An Interview with Luke Keegan (1/2) By Steve Rudd

(1/2), (2/2),

Passionate singer-songwriters like Luke Keegan are few and far between. Blessed with a soulful voice and a mesmerising guitar-playing technique, Luke is currently living in the seaside resort of Scarborough where he is making a name for himself in local music circles, having recently played a number of high-profile sets, one of which was at The Victoria Hotel in support of Edwina Hayes. Whether he's belting out a clutch of original songs or stealthily covering tunes by some of his musical heroes such as Elliot Smith, to see and hear Luke doing what he does best can't fail to have a profound impact on you. Steve was lucky enough to witness Luke in action at 'The Victoria', and in the wake of Luke's stunning set, it didn't take long for Steve to formulate the following questions in order to discover as much as possible about the man behind the music.

Hey Luke, how you doing? Hello. I'm good thanks. You are a singer/songwriter who is currently based in Scarborough. Have you lived there for long, and what do you think of the music scene up in North Yorkshire in general? I've been in Scarborough for 2 years now. I'm doing the degree in 'Creative Music Technology' they've got going on up at the uni. I think the music scene up here is very good. It's part of the reason I came up.

You cite the likes of Jeff Buckley and Elliot Smith as major influences on the type of material that you write. What is it about their work that appeals to you? This is a really hard question; I guess what I look for in music is something that excites me, something that happens in the music that you can't predict. I like how they mess around with structure. They are 2 great musicians. I hope that's a good enough answer.

How long have you been writing songs, and do you find the songwriting process an easy or difficult one? I've been writing songs since I was 13. I don't see songs in how easy or difficult they are to write. Some just take longer than others, but I'd never force myself to complete one. It will just happen when it does. I really like Damien Rice's description of songwriting; he said it's a lot like 'throwing-up'. I think that's the best way of putting it. You have played a number of high profile sets whilst you've been living in Scarborough, including a set at the third 'Acoustic Gathering' event in Peasholm Park. Do you still get nervous when performing in front of an audience?

I don't get nervous before playing cause I've done it for a while now, but I did get a few shakes before going on at 'Acoustic Gathering'. I was opening the whole festival and I've never had to get a boat to the stage before. It was great fun though.

You can be seen playing both on your own and with a band. Which set up do you prefer, and why? I like them both equally as much. Playing with the band gives me a chance to play songs that don't work with just a guitar and voice, and some songs work better with me by myself in a small room. It's very fulfilling to hear a song I wrote in my bedroom late at night in a full band environment; those guys are awesome.

You recently released and EP entitled 'The Insomniac's Rule Book'. What's the story behind the title , and how can people get hold of a copy? I suppose I was a bit of an insomniac at the time of making it. I was staying in a very small room at the time and going slightly mad. There are a few copies in 'Mojo's Cafe' in Scarborough.

Have you begun work on your debut album as yet? If so, when do you think it will be ready for release? YES! To be honest I've got 3 albums on the way. The first one is called 'How To Build A Time Machine' which I have done with my friend Andy Greening (Bass Player of Mum Locked In Castle) and Rowan Oliver (Goldfrapp). I aim to get that out in October. I'm also going into a studio at the end of August to record another album which I'm gonna call 'Pale Shapes', and this might end up coming out before 'Time Machine'.

Do you find the process of laying down tracks in a studio environment to be a rewarding experience or a frustrating chore? It's very rewarding, I love it. I can't wait till October so I can get to hold a copy.

Continued .... Next Page (2/2)

People - An Interview with Eric Weiner By Steve Rudd
	Earlier this year, writer Eric Weiner had a book published about his quest to hunt down the happiest places on earth. Steve Rudd caught up with him to ask him about it ... Hi Eric, how are things? Things are good. Or at least as good as can be expected for a self-confessed 'grump'. You are the author of a book called The Geography of Bliss in which you aim to find the happiest and unhappiest nations in the world. What first motivated you to write a book concerned with happiness? Read more...

People - An Interview with Jonny Bealby By Steve Rudd
	A true traveller's traveller, Jonny Bealby has intimately explored a staggering number of exotic countries. Thankfully, when he decided to undertake a daring circumnavigation of Africa by motorbike, Jonny made sure he wrote all about the many and varied trials and tribulations encountered 'on the road.' The resultant book was entitled Running With The Moon, and it became a roaring success. Bolstered by the public's reaction to his way with words, Jonny went on to write Read more...

People - An Interview with Nick Quantrill, Local Crime Fiction Writer By Michelle Dee
	Nick Quantrill works with numbers by day and with words by night. He won the Harper Collins Crime Tour Short Story Competition in 2006 with an entry called Punishment; his first ever short fiction piece. This success was rewarded by his work being published in the specialist magazine Crime Time distributed nationwide. He was also shortlisted for Making Waves (BBC Radio Humberside) Nick recently signed contracts with Caffeine Nights Publishing for his latest novel Broken Dreams, Read more...

