Going for Gold

When did you start playing the guitar?

WHEN I was about 13, but I started singing and writing songs way before that. My dad gave me a guitar one Christmas because he heard me singing these songs to myself, and he thought I needed an instrument to go with them. I wasn’t very good, and I had lessons, and although my teacher was really good, I didn’t really learn the things I wanted. I actually used to fancy my teacher a bit, and we’d go to the pub instead. I used to spend my £12 in there with my teacher instead of on a lesson.

So you taught yourself?

Yes, I did in the end. Then I started learning how to write songs on it. I just wanted to write my own stuff from an early age.

Do you remember the first song you wrote?

I do, actually. I think it’s a great pop song too, but it wasn’t until about a year after I wrote it that I realised that the chorus was the theme tune to Question Of Sport, which must’ve been on TV at home and I sucked in the melody. There’s no way I could release that.

Is it similar when you write songs now?

I think it happens to everyone, and there was this song recently where I was convinced I’d stolen something, but I played it to loads of people and no one recognised it. It can work the other way too, you see. I guess it was just a classic-sounding song I’d written. Some melodies just have that feel, don’t they?

Did you have a lot of songs to choose from for the album?

I did, and some of them are a few years old, but I chose ones that best fit together and sound like an album. They are different ages, but there is a similar feel on the record. This album is me doing things my own way, and I’m a little older now so I’m coming to it late. I did have another record deal a few years ago that didn’t work out. I’ve found it difficult when people have tried to put me in a box, and a lot of labels think a pretty blonde singer should be a sugar-coated pop singer, but I’m really not like that. I get a real kick out of challenging people’s perceptions.

Being put in a box is not what music is about. I love that people come to my shows and are surprised by what they see and hear.

You’ve been compared to Janis Joplin. Do you agree with that?

I was compared to her in spirit rather than sound, I think, and I might agree with that. I definitely don’t sound like her, but she is a huge inspiration to me. I’ve got no similarity in my voice, but it’s her attitude I love. She certainly gave it 100 per cent, and that’s what I try to do. It doesn’t matter if there’s sweat and mascara everywhere, it’s about putting on a show.

You’ve got live shows coming up. What are you planning?

Well I’m learning a song in French for when we play in Paris. It’s always nice to be able to do something in the language of where you’re playing, I think. The guys in my band are learning that now, because I can’t play it. It’s by Noelle Cordier, and it’s called L’Habite D’Arlequin. I found it on vinyl at a flea market for 65 euros! I gave it to my producer because it’s what I wanted Runaway Love to sound like. It’s in a really strange timing, but it’s absolutely wonderful.

What sort of expectation do you have at the moment?

I don’t have a huge amount of pressure on me at the moment, I’ve managed to avoid that. I’ve only got a small fanbase at the moment, but my music is accessible, and my music should catch a good audience. I just want to start performing to people, and any other expectations will come after that. I’m doing this for the first time, and taking it all as it comes.

• Alice Gold appears at Middlesbrough’s Intro Festival on Sunday, June 5, at the Town Hall and Crypt stage at 2pm. Festival tickets: £15 for adults, and £5 for accompanied under 13s.

Accompanied under Sevens go free. No tickets will be available for sale on the day Box Office: 01642-729729 or 01642-525199 or arconline.co.uk seetickets.com (tel: 0870-264-3333). ticketweb.co.uk (tel: 08444 771 000)