During a live interview at the inaugural Crossed Wires Festival in Sheffield earlier this evening, SELF ESTEEM (aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor) sat down with podcaster Adam Buxton to discuss her new album and dream collaborations, before treating the crowd to a performance of the highly anticipated single “I Do This All The Time.”
She revealed that she's putting the “finishing touches” on an album due to be released “by the end of the year”, as well as revealing her dream of making an album with Richard Hawley and her ambition to become “Chris Martin”.
He is confident in his goal of making an album with Richard Hawley and not worrying about money.
AB: What is your ultimate goal?
I watched you in the documentary Almost Brilliant Friends, and there was a part in it where you were talking about the other guys in your band and you said they were happy just hanging out at the end of a show, going for a beer, stretching their legs, playing video games, whatever. You're so preoccupied with what you're doing, what you're waiting for, what you're going to do, what's your legacy? Those thoughts can be a burden, and how do you know if you're happy?
SE: I don't know… I'm happy just to have an idea and have the tools to execute it. This will make me happy for a long time. I've never dreamed of being famous or going global. I'm happy even if I never went to America.
[….]
“I don't want to worry about money. I've worried about money my whole life. I still worry about it now. The next album has a lot of themes about being at the bottom of the next fucking hill. It never ends.”
[…]
“My other little dream is to make an album with Richard Hawley, living in the same SELF ESTEEM world. Remember Alison Krauss and Robert Plant? That's what I want to do.”
Regarding the new album in the works
AB: Is work on the album finished or is it still in progress?
[….]
SE: “I've thought about it and have some understanding of it, and I'll come back to it in September or October and finish it.”
[…]
When will this album see the light of day?
SE: Maybe I'll release something, a song or something…
AB: Is this a continuation of the musical territories you’ve explored before, or is it a radical change?
SE: My whole being wanted to do a 180 degree turn and I realized that I was a coward.
AB: What will that be like? What areas will you be visiting?
I'm always psychologically ahead of the album. On my next album I want to be a little more orchestral, a little quieter. I want to sing more. […] … I want to be Chris Martin.”
[…]
There will be something by the end of the year.”
On her career as an actress
AB: “Do you feel like you’re more of an actor now?”
SE: Well, we'll see. I loved it and I've always wanted to do it. […] It's a healthier way for me to be emotional, you know? And I like it. We'll see.
[…]
I want to be like Sarah Lancashire, stop touring and just do really good BBC dramas [laughing] I want to be able to not have to travel.
[…]
AB: Would you like to do more acting work?
SE: If I can find the right job and it doesn't take too long, I've auditioned for cool jobs and it didn't work out. I love doing theater.
I used to say “yes” to everything and it's hard to believe I turned down an acting job to focus on music. It's a dream come true.