Kris Drever has been playing for nearly 25 years but still considers touring a privilege.
Kris Drever, 37, is a musician from Kirkwall, in Orkney, who mainly plays the guitar but also claims to be a reasonable mandolin picker and bass fiddle thumper. With the release of his third solo album, If Wishes Were Horses, Kris has been on a solo tour this year.
He has been kept busy with appearances at Cambridge Folk Festival alongside John Mccusker and Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, and a spot on BBC One’s The One Show playing guitar for LeAnn Rimes. Kris will be playing at the Woodend Barn in Banchory on October 23.
What genre would you describe your music as?
Folk or acoustic I’d say. I’m not a terribly genre-conscious musician. I like lots of music and I see them all being made of the same basic components. Omelette and meringue are made of the same thing.
How did you first become interested in music?
I’ve always loved it. I can’t recall when I started singing but it probably changed as a life priority when I got my first guitar – the day I turned 13.
What training have you done?
I got an A in higher music but thereafter I graduated through manual labour and gigging. There’s nothing like playing with people whose standard is higher than your own to help you improve.
Why do you like music?
I don’t know how to answer that. I remember being outside a bar replying to a text on my phone once. An old man came up to me, looked at me, looked at my phone, looked back at me and said “why do you do that?”. This question reminds me of that.
What is it about folk singing you like?
It’s a way of telling the story of big events through small details, real people’s lives. There are songs about every aspect of life in the folk tradition.
Why so long since your last album?
I play in a trio called ‘Lau’ who work very hard and, although I’ve only released three solo albums in a decade, if you factor in the trio releases plus a couple of other one-off projects and EPs, it’s actually 13 or 14 feature-length studio albums in a decade. Not that I’m keeping score.
What is your process for writing songs?
It depends on the song, some come complete and others require research. Some start with a fully formed concept and others have no meaning until they are finished. It’s problem solving to some degree, you know you have solved the puzzle when the song is done and you know the song is done when there are no more problems with it that you know how to solve.
How long does it take you to write a song?
It depends on the amount of research involved. Reading is often writing fuel so if you have to read 20,000 pages to finish a song it’ll take you a 100 times longer than if you need to read 200.
What is your inspiration?
To understand everything about my chosen art form better.
Who is your favourite musician?
All of them, every single person who picks up an instrument because they want to say something with sound.
Are you particularly looking forward to anywhere on the tour?
Banchory of course. Woodend Barn is a terrific venue and every time I find myself in the north-east people come out to enjoy themselves. It’s one of the best bits of Scotland for folk who go to things.
What do you want your audience to take away with them after your gigs?
The feelings that come from exiting a show where you were transported.