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Beth Orton on making music with friends
(CNN) -- For British singer/songwriter Beth Orton, making friends in the music business has never been a problem. Since veteran producer William Orbit helped steer her toward a solo career in the 1990's, Orton's chance encounters with artists like ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr and country singer Emmylou Harris have not only led to great conversations, but to quality collaborations as well. "I do not have a wish list (for who I'd like to work with)," she told The Music Room in a recent interview. "I've just been incredibly lucky." Orton's latest album "Daybreaker" sees Harris, whom Orton befriended at the Lilith Fair Tour in 1999, lend her vocals on the mellow track "God Song." U.S. singer/songwriter Ryan Adams' distinctive voice complements Orton's vocals on "Concrete Sky." Orbit, as well as The Chemical Brothers and Everything But The Girl producer Ben Watt assisted with production on the album. "Daybreaker" was released in July, 2002 and is Orton's third studio album. It follows "Trailer Park" (1996) and 1999's release "Central Reservation" which earned her the title of Best British Female at the Brit Awards in 2000. Orton sat down with TMR to tell us more about "Daybreaker," which music critics say is the artist's most lyrically charged piece of work to date.
TMR: Tell us about "Daybreaker." Orton: It's the third in a trilogy of albums: "Trailer Park," "Central Reservation" and then this record. It's like the culmination of all that and for me, personally speaking, it's like a line being drawn. It's a record I had to make. It's a record that brings in all the people I've met on this particular journey, from Emmylou Harris to Tom and Ed (from The Chemical Brothers) to Ryan Adams and everything in between. Also my band that I've been working with now for six years. Each person that worked on it brought their essence, something that's undeniably theirs. It's an eclectic record. It's a culmination of a life where you just come into contact with so many different people and so many different sounds. It's my little chunk of painting. It's an art project as much as a musical thing. TMR: You've had such great success with getting known artists and producers to work with you. How does that feel? Orton: The funniest thing is that I'm really not a hero worshipper. I've never really had heroes. And it's not that I take people for granted or disrespect people's positions. When I'm sitting with Johnny Marr -- I met him backstage at the last Lilith Fair Tour -- I'm not thinking, "I'm sitting with Johnny Marr." I'm thinking, "Listen to this beautiful music." Maybe that's why it happens because I'm not some big fan or I'm not intimidated by people's positions. I'm moved by what happens between us rather than who that person is. TMR: Tell us about the video for the first single off the album.
Orton: "Concrete Sky" was the first single we released and the video for it was incredible. We shot it in Eureka (California) in the redwood forests. I have never seen trees that big in my life. It was quite overwhelming. It was one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been, and we toured Australia and I think that's pretty beautiful, but (in Eureka) it was just amazing. Everything was covered in mist. TMR: Who are some of your influences? Orton: Things that have really influenced me are like the song Emmylou Harris did called "Till I Gain Control Again." It's just one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The effect it has on me is kind of subliminal. It's not always music or other people that influence me. Traveling influences me. Seeing places. Swimming in really cold water, or really hot water. Good books. Good poetry. Good conversations really influence me. TMR: If this album was part of a trilogy, will your next album be like starting over? Orton: I don't think everything I do from now will be incredibly different. Maybe to the outside (it will). I've learnt what I needed to learn making these three records and actually what I learnt was to go right back to the beginning, to get rid of trying to be anything I'm not. It's just what comes naturally that is the best. Back to The Music Room main page.
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