of being really good musicians with great songs and also the heart, how they play. They are very implied in what they play. A lot of musicians I’ve seen in the past are just going through the moves, there’s no energetic involvement or heart in their playing. Technically it’s probably quite good, but to me it’s very boring. But with these guys, I remember seeing them and I thought they were so good, but part of me wanted to make fun of them, but I couldn’t because there was so much heart in their playing that I could only love them. So when Chris comes to the UK or tours Europe usually Batch are his backing band, and it’s brilliant. But there are usually only ten or twenty people watching them. Maybe now it’s a little bit more, but it’s like, come on people, this is really amazing! He’s an amazing performer who’s full of surprises. He’s very warm and super funny and excellent: I can’t recommend him enough.
