Ali Horn
Talks to Phacemag
First published 2019
Ali Horn has had an interesting 2019 so far. His current single, ‘Dreamers’, had its release date moved forward when 6 Music’s Liz Kershaw fixed on it as her track of the year to date. His last single Modern Voodoo (‘kaleidoscopic’according to Gigslutz), was regularly heard on 6 Music and, the day after we meet, he is flying to Ulyanovsk, birthplace of Lenin, as part of a Unesco sponsored cultural exchange. This is not standard stuff for an aspiring singer / songwriter.
"we love dreamers @Phacemag in more ways than one, no it's a great song.
Initial releases under the guidance of Carl Hunter, former member of The Farm and current director of ‘Sometimes, Always, Never’ starring Bill Nighy, Jenny Agutter and ‘Control’s’ Sam Riley, led to a deal with Rooftop Records / Funnel Music and a team that includes producer Chris Taylor, Studio Manager at Parr Street Studios where Ali performed for 6 Music in March of this year.
Fran Chats to Ali Horn
Hi Ali, I have to say we love dreamers @Phacemag in more ways than one, no it's a great song.
Did you always know you wanted to make music?
I guess so yeah, I was never that technically gifted at music, I could play a little bit of guitar and some keys and I kinda muddled through but I’ve always loved creation. The sense of satisfaction is great. I think I’ve got better than when I started but the buzz is still the same.
Can you remember a moment when you thought - ‘this is brilliant’?
In terms of my own music or other people’s? I remember listening to moon safari by air for the first time and it blowing my head off. Similarly with ladies and gentlemen we’re floating in space by spiritualized or Richard Hawleys new album further. Thinking about it I’ve had a lot of those moments; Transmissions from the satellite heart by the flaming lips, blood on the tracks by Dylan, harvest by Neil young. The list is endless.
Are you disciplined creatively or have you got lyrics written on the back of beer mats?
I try and set aside time in my own to write and record. I find that songs can too easily slip through your fingers if you don’t get em down straight away so yeah I think I am. But nowhere near as disciplined as I should be.
I always ask about influences- also did you listen to your parents music collection?
For sure, they listened to a lot of stuff across the board, rock n roll, folk, classical. My mum loved Donovan who I love as well. She played the violin and clarinet and my dad played the guitar so I was submerged at an early age. Baptised into it.
Do you prefer live or studio, are you a performer, would you say you had to ‘become’ a performer when your on stage?
Both are terrifying and exciting in their own way, there’s no better feeling than playing a great show though. I feel pretty comfortable on stage, I don’t think I have to become anything else. I have to channel the emotion of what I was feeling when I wrote the songs which is sometimes draining but that’s just part of it huh?
Thanks ali what next for you?
More music, more shows. I’d like to go explore the world a bit more with my friends and my guitar. That’d be nice.
Thanks Ali Horn.
Did you always know you wanted to make music?
I guess so yeah, I was never that technically gifted at music, I could play a little bit of guitar and some keys and I kinda muddled through but I’ve always loved creation. The sense of satisfaction is great. I think I’ve got better than when I started but the buzz is still the same.
Can you remember a moment when you thought - ‘this is brilliant’?
In terms of my own music or other people’s? I remember listening to moon safari by air for the first time and it blowing my head off. Similarly with ladies and gentlemen we’re floating in space by spiritualized or Richard Hawleys new album further. Thinking about it I’ve had a lot of those moments; Transmissions from the satellite heart by the flaming lips, blood on the tracks by Dylan, harvest by Neil young. The list is endless.
Are you disciplined creatively or have you got lyrics written on the back of beer mats?
I try and set aside time in my own to write and record. I find that songs can too easily slip through your fingers if you don’t get em down straight away so yeah I think I am. But nowhere near as disciplined as I should be.
I always ask about influences- also did you listen to your parents music collection?
For sure, they listened to a lot of stuff across the board, rock n roll, folk, classical. My mum loved Donovan who I love as well. She played the violin and clarinet and my dad played the guitar so I was submerged at an early age. Baptised into it.
Do you prefer live or studio, are you a performer, would you say you had to ‘become’ a performer when your on stage?
Both are terrifying and exciting in their own way, there’s no better feeling than playing a great show though. I feel pretty comfortable on stage, I don’t think I have to become anything else. I have to channel the emotion of what I was feeling when I wrote the songs which is sometimes draining but that’s just part of it huh?
Thanks ali what next for you?
More music, more shows. I’d like to go explore the world a bit more with my friends and my guitar. That’d be nice.
Thanks Ali Horn.
Fran Suzi
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