Start Listening To: Daisy George
Daisy George steps into the spotlight with debut EP, see me now.
London musician Daisy George's debut EP, see me now, is released today through Brace Yourself Records. George has already been a striking presence behind the scenes in the jazz world for a while now, having cut her teeth as a touring bassist for the likes of Poppy Ajudha, Tom Ford and Amaarae and her debut single ‘do u feel?’, released earlier this month, is a cathartic plea for empathy against a culture of inaction that habitually acknowledges the problems women face out of habit but lacks the acknowledgement and compassion needed to promote real change. We caught up with Daisy earlier this month to learn more about what went into her debut release.
Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from, and something about the music you make?
I’m Daisy George - singer, bassist, and producer. I grew up near Reading and moved to London when I was 18. The short story is I played in metal cover bands at school, then I studied jazz at uni, and now I’m trying to bring the two together to make music that feels authentic to my experience - and I hope to others as well.
How did it all start?
It became clear from when I was a child that I was going to do something in music. I grew up in a very musical family where I learned to play lots of different instruments, and then I started playing in different groups and bands before I applied to a music course at uni.
Your new EP, see me now, is a beautiful musical journey. I understand you are a multi-instrumentalist. What instruments do you play on the EP?
On the EP, I’m playing electric bass, double bass, and I’m singing. I also play keys a bit which is useful when producing. I play synth bass, guitar, and violin was my first instrument.
We’re especially loving the track, ‘see me now’ — some serious shredding there! Can you tell us a bit more about how this single came about?
My aim was to lean on sounds that brought me a sense of nostalgia, bringing together influences from The Cranberries and MGMT to create a song that feels familiar, as if it could’ve been playing on the radio when I was a child.
You collaborated with SANITY on ‘do u feel’. How do you approach collaborations?
I produced the track, and I felt like it could really do with a rapper that fit that style. I particularly wanted to work with someone who could connect with the meaning of the song. I was introduced to SANITY via my guitarist, Tom Ford, and it was a perfect fit. The EP has another collaboration with a good friend of mine - I’m looking forward to sharing it.
What was the first jazz record you heard?
Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um.
You cut your teeth as a touring bass player; do you have a favourite bass player?
That’s a tricky one, I’ve been influenced by a lot of different bass players, but to pick a few who have had a serious impact I’d have to say: Tim Lefebvre, Charles Mingus, Sam Wilkes, Esperanza Spalding, Thundercat, Jaco Pastorius, Pino Palladino, Tim Commeford.
How do you produce your music?
I start out at home on my laptop, and I’ll make a demo of a track. I’ll sit on it for a while, and if I decide I like it, I then bring in my band members to record parts and solos into the track.
What inspires your music?
My experience of life and my love of music. It’s a privilege to be able to take an art form that has been incredibly important to me in my life and use it as a vessel to communicate my take on the ins and outs of life.
What advice would you give anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to you?
I think it’s really important to find your own sound: work out which elements of the music are the most important to you and channel them into creating your own sound that feels like an honest expression of you and what you have to say.
If your music were a film, TV show or book, which would it be?
Mona the Vampire.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you.
Sum 41 - All Killer No Filler. I listened to it non-stop when I was younger.
What do you hate right now?
The Conservative government. And how expensive London is.
What do you love right now?
Black bean and plantain tacos. And that it’s getting cold enough to wear winter coats.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever played?
Amaarae’s gig at We Love Green festival in Paris.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Stevie Wonder in Hyde Park.
What comes next in the Daisy George story?
Grammy’s, billboards in New York, nothing much. Watch this space.
What upcoming 2022 music releases are you most excited about?
There’s nothing on my radar that I know is about to be released right now, but I’m hoping Amyl and The Sniffers are going to put a new album out sometime next year.
Is there any new music from 2022 you have been enjoying?
Wet Leg - Wet Leg.