Whilst keeping herself permanently busy, either performing with the British music institution that is The Wonder Stuff or simply as an acoustic duo with Stuffie’s frontman Miles Hunt, multi instrumentalist Erica Nockalls has somehow found the time to write and record her own debut solo album ‘Imminent Room’.

 

This new record may well be a departure from what many may have expected. Lead single ‘Manikin’ shows no evidence of the classical violin stylings that add shine to the ever expanding and impressive Wonder Stuff musical catalogue. Instead this teaser single comes kicking and screaming with almost riot girl angst and off kilter guitar lines. Speaking to Erica it’s easy to see that she’s excited about revealing this whole new side to her intriguing character.

 

You have your debut solo record ‘Imminent Room’ available through from your website. Has this been a long term ambition to release your own album or was it something that was out of the blue and came together really quickly? Can you give us an idea of what we can expect?

 

I began writing ‘Imminent Room’ in April 2011. I was simply so bored and unimpressed with other people’s musical output I decided to stop moaning about the lack of decent new music and create some of my own work. I’ve spent seventeen months on the album, which was a lot longer than I had originally intended, but it gave me a true purpose to get up in the morning. I’ve found the whole process to be utterly consuming, incredibly stressful but also entirely rewarding. I’m glad I did it.

 

‘Imminent Room’ is an entire album of songs complete with full production, honest lyrics, and a generous amount of melody. Some tracks are dark in mood whereas others are up-beat with a naughty tongue-in-cheek nature. Sonically, it’s ear candy: good wide stereo, sub bass, nice sparkly top end and everything else in between. I could go on but I’ll stop there!

 

The album won’t technically be released until 2013, however, advance copies are available now from my website – www.ericanockalls.com

 

Other than violin and vocals, did you record any other instruments on the album?

 

Let me see… vocals, violins, violas, electric/acoustic/tenor guitars, bass, pianos, synths, percussion, instrument programming… there’s a fair bit happening on this album!

 

How much added pressure is there with it being your own material? Does this bother you at all or will you simply let the music speak for itself?

 

I’m a perfectionist, but only when it comes to the things that I genuinely care about, which is essentially everything I do musically. With it being my debut solo record, I was conscious of getting everything, and I mean everything, from performance takes, to editing, to mixing, to mastering all absolutely spot on so when I look back on ‘Imminent Room’ in a few years, it won’t bug the hell out of me. I know from experience that recording mistakes don’t disappear with time, they only get worse and you end up kicking yourself for not being more diligent at the time.

 

There’s a list of special guest appearances on the album – were these all performed in the studio or were parts recorded elsewhere and sent over? Was it exciting to have other musicians interpret and add their own spin on your songs?

 

Ah yes, I called in a few favours from some of my musician friends to feature on ‘Imminent Room’, to great effect, too. Vocal contributions from Wayne Hussey (The Mission) were recorded in Brazil. Jeff Walker (Carcass) texturally added another, darker level to proceedings with backing vocals and bass. Finally, Mark Gemini Thwaite (Peter Murphy, The Mission, Tricky) recorded his parts in LA for me, kindly putting down some gravity-defying, earth-shattering monster guitar riffs. I’m in good company with these guys! Wayne Hussey and Mark Gemini Thwaite feature on ‘I Am Me, This Is Now’. Jeff Walker features on ‘Neon Crucifix’.

 

Do you have plans to possibly tour or perform as a solo artist at any point?

 

Touring is definitely something I’d like to do eventually. When I do hit the road it’ll be a full band and recruiting members is something I need to think about. One girl cannot recreate this alone!

 

There’s a brand new Wonder Stuff album due to be released soon entitled ‘Oh No, It’s The Wonder Stuff’. It’s been several years since the last studio album, ‘Suspended by Stars’, and the band has a whole different line-up now. How was the writing and recording process this time around?

 

I’ve really got stuck into this record and I’ve loved being so involved. ‘Suspended by Stars’ was recorded when I had literally just walked into The Wonder Stuff band camp. As the new girl, my input was minimal to say the least. Back then it was a case of turning up and recording on a few unfamiliar songs there and then. On this new record from the band I’ve had a hand in helping out Miles with the music writing and as a result I’ve felt a lot more involved. Strings feature heavily on this album and I’ve also stepped up for plenty of backing vocals too. It’s a rocker of an album and we’re very happy with the outcome. I think the fans will like it a lot and I believe it’s also a great stand-alone record for those who aren’t familiar with the band’s back catalogue. There’s a Limited Edition CD book version of the record available to order now from www.thewonderstuff.com

 

To me, your style and imagery often evokes comparisons to Alice In Wonderland. Is this accurate or do you draw your visual side from elsewhere? Are you artistic outside of music?

Alice in Wonderland, you say? That’s nice. Well, I for one don’t want to buy a record with jeans and a t-shirt on the cover. Mundanity and lack of imagination in this sense can say a lot about your music. I hope to never be described as being dull, if nothing else, but I don’t try to look odd intentionally, it’s just how I like to dress for stage. I like the ‘Human Dolly’ look.

I also paint with oils. I don’t claim to know what I’m doing, and I use my fingers instead of a brush, but people do see to like them. I’ve done a few commissions now.

 

You’re soon to be heading out on tour to perform as part of the band FINK – is there much preparation for a tour like this or do they simply trust you to learn the songs, have a couple of rehearsals then perform?

I’m currently en route to Paris for the first show with Fink as we speak. In total we’ve had four days of rehearsal over two months. The great thing about me touring with Fink is that as a fan of the band, I already knew a lot of their songs before I got the gig. Having said that, it’s one thing being able to sing along in the shower to a band you like, but when you come to actually play the material, you quickly find that you don’t know the songs as intimately as you once thought. I’m confident in what I’m doing and undoubtedly as the tour progresses we will get into a groove where we don’t have to think about which bit of the song goes where. It’s always refreshing to play with new musicians too, I like being kept on my toes.

 

It was cool to hear you were a fan of Steel Panther after seeing them live and as we know you’re a self confessed rock fan. If you could have been in (or maybe even still get the chance to join) any Hard Rock band which would you choose?

 

I’ve gone off Steel Panther ever since I found out that all but one of them wears a wig…. just kidding, I love ’em, and I sometimes wear wigs too so I can’t talk. I think if I played live for them it may alter their onstage dynamics a little too much. I’m sure they’d allow me to be a groupie if I asked nicely enough, though.

 

I’ve got a list as long as my arm of bands and artists I want to play and/or record for. I reckon I could do Maiden some pretty sweet string arrangements, something for Aerosmith perhaps, maybe Def Leppard and Bowie would definitely get a look in. I generally want to play for as many people as possible!

 

Erica’s Debut Solo Album ‘Imminent Room’ is available now from:

 

www.ericanockalls.com

 

 

To check out the Erica Nockalls back catalogue – CLICK HERE