All set to release her debut album in 2009, Beth Jeans Houghton slipped under the radar through no fault of her own.
Although, as she is keen to point out, by waiting another couple of
years the singer has undergone a formative experience. The resulting
record ‘Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose’ is actually all the better for it,
with Houghton joined by her collective The Hooves Of Destiny.
All set for release in early 2012, lead single ‘Lilliputt’ saw Beth
Jeans Houghton compared to the likes of Laura Marling, Nico and Gwen
Stefani but it’s obvious upon meeting her that there’s much more to
Houghton than these comparisons.
Sitting with Hooves of Destiny member Blazey, Beth Jeans Houghton
chats to ClashMusic about her literary tastes and the inspirational
effect of the written word.
Who’s your favourite author and why?
Beth: Richard Brautigan! He wrote 'In Watermelon Sugar' and 'Trout Fishing in America' - he’s a very psychedelic writer and in 'In Watermelon Sugar' he talks about tigers and tigers coming and eating families but you almost think that it’s a metaphor and that it’s a true story but he’s telling it in a really twisted way. I really love him! Also, Patti Smith: all of her lyrics and her books. 'Just Kids' is one of my favourite books.
Beth: Richard Brautigan! He wrote 'In Watermelon Sugar' and 'Trout Fishing in America' - he’s a very psychedelic writer and in 'In Watermelon Sugar' he talks about tigers and tigers coming and eating families but you almost think that it’s a metaphor and that it’s a true story but he’s telling it in a really twisted way. I really love him! Also, Patti Smith: all of her lyrics and her books. 'Just Kids' is one of my favourite books.
Blazey: I’ve got back into Hunter S. Thompson. I
read 'Fear and Loathing' years ago when I first saw the film, he has
such a journalistic way.
Beth: He’s amazing. I want to release music forever
or I’ll kill myself and I said I was joking but with Hunter S. Thompson,
he got to an age when he was in pain and he couldn’t write any more -
then he was just bored and he killed himself which is sad but at the
same time, I can understand that. If I couldn’t release music, I would
get so bored that I probably wouldn’t kill myself for the sake of my
loved ones, but if it was me on my own, I would probably just pop it.
It’s strange how it has such a physical effect.
Did 'In Watermelon Sugar' influence the cover artwork for your recent single, 'Lilliputt'?
Beth: Ah right, no. To be honest, the 'Lilliput' cover is because the record cover is a naked girl with a tiger’s head, I was just thinking along those lines; I’ve always been into people with animal heads. It doesn’t really mean anything; I think it’s nice to have someone with small tits on the cover because women bare their breasts in the media and they’re fake and huge, you know what I mean? As if that’s the set way to look but for some reason, that offends people more than Rihanna with her arse out.
Beth: Ah right, no. To be honest, the 'Lilliput' cover is because the record cover is a naked girl with a tiger’s head, I was just thinking along those lines; I’ve always been into people with animal heads. It doesn’t really mean anything; I think it’s nice to have someone with small tits on the cover because women bare their breasts in the media and they’re fake and huge, you know what I mean? As if that’s the set way to look but for some reason, that offends people more than Rihanna with her arse out.
Beth Jeans Houghton & The Hooves Of Destiny - Liliputt
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Are you reading anything at the moment?
Beth: I’ve started Neil Young’s biography; Shakey, a few times but I left it on a plane twice. So I’m starting that, I love Neil Young so that should be good. I always go back to Just Kids; I find it very difficult to read so I always go back to the ones I know I love already because I have a short attention span.
Beth: I’ve started Neil Young’s biography; Shakey, a few times but I left it on a plane twice. So I’m starting that, I love Neil Young so that should be good. I always go back to Just Kids; I find it very difficult to read so I always go back to the ones I know I love already because I have a short attention span.
Blazey: I’ve just finished a book that had a
different title in the US, called something like 'The Case for Working
with Your Hands (Why Office Work Is Bad for You)'.
Beth: I also started reading a book by Swami
Ishwarananda, who I visited earlier this year; it’s all about religious
figures and spirituality but also it’s all about happiness and how the
way forward is love, and when someone’s nasty to you, it’s coming from a
place inside. I feel a lot calmer in myself now I don’t take offence
from people and especially in realising that I don’t have to spend time
with nasty people.
Do you think that in the same way people say that CDs will eventually be phased out, books will too?
Beth: It’s like with Polaroids; do you think they ever thought that Polaroids would ever phase out? I mean there could be one book company left that’s going under and some obscure person could buy that and then just sell all the books for a lot of money. I don’t think that there will ever be no books, I hope. I wonder how many people actually physically buy books nowadays.
Beth: It’s like with Polaroids; do you think they ever thought that Polaroids would ever phase out? I mean there could be one book company left that’s going under and some obscure person could buy that and then just sell all the books for a lot of money. I don’t think that there will ever be no books, I hope. I wonder how many people actually physically buy books nowadays.
Do you think literature is timeless?
Beth:Yes, well some literature is but then I guess it’s the same with art and music. I mean as long as it’s true and honest to the person who made it then people will always be able to relate to it; whereas technology is not timeless. As long as you’re true to yourself and what you make, it should last. It’s like, I was given a book of poetry by a woman called Sappho who’s a female poet from way before Jesus, she was apparently one of the first lesbians and she was outcast because of that but they found her poetry at the bottom of a mountain from many thousands of years ago and most of the poems were left that were just one sentence but those were just so poignant that it has lasted until now. As long as you’re true to yourself and what you make, it should last.
Beth:Yes, well some literature is but then I guess it’s the same with art and music. I mean as long as it’s true and honest to the person who made it then people will always be able to relate to it; whereas technology is not timeless. As long as you’re true to yourself and what you make, it should last. It’s like, I was given a book of poetry by a woman called Sappho who’s a female poet from way before Jesus, she was apparently one of the first lesbians and she was outcast because of that but they found her poetry at the bottom of a mountain from many thousands of years ago and most of the poems were left that were just one sentence but those were just so poignant that it has lasted until now. As long as you’re true to yourself and what you make, it should last.
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Author: Aurora Mitchell
Source: Clash
Photo credit: Maxime Sokolinski
Date: December 30, 2011
Original article: HERE
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