Here it is: (it is based on Flash, hence the difficulty)
BM: You have been playing guitar for only a few years who was your inspiration?
Lucy: My Uncle Chris! I inherited his guitar and decided to play in his memory - I wanted to take something good out of a bad situation and so I suppose he is my greatest inspiration. My guitar influences range massively from Sonhouse, John Hammond, Michael Messer, Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson right through to B.B King, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, John Mayer, and acoustic players and songwriters like Corrine Bailey Rae, Paolo Nutini, Johnny Cash... the list is endless!
BM: What were your first experiences of the Blues?
Lucy: My first experiences of the Blues were listening to people like Aretha Franklin and Jimi Hendrix on the radio, and listening to my mum and dad's records and tapes with people like Fleetwood Mac and Van Morrision on them, but I suppose a pivotal moment for me was the first time I heard Robert Johnson, John Hammond, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker in my music teacher's kitchen on the cd player, and completely fell in love with their guitar sounds and voices.
BM: What was the first gig that you played and where?
Lucy: I had a real baptism of fire playing in a Working Men's Club - all they wanted to do was play Bingo and they heckled me really badly! However lots of family and friends still came along and supported me and even though it was harsh it was a good first paid gig as it taught me how difficult it can be and how to cope with whatever's thrown at you. I still appreciate being given the gig no matter how bad it seemed to be as it taught me a lot. Before that I played a lot of open mics in pubs and did a lot of open mics in a bar called B@R place over in Hebden Bridge where they were always very supportive and really got what I was doing and it was lovely! (Thank you Nick at B@R if you ever read this for the opportunities you gave me! You gave me a real push towards what I wanted to do!)
BM: What makes a good gig for you as a performer?
Lucy: When the crowd is amazing and you just know they get it and know what's going on in the songs and the music. The coolest thing is when the crowd is alive, it makes me come alive! The best feeling is when someone comes up to you after a gig and says how much they liked a song in particular or how I played an arrangement or they tell me how they can relate to a song. For me the most interesting thing in music is the motivation behind why a musician is playing or has written a song and when a crowd member can learn that from you it's just amazing. I want my music to be heard by people and if one person in the crowd gets it - that's a good gig.
BM: Do you play any other instruments; if not what other instrument would you like to play?
Lucy: Well apart from singing and playing the guitar - my first instrument apart from voice was the double bass which I played for around 3/4 years while I was at school. Unfortunately they are very big and expensive and after I left school I stopped playing it - I would love to pick it up again though! I am also keen to start playing piano - piano players amaze and confound me!
BM: If you had the opportunity to play with any blues artist dead or alive live on stage who would it be?
Lucy: The list is endlessss...!!! Jimi Hendrix would be on my list definitely! Sonhouse too
And all of the kings! Freddie, Albert and BB King. The most amazing opportunity I've had so far was playing with Louisiana Red and Michael Messer, and Michael Messer and Ed Genis too. Those guys know what to play, how to play it and they're just amazing to vibe off on stage. I love just getting up and improvising and just grooving with them.
BM: What other styles of music have you drawn inspiration from?
Lucy: I love every kind of music. Every kind of music is important because each is interlinked and without one there wouldn't be the other I adore gospel, soul, jazz, folk and blues but I love some folk, contemporary singer songwriters and classical music too. I think it's so important to respect every genre for each of the things it can offer a musician and a listener.
BM: What was your first guitar and how many do you own?
Lucy: My first guitar was a Finnish Landola Acoustic Guitar and it came from my Uncle after he died. They were going to throw it in a skip!!!! It's still my favourite acoustic to just sit and write on - I think there's some inspirational spirit travelling through it!
I now own a Michael Messer Lightening Resonator, a Stanford Electric Acoustic, my first electric guitar - a squire Stratocaster and another electric guitar, a white and gold Les Paul copy and that's it at the minute! Hopefully there'll be many more additions over the years!
BM: Do you ever get frustrated with the Blues’ 12 bar format, and desire to branch out into different genres of music?
Lucy: I play bits of gospel, folk and jazz influenced stuff in my set anyway so it has never been an issue for me really. The blues format can be anything you like 16 bars 13 bars, it's about what you feel. As long as you pour emotion into the songs you write and sing, I will love it. Of course there are times when I want to play things I think people will dislike, and obviously it's a risk you take as an artist but as long as you respect your audience and they respect you, and you let them know what it's all about - they get it
BM: Would you like to play in a band at some stage in your career?
Lucy: Oh yeah! I spent some time working with a band at college fronting them - I was the only girl in the group! It was fantastic. I absolutely loved it and I'd love to do it again.
BM: Aims for the future and what do you hope to achieve within the Blues?
Lucy: I just want to write, play and do the best I can. As long as my music affects people - gets that one person in the crowd or that kid listening in their room at home - that's all I want. I hope to become a successful musician - and that success for me is defined by doing the best I can with what I've been given, and earning the respect of my peers. I don't want fame or fortune; I just want respect and love for the music I play.
BM: Why do you feel that young people are not as attracted to the Blues as other Genres?
Lucy: I think that culture is different now. In the 1600's young people would have listened to Baroque and in the 1930's blues - it was the music of their time - just like now dance and rnb and rap music, or indie pop music has become the mainstream pop music for our generation. Cultures change, and it will change in years to come. There's a steady influx of blues rock artists like Oli Brown and Chantelle McGregor coming through but pop blues, soul and jazz artists like Amy Winehouse, Adele, Corrine Bailey Rae, Norah Jones, Paolo Nutini and even Michael Buble who are bringing the blues genre through again to the masses in pop formats. Young people are attracted to the blues; I think they just don't know that's what they're hearing sometimes. We have become a consumer society I think, we take what we are given and we go with what is popular but there will always be some kid in a bedroom somewhere like I was who falls in love with the blues and the raw emotion of it, popular or not, and I'd like to hope that maybe I could help towards that someday.
BM: When you finish college and have the choice of being a musician or something else, what will the something else be?
Lucy: I'm going to be a musician! But I like writing so maybe I'll write a novel if I'm patient enough one day ha-ha! I love to make things and be creative so maybe I'll be an artist and jewellery maker too
I don't know really! I have a part time job in a cafe and I enjoy that so maybe I'll be a cook too ha-ha! I honestly know I want to be a musician for the rest of my life, anything else I do is a bonus
BM: What do you do to relax when you have some spare time away from music?
Lucy: I read a lot, I draw and paint when I can, I make jewellery and cards, spend time with my family friends and boyfriend and watch some of my DVDs and listen to music.
I always like to be busy! I loveeeeeee cooking too! Italian and Mexican food is the best!!!!
BM: What can be done to keep the blues music fresh and modern or do you think it should stay in the past?
Lucy: I think just keep playing it! Know where you're going and know where you've been I'd say. If you wanna play old school acoustic blues, play it - someone will love it. If you wanna play rock blues - do it. If you wanna play jazz, gospel, soul, rhythm and blues, retro influenced pop - do it! Just respect the love the emotion and the pioneers behind it. All music, and especially the blues to me, is the greatest gift in the world. It's so important to pass it on, no matter what the format; modern or old. Just keep playing, listening and doing it!!
Thank you Lucy for taking the time to answer my questions
Barry Middleton (Chairperson)
Nottingham Blues Society
And all of the kings! Freddie, Albert and BB King. The most amazing opportunity I've had so far was playing with Louisiana Red and Michael Messer, and Michael Messer and Ed Genis too. Those guys know what to play, how to play it and they're just amazing to vibe off on stage. I love just getting up and improvising and just grooving with them.