Bessie Turner

Bessie lives on a houseboat on the River Orwell in Suffolk. She’s been played on Radio One and BBC 6 Music and played Latitude this summer, all on the strength of her very first single, Big Sleep. Backed by a band filled with members of Dingus Khan and SuperGlu, as well as playing her guitar as a solo act, her voice is a delicate and tender force of nature, and her lyrics are bright and real. We spoke to the lovely Bessie ahead of her support slot at Open in October and discussed getting noticed by the industry, working part time and just why she writes.

Bessie, your career in music seems to have only just begun, but have you always been a singer and loved music?

I’ve always had a weird and incredibly close relationship with music, and writing, singing and playing has always been a really private part of my life. My big sister had a really beautiful voice growing up and I was always quite fearful of letting mine out in front of people in case it didn’t go down so well. That being said apparently I would sing the little tune Ariel sings in the Disney film The Little Mermaid before I ever spoke or could run around.

You self-funded your first single, Big Sleep, and put it out on your own label – how did you manage to get it noticed by the likes of BBC Radio and get yourself a slot at Latitude so early on?

Gypsy magic, hard work and wonderful friendships got me to the stage I am today. The song was shown to Richard Haugh of BBC Introducing in Suffolk before its release - he liked it a lot and agreed to play it on his show. From there on I can only assume that’s how it then was passed on to Radio One and BBC 6 Music. The reception from the public was wild, more than anything I could have anticipated and the crazy wave of support continues. I think the combination of goodwill from all, radio plays so early on and a successful live session for BBC Introducing in Suffolk proved that I was doing something good and somehow prompted the guys at Introducing to choose me as one of their two acts to take to Latitude…I had the best day of my life.

How would you describe your music, and what do you think sets you apart from other singer songwriters around at the moment?

I guess it’s moody, honest pop - every lyric I write is relevant to a place, situation or a person I’ve come across. I feel insanely lucky that I’ve been given the voice I have…. I get told it’s quite unique. I have always taken so much joy in geeking out over weird old music and art and literature, so maybe that comes through into my songs too.

You’ve been working with Ben from SuperGlu – how did you meet and start working together?

We met for the first time about five years ago when I was on the same bill as his first band Ideals. Our paths didn’t cross for some time after that and we became friends again after I’d drunkenly been to watch Dingus Khan (who he drums for too) play a show. About ten of us ended up back at his having a bit of a party and we’ve been best buds ever since. He really is 100% the reason I’m doing music again. I lacked so much confidence in myself and he heard me sing a song one time and was like, right, that’s it, you’re back in the game. He’s a really great musician to work with, driven, super logical and efficient. Alright at drumming too!

I understand the song Words You Say, your new single, is about the disappointment one feels when someone lets you down, but that you wanted to make it sound happy. How did you manage this?

I find it difficult to write happy, feelgood lyrics, I generally only find myself writing when I need to make sense of a situation or reassure myself that I’m valid and good. It’s upbeat and fairly guitar driven and has a cute little middle riff thing that you could punch the air too if you felt that way inclined. George Perks who engineered the track done such a wonderful job with it, it’s totally beyond me how he made it sound so brilliant. He’s really patient and superhuman and really gets to know the vibe and expectation you have with songs. He’s shown me loads of cool little tricks and things you can do to make something come across in recording. I’m so pleased with it.

Your record label is called Don’t Try Records – why this name?

Irony, idiocy, perhaps genius tendencies. Ben was the driving force behind Don’t Try and we can’t quite believe how successful it’s been so far, I think having a record label “release” a single adds a lot of validity. It definitely made it come across that perhaps we know what we are doing. We still have no idea...

You’re from Suffolk, and live on a houseboat on the River Orwell. How does the place in which you live influence the music you make?

It becomes such a central part of who you are. I was previously living in a flat in Ipswich that held so many ghosts and saw me in such bad places. I made some really great songs while I was there but I was so miserable and claustrophobic, making music with people living through the wall to your north, south, east and west is quite difficult when you’d rather be a stranger and make zero noise to warn people of your existence.

Living on a house boat is very free. There’s a river to my right and a forest to my left as I look through the windows. It has its downsides too - the winter can be a struggle if you’re not prepared for it, drying clothes, walking to a shop, all the little things you don’t notice you take for granted.

Do you still work full time whilst you’re making music?

Some weeks I work a million hours and some I work none. I’m very lucky to work a few part time jobs that are really understanding of shows and time off. I’m really pleased with the pace things are going for me and my music, but I’m definitely not at a point where I’m making money from it yet.

You have some live dates coming up, including a date in London and one at Open here in Norwich. Do you have many songs in your repertoire or are you madly writing now?

I have ten or eleven that are good to go and well-rehearsed with a bassist and drummer. I have more I could play with just me and my guitar, I can knock songs out really quickly if I’m in the right mood - it’s just a case of condensing what’s super great or average.

How did your set at Latitude go? It must have given you a great deal of confidence going forward.

It was a blur, it was so wonderful. The whole aim of my performance was just for me and my friends to have a really great time – it was an opportunity we might never have again. The crowd and support was more than I would ever have imagined it to be. I was so thrilled to not mess up or saying anything ridiculous under the pressure - I have a tendency to mention periods or repeat awful condemning jokes that leave tumbleweed moments and insanely awkward silences!

What makes you want to write and perform music?

My insecurities and my inner child. I think it’s so important to be able to have confidence in expressing yourself, whether people listen or not is up to them but to have the balls to put yourself out there is the most fulfilling (and terrifying) thing. I have had some really awful bouts of illness and depression, seen loved ones go through horrible things and been at the wrong end of a volatile relationship. After a long hiatus of not being myself and writing and performing I’m proving to myself that I’m strong and I can do it.

What are your plans for the future?

To keep having a nice life and making great memories. It’s super corny but I think life is all about experiences and relationships. I’d like to have a family one day, meet Philip Schofield, go to Margate, be on Later with Jools Holland, have an Italian greyhound or and Irish wolfhound, try salsa dancing, live in a van for a year or two. I could go on forever….

Bessie Turner plays Open on October 6th, supporting Beth Rowley. Tickets available from ueatickets.ticketabc.com