Dear readers, we are pleased to offer you in this article an interview with David Carroll, UK artist who started the Bold Reynold Project with members of Gryphon and Fairport Convention.
Hi David how are you?
“Very well thank you, and excited for the new album release!“
Your project Bold Reynold blends Folk, Rock and Prog, where does your passion for these sounds come from?
“Folk music has been my passion since my teens, with the folk boom of the sixties and seventies. I played with Spinning Wheel from the age of 17, on the folk club and college circuits, and never looked back. But I always also had an ear for good rock music, and prog really was the good rock of the early seventies!“
The lineup includes prominent names from the scene, how did the idea for this project come about?
“I had played on many albums for other people over the years, and was keen to finally put one out of my own. I’ve known Dave Oberle since 1980 and played in a pub band with him for the last 15 years, and through him had met and got to know fellow Gryphons Brian and Graeme. They were all happy to get involved. I got to know Chris and Peggy from Fairport originally through supplying them with Ozark instruments, which were made to my designs and specifications (I was taught guitar making by legendary 60’s maker John Bailey.) We found we had a lot in common, and became good friends. Again when I mentioned the album project they both offered their services. Lucy I have sung with off and on for the last 30 years, and Tom Spencer I know through working on 3 albums by The Men They Couldn’t Hang, and doing some live shows with them.“
What have these artists brought to the sound?
“They are all musicians at the top of their field, and I wanted to capture their originality. I came up with the ideas for the arrangements (who played what and where!) but left the actual notes up to them.“
A second album is coming in 2024, how would you describe this new work?
It builds on the ideas from the first album, but is more refined (I hope!) It has a bit more Folk, a bit more Rock, and more than a few surprises!”
An intense mixture of instrumental and vocal parts, what themes do the lyrics deal with?
“On Bold Reynold Too we have a lot of bawdy drinking songs, songs of Irish emigration, advice for young lovers, thwarted love and incest. I think that covers most of them!“
The music is dynamic and full of cues and ideas, what are the differences with the previous one?
“We’ve included a couple of songs with strong baroque influences, Graeme has been given more of a free rein with guitar solos, and we’ve coloured the dance tunes with touches of bhangra and jazz saxaphone. We have one song with no instruments and another with a full brass band…“
“A project that would be interesting to hear live, do you have plans in this regard for the near future?
“Although I would dearly love to take this on the road, at this time we haven’t found a way to rearrange the songs economically for a live band – Brian and I play multiple instruments on most of the songs. Also it would be a nightmare trying to fit this around everybody’s current commitments. So without ruling it out in the future, for the time being there are no plans…“
Music is constantly evolving, how do you see today’s scene in your country and specifically in your genre?
“Folk music has recently had a resurgance in populatity, and it’s great to see so many young singers and bands emerging. I also find the amount of cross cultural influences really interesting…“
What advice would you give to young artists approaching music in a genre such as yours?
“Wow – that’s a difficult question. Listen to as much music as you can, from as many genres as you can – there is always something to learn and to take with you.“
Do you have any other activities or artistic passions outside music?
“Travel and photography, which go together very well, and cooking!“
I thank David for the interview, wishing him all the best for the release of his new album and the continuation of his artistic career.
Read our Review of the previous album here: [Review] David Carroll and Friends from Fairport and Gryphon – Bold Reynold David Carroll and Friends
