Start Listening To: Henry Carlyle
The Orielles’ Henry talks vulnerability when going solo, loving frogs and hating winter.
As a member of disco-rock sensation, The Orielles, Henry Carlyle has been flying under the radar for long enough. After finding himself full of ideas and lacking an outlet to express them all, he decided to experiment with creating his own sound. Out of the spontaneous thought, came out his newest single ‘The Groud’, a lo-fi avant-pop piece, hinting The Velvet Underground’s cool swagger. It’s about time for Henry to spread his musical wings and fly high.
Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
Eyup I’m Henry Carlyle, I’m originally from Halifax living in Manchester and the music I make is just whatever I’m feeling like at that time.
How did it all start?
It started around the time the band I play in, The Orielles, were finishing the 2nd record and I still had a fair few song ideas left over. I was quite motivated to see if I could actually finish a song myself and see what sort of stuff I would write because I had no idea at the time. There was a large part of myself and my musical taste and aspirations that The Orielles didn’t cover at that time. I think it’s become more aligned. In the beginning, I wrote tonnes of shite tunes; I think The Ground was one of the first ones I was really happy with. I think it was the first where I successfully managed to express myself emotionally and musically.
If you were to describe your sound to someone who’d never heard you before, what would you say?
I’ve struggled with this one loads when I spoke about the project back when there was nothing released. I’d always fumble around with band names and vague genre’s and then give up, send them a private demo link and tell them to make up their own mind. I’ve been told it sounds a bit Gruff Rhys/Super Furrys and a bit like Graham Coxon, which is interesting as I only started listening to the Furries like 2 months ago and I only listened to Graham Coxon last night.
What’s it like releasing music as a solo artist after being in The Orielles?
I think you feel a bit more vulnerable in the sense there’s strength in numbers, you take full creative responsibility and all criticism falls on you. I felt amazing when it was finally out after waiting for so long like finally I have a bit of a voice now. It’s definitely more difficult writing on my ones though. Collaboration in music is a beautiful thing.
How are you feeling about the release of your debut single “The Ground” now it’s out?
Yeah buzzing mate, it’s really cathartic to have my silly little bad thoughts projecting out into the world through someone's speakers. Like I said earlier The Ground was the first good tune I thought I wrote I think I’m still figuring out what I sound like and how I like to write and record.
How does it feel being compared to The Velvet Underground?
So good man, I feel like since the 60’s everyone strives for that in some way. Still one of the coolest bands around and the only ones that get away with sunglasses indoors. John Cale is a genius.
Can you tell us more about how you produce your music?
A lot of it is done at home in a studio filled with frogs. I usually always start on the classical guitar. It's my base, my boo. Then I usually get a structure around some words. Music is great for me mentally because I like to obsess about chord patterns, melodies and music theory stuff, so a lot of the writing is formed in my head while I’m away from the guitar. Then I’ll record a demo of it at home, fleshed out. I’ll try and finish it that day otherwise the song will never get finished, cause I’ll start overthinking, chopping it up and putting back together, losing the essence of why I started recording in the first place. Then I’ll send it to Joel Patchett, my producer and Jake Bogacki, my drummer, then I’ll book studio time when I can afford it. It was very important for me that the tracks are recorded as live as possible and the band remains the same across the project.
What inspires your music?
Lots of things inspire me but there has to be some musical concept that excites me enough to try and work it into the finished article. Writing lyrics is fairly new to me so that side of it has been more of a struggle. Quite often I’ve taken inspiration from conversations with people or the things I’ve overheard in the bar I work in.
Can you tell us something interesting about yourself that doesn’t have anything to do with music?
If I wasn’t currently procrastinating trying to make music, I’d be procrastinating making art.
What advice would you give for anyone trying to achieve a similar sound to your band?
Listen.
How has New York influenced your music?
New York’s inspired me a fair bit, I love so much of the music that’s come out of there. During Lockdown 1, I got back into Television again. It must've been about 3 or 4 years since I listened to them and I fell in love all over again, I had many little epiphanies about the music I wanted to make after listening to and loving their first 2 albums, Sonic Youth who were also heavily inspired by television I’ve been listening to loads. Been rinsing Velvet’s White Light White Heat recently too. My long-time love of Talking Heads must be mentioned too.
The lyrics of my song “turned out from the inside by the wind, I’ve been moved across the globe” is specifically about New York at the beginning of the pandemic.
If you were a film or TV show, which would it be?
A film.
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?
Used to listen to Fat Boy Slim’s greatest hits on long drives on family holidays when I was a kid, that record means a lot to me and it’s chock full of bangers.
What do you hate right now?
Winter.
What do you love right now?
My girlfriend Giulia. My band The Orielles, the friends and people around me. Frogs.
What comes next in the Henry Carlyle story?
More writing, recording and inevitably more work in the hospitality industry.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Much love to you all.
