Justine: Music: Justine: Acoustic Nerve

Justine: Acoustic Nerve

I decided to do an acoustic EP for several reasons; I wanted the songs to be as they are live; not busy or complicated, just raw and real. I wanted to reclaim my songs from the Fat Rhino sound. Don't get me wrong, I loved Fat Rhino, but sometimes the production took away from the delicacy of the songs. I wanted to make my own decision about what should go on the EP. Having had debates in the past with band members over what is comercially viable and what isn't, I just picked some favourites with a varied feel. Money is always an issue and as I was funding this project myself I couldn't afford to pay session musicians. Joe O'Donnell was an exception, I can't tell you how delighted I was to work with him.I don't need to tell you in great detail what the tracks on are about (it might de-personalise them) but briefly; Track 1 Forgive Me, is about the indulgance in feeling sorry for oneself. Track 2, Edgwick Road, I lived here for three years, it's about gossip and how people view their neighbours, it's about pride, wanting to do well for yourselves....with a bit of cheese topping! Track 3, Far Far Away (from Edgwick Road), is just daydreaming. (I wrote this years ago in Edinburgh, I was inspired by this beautiful city....another story, but it seemed fitting). Track 4 Making Love to You is like withdrawing money from a cashpoint machine. Do I need to go on?

I met Joe at the 1999 Brinklow Folk Festival which I stumbled onto by chance not choice (I was always fearful of being labeled "Folk" but that was when I was chasing a comercial record deal, now I don't really care how people label my music, I just hope that they like it). I was asked by Ray Jenkins of Shakala could they borrow my PA, "Yeah sure", "and you can do a warm up slot for us to?" Of course I would want to do a warm up set for them (for nothing) they are great musicians!

At these folk festivals you always get an appreciative audience, infact it threw me a bit because I was so used to playing in pubs and restaurants where everybody ignores you until they are half-cut and then they want you to be a Karaoke machine! So I was playing to a small intense audience, they were very polite which unnearved me, did they like me? I could't tell. I felt pretty wooden,and my mate said to me after, "well I guess you're not used to playing in a library" So this is where I met Joe who kindly squeeze a tenner into my hand for a drink after my set.