CityBeat - Te Waha Nui Online

by Geraldine Roper

The mesmerising voice of acoustic songstress Claire Duncan silenced the crowd during Wednesday night’s performance at Queen St’s Kuja Lounge.

The alternative folk music, well suited to the dimly lit lounge, created an ambiance more powerful than most artists with Duncan’s experience.

The half hour set included five spine-tingling songs that left the audience wanting more of the 20-year-old’s talent.

The mature, thought-provoking lyrics were heartbreakingly romantic and deep.

Each song had a hint of country and had been influenced by Duncan’s favourites – Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes and Emmy Lou Harris.

Geraldine Roper spoke to Claire Duncan after her set to ask her a few questions about her inspiration and experiences.

GR: “Tell me about Sailor by The Sea. What was the inspiration for this heart-breaking love song?”

CD: “It was inspired by stories of women in wartime. I just tried to put myself in the shoes of a woman whose husband or lover is leaving to go to war – leaving her alone to deal with life at home. I pictured her with kids, having to go to work and having to shoulder a lot of responsibility. Meanwhile she is trying to cope with feeling abandoned and the complexities of war … ethically speaking.”

GR: “So you’ve been playing in pubs for two years irregularly now. Have you done any recordings?”

CD: “Yeah, I have mostly just done home recordings on my Dad’s farm in Cambridge. I’ve also done a bit of work with Rodney and Murray fisher (Goodshirt).”

“…its like having something that lives inside me that keeps pushing me to write and to play.”

 

GR: “How did you hook up with Rodney? What were the benefits that came from that?”

CD: “I entered in a competition called Play it Strange about two years ago. It’s a competition for secondary school students run by Mike Chunn (Split Enz). They basically give out a whole lot of free money to the winners. I entered in 2005 and got about $800 prize money and a recording paid for. I recorded with Rodney and Murray - and consequentially a lot of gigs! Then when Rodney came back from the UK last year we played a few shows together – playing on each others’ songs a bit which was quite fun.”

GR: “So Play it Strange has helped you a lot?”

CD: “Yeah, they got me a couple of gigs at Play it Strange affairs. After that it kind of petered out but they kept in good contact which is nice. I still send Mike my new demos and he’s always really helpful and encouraging. I wouldn’t have done those gigs with Rodney if it wasn’t for Play it Strange.”

GR: “What inspires you?”

CD: “My inspiration doesn’t come from people specifically but, at the risk of sounding cheesy, its more like having something that lives inside me that keeps pushing me to write and to play. Its like a constant sense of dissatisfaction that urges me to keep doing it. And it’s so worth it for the fleeting moments when it all seems to come together and I feel like I’m actually creating something worthwhile and special. Those moments are very few and far between but they are what make me do it.”

You can check out Claire Duncan’s Myspace profile here

Or see her next on October 7 at the Dog’s Bollix, Newton. Cover charge $5.