People - Interview with Emma Rugg By Steve Rudd
	York-born Emma Rugg is certainly no stranger to the Hull music scene. A self-taught guitarist, pianist and singer, she initially honed her natural talents by busking on the streets of Hull. At around the same time she began to visit the Musicians Nights at The Adelphi on a regular basis, unconsciously nurturing her hugely supportive fan base as she sung and played her heart out. Financed by her busking, she released her debut album in 2003 through her own Read more...

People - Thomas Truax - Songs From The Films Of David Lynch (Available Now) By Michelle Dee
	'What does this song need to come alive?' New York anti-folk hero, Thomas Truax has oft had his music described as that of befitting a David Lynch film. The surreal settings, the darkly twisted stories, the cult appeal lend themselves well to his compositions - the innovator, the rebel, the outsider. The epiphany moment came when Truax's Read more...

People - Jody McKenna, Keith Hagger, the Secret Millionaire and an Unforgettable Weekend By Michelle Dee
	Anyone who watched Secret Millionaire on Channel 4 Sunday 26th April will have seen Hull musicians Jody McKenna and Keith Hagger receiving that magical cheque for £20,000. I caught up with them the day after the show was broadcast, in order find out how they were feeling about the show and their surprise trip to see Bob Dylan at the O2 Arena with the charitable Secret Millionaire Martin Stamp. Read more...

People - Dicky Deegan Uilleann Piper By Michelle Dee
	Renowned and highly respected Uilleann Piper Dicky Deegan's mellifluous tones have been heard in pubs and parlours throughout the British Isles. He has performed at European, UK, Irish and Australian Festivals, on major TV and radio stations including the BBC. He has played with many bands and artists including Maireid O'Sullivan, the late Billy Moran, The Crack, Rakish Paddy Read more...

People - An Interview With Finley Quaye By Steve Rudd
	Finley Quaye is currently at the start of a huge national tour, including a performance on 21st March at The Adelphi Club supported by local singer/songwriter, Jody McKenna. Last time Finley played Hull he had such a crowd in the Adelphi he stayed all week to party. Steve Rudd interviewed the 90s Reggae star in anticipation of another top night. Hi Finley, how are things? Sweet as...So how is 2009 treating you so far? Read more...

People - Nick Quantrill By Tim Roux
	Nick Quantrill is a prize-winning Hull crime fiction writer whose work is highly-rated by all who come across it, with one notable exception - himself. However, even Nick reckons that his upcoming novel Broken Dreams is a belter (we'll see what he says about it in a year's time). Nick started out as a short story writer, winning Read more...

People - An Interview With Jamie McGarry By Steve Rudd
	Jamie McGarry is a Scarborough-based poet who recently had an excerpt of a poem that had been inspired by Hannah Hauxwell published in The Dalesman magazine. He has been writing poetry for years, with his confidence having been bolstered by a poetry competition that he entered and won at the age of thirteen. Jamie doesn't confine his writing talents to poetry either, as he has also written a novel. Read more...

People - An Interview With Terry Grigg By Steve Rudd
	British traveler Terry Grigg has plenty of stories to tell - no doubt about it. Having visited over fifty countries, he's an itinerant soul who always likes to be on the move. In typical form, when I tried to get hold of him for an interview, Terry was soaking up the sun in Goa, India. Fortunately, he managed to spare some time to chat about his debut travel book, Backpacking with a Bunion. Read more...

People - An Interview With Dave Kebo By Steve Rudd
	It's funny who you bump into when you're traveling. I recently visited Istanbul, and though I was only there for a couple of weeks, the people I met were amazing. In the space of just a few days I met a firefighter from Colorado, a Mexican woman who worked for The British Embassy, a man from London who was aiming to cycle around the world ... and then a guy from LA by the name of Dave Kebo. Read more...

People - An Interview with Steve Steinman By Steve Rudd
	Newark-based Steve Steinman is a man of many talents. Currently touring with his spectacular show Vampires Rock, an alternative slice of musical theatre which features Classic Rock tunes such as Welcome To The Jungle, Total Eclipse of The Heart, and Poison, he's a true workhorse who lives to perform in the limelight. Read more...

People - Kid Carpet On The Difficult Second Album, Being Fired Out Of a Cannon and Touring With Scroobius Pip Vs Dan Le Sac By Michelle Dee
	I find it funny sometimes when people say I have a dictaphone... You've been to Hull before I know because I wrote the preview for the website. How do you find the Hull crowd, do you like the Hull crowd what's going on there? I played once before in Hull - the Adelphi. It was fantastic. I had a great time, I love grimy sweaty rock n roll venues so that was great, long may that Read more...