Moon & Back Music

Prior to seeing the Noisettes live at the O2 Academy in Liverpool, I went to meet their main support act and currently little-known, but dead-set future star, Tiffany Page.

After entering the Academy, I was taken through the tunnel-like rooms and lead to Tiffany’s dressing room, where I found her chilling out on her computer, surrounded by her male bandmates who departed to set their instruments up for the evening. It was in the dimly lit dressing room that we had a chat about her influences, the release of her single and album and her plans for 2010.

Jodie (Moon&Back): So, it’s the penultimate date of the tour with the Noisettes tonight, have you enjoyed it? Have you had a good time?

Tiffany Page:  Probably some of the best times of my life! I don’t want it to end! I think we’re all a bit sad ‘cause we’ve been getting on really well with all the guys including Tinashé, the first support act… Awww, it’s really sad!

J: Sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you! So, it’s sad but you’ve had good reception everywhere?

T.P: Yeah, incredible! Towards the end of the tour we’ve been getting really good at getting the crowd involved with us. Before, we were completely new at this, you know, we’re very new as a band, and it’s getting more and more fun.

J: Awesome. How are you feeling about your debut single release/launch on the 15^th March?  Are you excited?

T.P:  REALLY excited! Bit nervous, but really excited because obviously I don’t know what people are gonna think of it, but, I’m not expecting anything from the first one, usually it’s the second or third, but I hope it does well!

J: I’ve heard it, I think it’s really good! I like it!

T.P: Aww, Thankyou!

J:  I read that the album you’re going to release was recorded in LA and London; that sounds very “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, how was it?

T.P: Yeah, well, to be honest we recorded most of it in the UK but I wrote alot in LA and we used some of the demo vocals from the States and actually from the UK aswell because when I’d just finished writing the music, and I’d been co-writing, I started to lay it down and I really started the songs then because sometimes you can’t replicate, so mostly we used the demo vocals and they were fine, but in the UK I had a hand in, you know, saying what I wanted.

J: Do you have a favourite track on your album or do you like them all equally?

T.P:  I do, it’s probably the one that means the most to me, it’s called ‘You Won’t’,  I think the ballads are probably the simplest songs on the album and we had real strings on it aswell which was incredible to watch.

J: That sounds really good! Do you write most of your songs yourself or do you have other people helping?

T.P: Yeah, well, with other people. We’d go in and I’d be feeling a certain way or something would happen, I’d have an idea… I prefer co-writing, I’d been writing on my own for about 2 years, ‘cause I learn alot more, I can learn from other people who are more experienced than I am. It’s like, instead of going to school ‘cause I’m still learning.

J: Are your songs based on real life experiences?

T.P: Yeah, definitely, it’s mostly what’s happened to myself.  Yeah, I’m 23 but I think I’ve done quite alot already and I’m just starting to be settled now.

J: Obviously apart from your single and album etc, what else do you hope to do in 2010? Have you got many plans?

T.P: More tours, I think we’ve got a University tour coming up and a few tours, no dates are confirmed yet, loads more gigging and hopefully festivals!  Just being the best live band that we can possibly be.

J: If you could play any festival, which one would it be?

T.P:  READING, because I’ve been 4 times and I love Reading.

J: So to play it would be amazing!

T.P: I know, and not having to sleep in a tent!

J: I was wondering, being female do you think it’s important to encourage more and more girls to kind of take the lead? Especially in rock and punk music?

T.P: Definitely, there are loads of girls coming out at the moment; I think it’s really good. The competition aswell is really good because it makes you want to do better! But, also, I guess with more alternative music, people usually associate it with just being guys; I mean we’ve got people like Courtney Love, we’ve got bands like L7 but now I don’t think there’s that much. I mean, there’s Florence and the Machine… I think it’s quite nice girls doing alternative music. I aspire to be like my idols, you know, like Dave Grohl for one, hence my tattoo… [shows arm] I’ve got one like him [Laughs].

J: I was going to ask who are your idols? Are there any female icons that you look to?

