Ash Mandrake
Ash Mandrake (Former Bard of Bath) Solo performer with loop machine work. Voice often compared to the late Tim Buckley. Music is medieval, classical, folky, experimental. Sometimes plays a double neck 16 string guitar (http://www.myspace.com/ashmandrake16)
Founder member of the band The Mandrake Project (UK), afro-celtic-classical folk/rock/world
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
People like the story element in my songs, and the stream of consciousness, which I call upon without the use of substances.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Yes, lots, South West and Midlands in the UK, but looking further afield all the time.
Your musical influences
VOCALISTS: Johnny Weismuller (Olympic swimmer turned first television Tarzan - you should hear his Tarzan call! ), Enrike Caruso , Tim Buckley, Freddy Mercury, Tom Waits, Arethra Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Tina Turner, Boni Tyler.
GUITARISTS: Jimmy Hendrix, Brian May (Local Musicians: Neil Gay (attack and expressive qualities) Rob Sharples (fascination) and Nigel Quinn from my Leicester days (wherever he is now - Where are you Nige? (first person to ever help me clean my kitchen - wonderful chap).
MUSICIANSHIP: Rush, Frank Zappa.
ATMOSPHERES: Tom Waits, Pink Floyd, Kula Shaker (Govinda), David Bowie, Nick Drake, John Martin, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Seal, Moby, Coctoau Twins, Bjork.
LYRICISTS: Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen.
CLASSICAL: Shostakovich, Carl Orf, Mozart, Debusy.
OTHER GENRES: Zulu Tribal films on the telly in The 60s and 70s, Black Mombassa; Spanish; Gypsy Kings; Eastern European; Medieval, Gregorian Chants; Indian: Ravi Shankar and recordings of the surbahar lent to me by my art teacher.
