Interview: Rothwell at Dot to Dot Festival Nottingham

Becky Lumbard caught up with Bristol singer, Rothwell before her set at Stealth at the Nottingham leg of Dot to Dot Festival 2018.

Very nice to meet you Rothwell! How has D2D been so far?

It’s been lots of fun. It has been quite long, a lot of driving but when you get there, the vibe has been so fun at all of the venues and last night I played in Bristol which is where I am from and I have only ever been drunk there! So I went in sober and oh wow… is that actually where the loo’s really are!

Have you managed to see any of artists this weekend?

I have seen a guy called Adam French, a band called KAWALA so a couple of people! En route to venues to things and stuff, it’s been really cool.

Being from Bristol, what was it like performing in your hometown?

It was lovely, it meant that my parents can come which they were very excited about. When they come to festivals and stuff I’ve got to tell them to be cool and stuff. But no, it was really cool.

What venue did you play at in Bristol?

Thekla – it’s a boat! Very disorientated.

How would you describe your sound?

Its electro pop. It is very up-beat, bubble-gum pop music.

Your new single “Left Me at The Party” came out last week, can you tell us a little bit about it?

I wrote it with a guy called Tim Powell and it is about, literally, when you go to a party and you see someone you really fancy and you’re like “that is a bit of me”, I am gonna see what I can do! And then you never get the nerves to say hello. I always stand there with my drink and I never do it and then you see them start talking to another girl and you’re like shit, I’ve lost it and then they leave with them. So that is literally what it is about haha! It happens so much and its so annoying.

Where did you record it?

I recorded it in Brighton with Tim, who I work with a lot has a studio in Brighton so I go down there and we write and record in the same studio.

Who or what inspires your sound?

When I was young my parents played lots of Paul Simon, Julie London. So like jazz singers but also really awesome story tellers that wrote really cool songs. I listen to lots of Tom Misch, Billie Eilish and all that kind of stuff.

What are your plans for festival season this year?

I am performing at a couple and then staying at the ones that I don’t have a gig the next day for, so I am just gonna get shitfaced aha! I am playing Isle of Wight, Latitude, Ocean Fest and a few more.

What can people expect from you in the future, potential album?

I am currently just working on single releases. I am working towards an album, but I am going to release lots of singles first and hopefully by 2019, I can bring an album out which is very scary, exiting and nerve-racking all at the same time.

Which artists would be a dream to collaborate with?

I would really like to work with Tom Misch. I think his music is so cool but then Beyonce, like hello! Can you imagine if she was like “do you wanna be in my song?” – Yes please!

What’s the best gig you have ever been to?

Fuck. I supported a guy called Paul Simon at the Albert Hall and I then stayed and watched and it was mind blowing, it was so fun. But also, I saw Phil Collins last summer and he was great.

By Becky Lumbard

Featured image taken by Katie Addy