KIA ORA! HOW HAS YOUR 2021 BEEN?
Kia Ora! Let’s just say we are glad it’s 2022! With that said, 2021 was a year of challenges but we were grateful to be situated in Ōtepoti Dunedin.
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SO WHO ARE TALL FOLK? TELL US ABOUT YOURSELVES.
We are a folk duo out of Dunedin. Originally, we joined songwriting forces in late 2020 amidst the COVID pandemic. Songwriting and manifesting the songs in an intimate, honest format has helped us cope with the pandemic, social turmoil, and personal challenges that have been tenants of the past year and a half.
Lara is a born and bred Dunedinite. Jack is from the state of Wisconsin. We find a healthy balance between Jack’s writing rooted in the Americana tradition and Lara’s brand of nautical-tinged singer-songwriter style.
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HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CREATING MUSIC FOR? AS STREAMING SERVICES ONLY SHOW THIS YEAR.
Tall Folk has only been an entity since September 2020. Yet, both Lara and Jack have individually had other projects of varying genres spanning over the last decade.
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DO YOU WRITE YOUR OWN MUSIC AND DOES FINDING THE SOUND COME BEFORE OR AFTER THE LYRICS?
Yes. Songwriting is the fundamental purpose of Tall Folk. For Lara, the music and lyrics come at the same time. She captures the best of what comes from an inspired moment. For Jack, normally the concept of music – be it a structure or melody – comes first. Yet, if a witty or distinctive lyric comes to mind originally, the music will initially be formed to incorporate the lyric.
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WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION OR WHAT ARE THINGS THAT MOTIVATE YOU TO WRITE?
For Lara, inspiration to write comes from an emotive space. She applies a reflective lens to personal experiences in much of her writing, but also extends the reflection and catharsis through perceiving the experience of others. For Jack, much motivation comes from ideological principles, writing lyrics which could be deemed political. Yet, regardless of the weight of the lyrical content, the approach is to present a truth in everyday, honest language.
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I SEE YOU ARE PLAYING THE CRAFT BEER & FOOD FESTIVAL AND HAVE DONE THE ODD GIG HERE AND THERE. DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING LIVE AND DO YOU PREFER A FESTIVAL CROWD OR MORE OF AN INTIMATE CROWD?
We are just as much a live performance act as a songwriting project. Our natural state is performing as a duo – two guitars, two voices. Yet, we have experienced just as much joy – although a different kind of it – performing with a six-piece band for larger crowds!
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HOW WAS YOUR 2020 AND WHAT WAS THE PROGRESS LIKE FROM THEN TO YOUR RELEASES THIS YEAR?
2020 was filled with well-known stressors. Yet, amidst the uncertainty and collective hardship, Tall Folk formed. With that said, the year was lined with remanants of creation and life that contrasted the global trauma.
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DO YOU HAVE MUCH PLANNED FOR 2022 (AS MUCH AS PLANNING CAN BE A BIT HARD WITH EVERYTHING) OR ARE YOU JUST GOING WITH THE FLOW? I SAW A POST ABOUT WORKING ON AN ALBUM?
We have released our debut album Wiser on January 14. We now are on a national tour supporting it! So, plans are to complete the tour, continue to push the record, and get back to writing!
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SOME FUN QUESTIONS:
FAVE SNACK?
Burger Rings.
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OVERUSED PHRASE?
“OMG WE’RE ON TOUR!”
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IF YOU COULD START A RUMOUR ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
“Did you know that Tall Folk actually aren’t that tall?!” – People would surely show up to shows to clarify the potentially misleading name!
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