Today I'm interviewing traveling musician Oli Emmett.
So Oli, I listened to Travelling Boots, and my partner and I agree we both really liked the song "My Reality" although my partner said it needed more kazoos.
I'm glad you like it, I've been really self conscious of the travelling boots stuff lately, I go through phases where I can really put my song writing down, but my friends have been really encouraging of my latest songs
First off, telle a little bit about yourself, your life, and music.
My life?
I went travelling for 3 months 10 years ago, and I never looked back, I picked up a guitar in those first months and started busking. I made my living with music ever since
How long have you been playing music, and what got you started?
I started to learn saxophone when I was 12, got into guitar I was 15. I didn't start taking it seriously till I started travelling at 21, and it kinda became a way of life
Who are your main influences?
I've had a lot of influences over the years. my big influence right now is Lost Dog Street Band, in the past, days n daze, rail Yard ghosts and pat the bunny.
I love bluegrass as well, Billy Strings, Doc Watson, Tony Rice ect
In what ways do you think you're like your musical influences, and in what ways do you stand out from them?
I'm probably like Lost Dog and a lot of the folk punk bands I like in that I've been traveling for years.
Im unlike them, in that I've not beem confident enough to share a lot of what I've written over the years.
What's a memorable experience you've had in your travels?
A memorable experience would have to be when I met railyard ghosts busking in Amsterdam. I didn't know who they were, and I missed their show, but the piece of paper with band names on it they gave me ended up introducing me to folk punk, and affecting my music taste a lot
Yo, I met Rail Yard Ghosts. Went to see them in West Virginia with a couple friends. I actually showed up late and missed the show, but spent the night at the venue. My friends and I were gonna make our way to a Days N Daze show in South Carolina and spent the night at the venue. The Rail Yard Ghosts had the next day off and we ended up hanging out and jamming with them and they invited us to tag along in their caravan for the next few shows so we did. Some of the absolute coolest people and musicians!
That sounds awesome! I only met them for a second.
I saw days n daze recently, it was weird being on such a big stage, im used to seeing them in tiny venues
Do you have a favorite place you've been?
I really don't have a favourite place. The best places to hang out are usually the hardest places to make a living with my music. That's one reason I keep moving I guess
Favorite show you've played?
I played an amazing St. Patricks day show in Germany this year with my Duo. We play trad folk and Bluegrass songs. It just went down really well and we had a great time
The weirdest show I ever played was when we got invited by someone to play at his work in Switzerland. It turned out they were the Swiss social democratic party. That was unusual for us. We ended up donating the fee to some zapatistas.
Anything you're working on that people can look forward to?
Im working on an EP, and ive got a few songs so far. Big LDSB influence. One song is on my YouTube.
I might also be putting something out with my duo Hangman and The thief too, but I'll know more about that in October
In the meantime, you can check out Oli Emmett on Bandcamp
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