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Olivia Chaney

3 Sep 2009

Olivia Chaney has been described as 'a gifted virtuoso who will conjure dark-eyed sailors, damsels in distress and rakish Knights from an Indian harmonium and steel-string guitar.' Expect to be charmed, moved and entertained by a performer and musician of unusual depth and passion. We spoke to her as she prepares to go on tour with Zero 7.

Olivia Chaney

Photo credits: Sam Peach

How did you get started playing music?
My parents inherited a 100-year old German upright from a great aunt. It had cherubs plucking harps and classical flora and fauna carved on it, and marks left where the candle sconces would have been. The keys were made of real ivory and it made a huge, warm sound though nearly a semi-tone flat. I learnt on this up to the age of 14 when I left home for Chetham's School of Music in Manchester.

I began improvising on it from about age three upwards, imitating things I'd heard on the radio or recordings, or trying to play a boogie-woogie with my dad on the guitar. Finally, aged 8, I got a piano teacher but I wasn't able to read a note. She insisted that part of my lessons be dedicated to sight-reading. She was kind and strict, put me in for exams and competitions and helped me find a focus for my developing passion.

What instruments do you play?
Piano, cello many years ago, medieval harp (at friend's weddings or on special request), and the guitar and harmonium as of a couple of years ago. I have just bought another harmonium for the Zero 7 tour which is bigger and noisier, truer to the original church organ I suppose.

The harmonium I usually play on was bought as a surprise gift for me by my boyfriend. I had begun playing a friend's but wanted my own and after scouring Ebay and Gumtree and a dreadful, wheezy purchase in between, he found the beautiful 'Ramsingh & Bros.' It was made in the then-named Bombay in1984 according to it's markings.

What is it about playing that you love?
Everything, except the nerves. Music is a solace at my best and a nemesis at worst.

Who are your musical heroes / who would you love to play with?
I don't like lists, but through varied phases and obsessions, constant figures remain, such as Joni Mitchell, Dylan, Bert Jansch, Jackson C. Frank, Neil Young, Sandy Denny, Anne Briggs, Shirley Collins, June Tabor, Monteverdi, Muffat, Corelli, Purcell, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven and Stravinsky, to name but a few.

Who would I love to play with? There are musicians I hope I am yet to meet, and there are wonderful musicians I play with occasionally now when we are all available; Pamela Thorby, the early-music star and recorder player, and Rakhi Singh, leader of the Barbirolli quartet. I mostly perform solo unless I'm working on a specific project or collaboration. I'm hoping to record an album soon and weave some of these people and passions into it.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Experiment, and think for yourself. I couldn't live without my piano, but pick up the guitar if you want something sociable and portable. Being able to read music is a wonderful thing, as is being lucky enough to have people in your life who support your artistic and less artistic struggles. I had friends when I was a younger whose parents didn't like the sound of them practising. Fortunately mine did.

See Olivia perform:
With Zero 7 across the UK www.myspace.com/oliviachaney
At London's Southbank Centre on September 18
She's also performing in Troilus and Cressida at the Globe Theatre

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Olivia Chaney