Jodie Marie interview: Blues from rural Wales via a king of Brit Pop

Upon hearing the voice of Jodie Marie one might expect something different than an unassuming girl from Wales. With her music being influenced by an eclectic mix of blues, Motown and country, it is still a relative shock to discover that the assured voice – romping through upcoming single I Got You – belongs to a young lady who seems much like a normal 20-year-old; excitable, deeply into music, and torn over which might be the best film to go and see at the cinema.

Yet, with the released date of debut album Mountain Echo now close (5^th March), Jodie Marie had to admit to a certain amount of pride and enthusiasm about it:

“It’s incredible, we recorded it live, all in a room together, which is something you don’t really get to do these days. It was really nice to do an album really similar to the music I was listening to when I was growing up, like all of the records that my parents played; and make a record that I feel really close to. I am getting more excited by the day!”

However it took quite a random occurrence, perhaps even a minor miracle – as well as talent – to get Jodie Marie this far. A chance meeting that sounds more like a scene from a sitcom than the start of a career. She seemed almost embarrassed to tell, but did so anyway:

“My dad’s a plumber and was working in a B&B near where I live. Being in a small community everyone knowing everyone else’s business, the B&B owner knew I sang, and she overheard a guy talking about his son being in the music industry. So my dad dropped off a CD and he listened to it over breakfast the next morning, and luckily they liked it! I think I’m really lucky actually, as being where I’m from. It’s so out of the loop from the music scene, it’s got brilliant music but it’s not an easy place to be found in. When it happened, I was like ‘I’ve got to take this chance!’”

It was a swift journey from rural Wales to rock royalty, as Jodie Marie started working with Bernard Butler, guitarist with Suede and later on Ed Harcourt – experiences that don’t seem to have fazed her:

“Amazing, they’re such nice guys, very different characters, but equally as lovely. I started working with Bernard when I was 16, but didn’t quite know who he was! I was kind of glad in a way, because I was nervous enough anyway! I get on really well with both of them, and it’s really inspiring working with both.”

Talking about the album, Jodie is at pains to stress its importance to her as an individual, as well as an artist:

“Every song on the album is from the heart, they’re all about subjects that are personal to me. They’re all subjects that I’ve tried to talk to people about, but have never actually said. Greeny-Blue is a particularly important song to me, about saying sorry and I know everyone can relate to it, but to me it’s particularly important. Single Blank Canvas was the first song I showed Bernard when I was 16, so there are songs from way back then, and more recent stuff. I wanted to take time and make sure that I was 100% happy with what I was putting out. I feel ready now.”

She adds that despite now being in London and touring, the record is very much one rooted at home in Wales:

“I’ve always been influenced by my surroundings at home being from a rural place, like going outside to get some headspace. Going for a walk, a surf, or a cliff jump, which is not something you can do in London! I think that really comes through on the album, a lot of nature related stuff.”

Yet, the album has a bluesy feel that can’t just come from the Welsh countryside, on being asked about other influences, Jodie needed barely seconds to provide an answer:

“Bonnie Raitt is my biggest influence, I’ve listened to her since I was a tot, it shows in the way she sings that there’s a real passion and a rawness. There are others I like, like B.B. King, Janis Joplin or Jimi Hendrix. The passion for the music, the emotion and rawness are what influence me.”

With a sound that encompasses blues, a bit of soul and country via rural Pembrokeshire and a Britpop legend, Jodie Marie’s debut record is likely to be a more interesting listen than many other female singer-songwriters’; as for herself, she’s just happy to be doing what she loves, even if she does pine a little for Pembrokeshire:

“I do miss home, family and friends but I’m so happy! I didn’t think this was possible. Seeing different places, playing to different audiences doing my music and performing is just really great.”

Mark Worgan

Jodie Marie’s debut album Mountain Echo is released on 5^th March 2012.

Watch the video for I Got You here: