On Friday 3rd November, Reg Meuross will open this year’s Yorkshire Festival of Story with songs from his album, Stolen From God. Our very own Mollie Parker, spoke with Reg to dig a little deeper and find out just what we can expect from his performance.
Book to see Reg in person, in Settle, here
If you can’t get to Settle but don’t want to miss Reg, book to join us online – book your online ticket here
Let’s hear from Reg:
What or who got you into music and songwriting? Do you have a specific hero or moment of inspiration?
It’s difficult to narrow down – I was surrounded by the music of musicals, through the influence of my mum, and the classic crooners such as Nat King Cole and Sinatra by my Dad, as well as being raised on The Beatles and The Stones. I put a tune to a poem when I was about 12 and wrote my first song at about 15.
I was also hugely influenced by Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 and Blonde on Blonde albums. A moment of inspiration and the one song that set me on the path was probably Positively 4th St. I would’ve been around 14/15 when I heard it. It freed me up to think songs could be about anything. Dylan inspired me enormously.
Do you have a specific songwriting process?
No, it’s different every time. I have various methods. The most common is finding a theme, preferably attached to a title. I’ll then play around with an instrument, forming lines and phrases and accompanying melodies that feel good to play. I then write quite quickly once I have a shape, and then I’ll edit it into a song that delivers well.
Can the audience expect to hear songs from Stolen From God during your performance at YFOS? If so, are there elements of the instrumentation, rhythm, melody, harmony etc. in the Stolen From God songs that audiences can listen out for?
Yes, I’ll feature some songs from SFG. The core instrumentation for Stolen from God is the Concertina, which represents the sailors and the voyages made to facilitate the trade. The West African Kora which to me represents the sound of the marketplaces, the African regions in general and the spiritual soundscape of the enslaved. And the guitar, my storytelling instrument of choice. The other instruments won’t appear in a solo performance but the melodies of the songs are heavily influenced by the themes I’ve chosen.
Why do you believe that storytelling festivals like the Yorkshire Festival of Story are important?
Storytelling is fundamental to the human condition. It is how we communicate in the pub and the workplace, via theatre and all forms of entertainment, the news, the TV etc. So to have a dedicated festival to celebrate that facet of human communication is essential I think.
The festival’s theme is speaking truth to power, what power does songwriting and music have in effecting change and/or changing the way that we understand or view a certain subject?
Music and song have been hugely influential and inspiring in protest movements over the years. It unites folk to a common cause, it gives them a common voice. From my own experience, it can be hugely educational and provide simple but important context for large and unwieldy topics – such as the slave trade for instance. I’ve written many songs on challenging and difficult topics.
What’s next for you? Is there a new project you’re currently working on?
I have been working on a musical project with Pete Townshend from The Who on the life and work of the American Folk/Protest singer Woody Guthrie called Fire & Dust. We have recorded an album of 17 songs with Pete as Executive Producer. Right now I’m concentrating on Stolen From God but after that, we’ll develop that project for performance.
You can see Reg perform, in person or online, on the Friday 3rd November at 7pm, the opening night of the Yorkshire Festival of Story.
Book to see Reg in-person, in Settle, here
If you can’t get to Settle but don’t want to miss Reg, – book your online ticket here