T.P: Definitely Courtney Love, she was definitely one when I was growing up. Um, Cat Bolan. That’s probably it… more…grungey sort of people, but I guess because I’m not a loud person really, because I’m not them and they’re someone I’d love to be if I could be someone.

J: That’s cool. So who are your favourite bands and musicians at the moment, who are you enjoying listening to?

T.P: Loads… I’m listening to Wu-Tang Clan at the moment!  Just got back into them. Also a bit of old Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Belle and Sebastien, all sorts of bands, I love music; a bit of The Smiths in the van today actually which was cool!

J: Awesome! So, I’ve read alot of comparisons and reviews about your music, on the Guardian website today actually, I read that people are comparing you to the likes of Chrissie Hynde and that must feel amazing for you… but for people who aren’t familiar with your music, how would you introduce and describe it?

T.P: I’d say it’s very pop-rock, I’d say on the album I hope there’s songs for everyone, my favourite songs on the album are the darker songs because that’s the kind of music I like to listen to. I’d like to say there are songs, hopefully, for guys and girls of all different ages. There’s some happier songs and some darker songs, heavy songs and lighter songs, so hopefully something for everyone!

J: Yeah, cool. Do you think at the moment it’s difficult for lesser-known indie bands to get noticed by record labels? Is it hard work promoting yourself to get that recognition?

T.P:  I think it’s alot of luck and putting yourself out there but I used to live by this book called “The Unsigned Guide” and the first thing it says in the introduction is that if you’re talented you will get spotted…it’s whether anything comes of it or not, but you know, you will get spotted. It’s all about gigging but also the internet is a great tool that people trawl. You’d be surprised. Just gigging as much as possible and getting yourself out there.

J: Yeah. I know it’s really tricky and everyone always struggles but if you could name 3 of your top albums of all time, what would they be?

T.P: Phwoar, hmmm…. hmmm… OK….I’ll say; Radiohead – Ok Computer, bloody brilliant album! I’ll say; Hole – Pretty on the Inside, love that… and I’ll say… Wu-Tang Clan – 36 Chambers.

J: Good choices! Right, I think that’s everything covered…

T.P: Yeah?  Awesome. Thankyou!

J: Thankyou for your time! Have a great time tonight and all the best!

After the interview, Tiffany had a few hours to chill-out, warm up and do whatever it is debutant rockstarlets do before a gig. She, and her band, followed a great act called “Tinashé” (well worth checking out! www.myspace.com/tinashemusic)

Walking on stage after her 3 male band mates, there was no doubt Tiffany Page had the right stage presence to pull off the grunge/rock material expected of her. With an apparent attitude but gleaming personality, evident from her smile and comfortable demeanour on stage, she began her set.

She shook a maraca and played both acoustic and electric guitars throughout her set. She interacted with the crowd, and received a great reception from everyone in the room. I think people weren’t entirely sure what to expect and were pleasantly surprised to hear a vampish purr-like voice seep out of the petite brunette. The band sounded tight and full with great acoustics in the Academy. I got the impression that every guy in the room wanted to be with her and every girl wanted to be her, myself no exception!

Her set was full of grungey, rock, angsty tunes that all had some lyrical depth. She roared, sang and purred over great guitar riffs and their performance of the debut single received great reception and applause from the audience. Said single, “Walk Away Slow”, is out on the 15^th March and is available to listen to on her MySpace (www.myspace.com/tiffanypage). The single has received critical acclaim already and Tiffany has received airplay on Radio 1, thanks to Fearne Cotton.

I think she’ll be huge in 2010 and beyond. She’s fresh and new, a nice break from the synth-ridden, electric ladies of the moment, such as Ladyhawke, La Roux and Florence and the Machine. Her music will reignite your love for grunge and remind you of an old sound if you were once partial to the likes of Hole, Nirvana and Radiohead, or introduce you to a fresh take on pop-rock if you weren’t interested before.

Check her out on MySpace www.myspace.com/tiffanypage and give her music a listen! Her single is available to download on the 14th March. Her music is also featured on Spotify, just search “Tiffany Page”. [J]