Poggy, hailing from the coastal haven of Deal in Kent, is a musical spirit untouched by the hustle of modern life. Raised in a lively household of six, she found her rhythm in a cacophony of familial harmonies and melodies. Her music, an intricate tapestry of jazz, world, and folk influences, carries listeners on a captivating journey inspired by the natural world and the mysteries of existence. Poggy's debut album, "Woman," released under Mint 400 Records in 2021, celebrated family bonds through 11 tracks that blended folk, jazz, and Northern Soul. The "No More I" EP continued her exploration of nature's call. Now, with 'Sister,' Poggy's latest album, she forges further into the sonic wilderness, reminding us to pause, listen, and reconnect with the primal elements that beckon us back to the wild in a world too often consumed by artifice and noise.
Q: In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that make a “good songwriter”?
I'm not really sure to be honest! From my perspective, writing songs has always been a way for me to express myself and the more I am honest with myself and my feelings, the better the song seems to be. It really helps when I tap into the emotion of what I am experiencing and from that standpoint the song seems to flow bit by bit, in its own time, out without too much effort.
Q: What has it been like working with an indie record label as opposed to working on your own?
It's just nice to feel that there is someone there supporting you along the way, who likes what you do and who is willing to help you in whichever way they can.
Q: Can you pinpoint some specific songs and songwriters that changed the way you write music?
Yes, Jono Mcleary, Nico, Bridget st John, Nick Drake, John Martin and local musicians around me that I have collaborated with over the years.
Q: Do you find it hard to be inspired by artists that are younger than you, or are you motivated by their energy? Can you name any new artists you find inspiring?
No, not really. It's more about whether I enjoy the music or not. London Grammar and Seagrid are a couple of examples.
Q: For your new album, what inspired the lyrical content, album title, and overall vibe?
Well a lot of the album was written around the lockdown period, so I think I was generally reflecting a lot on my life, my visions and dreams. The overall vibe is about freedom, and finding myself and my place in this world. Quite honestly that is all I've ever written about, but I feel like I found my voice a lot more in this album and it felt a lot more honest somehow.
Q: Do you find that you deliberate over writing songs and hold on to them for a long time before including them on a record? Or do you prefer to write them, release them, and be done with them? Do you ever re-visit old material to do a re-write or once it’s done it’s done?
No, I tend to do the opposite of deliberate, rightly or wrongly. It did take me a while to decide to release the album this time purely because of feeling like I wanted to wait for the right time. But once a song is recorded, I tend to let go of it pretty quickly and move on. Yes, I often revisit old material as I feel like some of my best songs were written early on. I still intend to include them in later releases. But yes naturally they will change once they have been revisited and brought up to date with my current energy.
Q: Were there any lessons you learned in the writing and recording process for your current release that you will take with you into your next project?
Yes definitely. I have learnt alot about production and about the concept of 'less is more', which I will try and be more conscious of when working on my next project.