ISM MUSIC JOURNAL MARCH/APRIL 2019
Ask me a question Marianne Canning Violinist, bass guitarist, singer and music facilitator
play with four groups: three originals and one function. I co-founded a classical/pop wedding duo, The Moonrise Collective, with pianist and violinist Jessica Rochman. Last year I was asked to tour France and record strings on the album for Buriers (I coin it minimalist post-rock political rap). We got on so well that I ended up joining them permanently! Later that year I also teamed up with poet and punk singer Jonny ‘Itch’ Fox, frontman for The King Blues, to record strings for their new album and joined the band on their journey of 14 years. The final project, Ode to Lucius, is in the development stage but we have some exciting plans for 2019. Ode to Lucius is a trio of multi-instrumentalists mixing dream pop with violin, clarinets and heavier rock with a hint of punk. Our first project (supported by Polaroid, Red Bull Music and Help Musicians UK) is going to be a multi-arts performance combining music, photography, projections and multipleinstrument swapping feats of flexibility. See more info here 12photos12tracks.com Who (or what) has most influenced you and your career?
Tell us a little about yourself
Even though I studied classical violin and love the sound of that world, I have always been drawn to the alternative rock sound. All the tiny punk gigs I went to in Reading definitely helped shape my music; thankfully I’ve found people who share my taste! A special shout out goes to Amy Kelly, drummer of Ode to Lucius/ex-drummer of The Jaw – the drum to my bass. She really helped to guide me professionally and personally, navigating some tough times. Bandmates are for life, not just for Christmas.
I started playing the violin aged seven after seeing my neighbours play violin in a school assembly. After that day I went home and asserted ‘I want to play the violin!’ but I think really, I just wanted to be on stage! Now I am in love with playing the violin – the sound and versatility of the instrument is unrivalled. I studied the classical ABRSM grades and picked up bass guitar aged 14 because my best friend played in a band. It was the coolest thing What would you say is your greatest I’d ever seen. This led me to attend the achievement to date? Academy of Contemporary Music and I later graduated from City University, London. This is really hard to answer! I love being at festivals and so playing them is an honour. Now I teach violin, assist with facilitating A great achievement was playing Reading free-play percussion group The Rig and
(my hometown!) and Leeds Festivals in 2011 with A Genuine Freakshow. More recently I performed in Bremen, Germany with The King Blues, supporting Die Toten Hosen to approximately 50,000 fans in 2018. The experience and the stage were truly epic. Who is your all-time favourite artist and why? The many musicians of The Cinematic Orchestra because their artistry and soul are relayed so effortlessly live and in recordings. Hats off to Jason Swinscoe. Ma Fleur is without a doubt my desert island disc. What was the last CD/music download that you purchased? The EP Drugstore Heaven by Houses. An electronic duo that combine killer lyrics with super chilled hooks, I have it on repeat. What are your plans for the future? I am a member of the Songwriting Academy and I am very close to the end of my year-long mentorship. My plan is to carry on writing, collaborating and recording to hopefully get some placements in either sync or be placed with an artist. Oh, and touring two albums with my lovely collection of bands! Finally, what is your ISM membership to you? My ISM membership means security and community. I am pleased to be aligned with such a professional body that I can call on in need of help. Thankfully it’s only happened a few times and it’s not been such a tricky situation. Their networking events and lectures are also fantastic and I met some wonderful musicians who are now friends. facebook.com/maeannerobertsfigurine
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